IKIDANE HOUSE Shimanouchi Osaka

We only made it through one night of a five-night stay before giving up and cancelling. The place is unmanned, and there was noise from upstairs until 3 a.m. with nobody there to complain to. The bathrooms had mold and the sheets were stained. The beds were uneven too, one had springs you could feel and another sagged in the middle. It might suit some young adults, but I wouldn’t recommend it for families with kids. I’d spend a little more for somewhere cleaner with staff on site.

The room was clean, and the AC got really cold, which was perfect for summer. The host was quick to respond whenever I had a question. There are lots of local places to eat, and Dontonburi is within walking distance. I booked six nights, seven days, and would definitely stay again.

The location was perfect, and the house had all the facilities shown in the pictures. Security was really good, and check-in went smoothly. A wonderful stay.

The apartment itself worked well for our family of four, with one room, three beds, a fold-out sofa, full kitchen, microwave, mid-sized fridge, and laundry facilities. The neighborhood was quiet enough, though there are nightclubs on the nearby main road and people around at all hours. Family Marts and 7-11s, as well as restaurants, are close by, and Dotonbori is a 15-minute walk. I didn’t feel safe in the room, though. The building isn’t secure, since the stairwell and elevator are always unlocked, although there is CCTV in the elevator. Check-in was confusing, and we never got the email we’d been told would arrive 24 hours ahead. Details about who was staying could perhaps have been collected before the day, and it would have helped to know of a nearby locker for our luggage since check-in isn’t until 3 p.m.