Hotel WBF Shin-Osaka Sky Tower

Nishida was especially friendly and made for one of the nicest interactions I had on my trip. The staff were helpful, and the room was clean with plenty of towels during my stay. The building looks great at night and seems to be the tallest in Yodogawa ward. Its open central space runs from 2F to 32F, with a large rock at the bottom, so you’re walking around what feels like a huge pit. The exposed balcony by the elevators on each floor may feel unsettling if you’re afraid of heights. If you’re taller than about 5’ 7”, the railing and ledge might seem a bit low, lol. I was halfway up the building and could hear the Shin Osaka trains quite loudly, so I can’t imagine how noisy it is on some lower floors. The centralized AC also hissed enough to bother my ears a little and made sleeping somewhat difficult. The price is hard to beat, though. I’d mainly suggest it to solo travelers or couples who are fine with a cozy room and want to stay near Shin Osaka for a good price.

The high floor gave me a nice view, and the value was good, though the room wasn’t the most comfortable. It’s a small room, typical for an urban hotel in Japan at this price, so I don’t really count that against it. The bed and pillow were on the hard side. Heating and cooling seemed to have an issue: the heater kept running, and I couldn’t switch to cool, so I opened the window. Maybe it’s centrally controlled, but I’m not sure. The staff did their jobs professionally, though they didn’t seem as warm as at other APA hotels I’ve stayed in. Being near Shin-Osaka is cheaper than staying around Osaka station and still handy for the local red line, shinkansen and hikaru for the airport.

I’m leading a group of 24 travelers from Vancouver, and this has been one of the worst stays of my life. I’m in Room 903 until September 17, and it feels suffocatingly small. I can barely breathe in there and keep the window open for oxygen. I haven’t been able to sleep, and every night has been extremely hard. I asked several times to change rooms, but the managers and staff seemed completely unconcerned and made no effort to help or suggest a solution. Guests are also turned away from shared areas like the 32nd-floor restaurant and rooftop, supposedly because they’re “reserved,” even though they stay empty. The lack of care, responsibility and respect has made the place feel like a prison. Instead of comfort and hospitality, it’s been suffocating and mentally exhausting. For a hotel that should care about guests’ comfort and well-being, this is shameful.

We booked a High Floor Twin Room and the view was breathtaking. The room was spotless, the bed was sooo comfortable, and there was a massage chair and bathtub in the room. Breakfast was decent too.