Imazato Ryokan

The private tatami-style room was neat and had the disposable and other essentials I needed. Having a sink in the room was handy, and the manager kindly used a translator to explain what I didn’t understand. I stayed two nights, tried the breakfast, and liked it. It was my first stay here and a great choice. I’d come back if I get the chance.

This ryokan is run by a really nice Japanese family, and the breakfast got better as the days went on. I stayed five nights during my Japan trip. The room was clean and tidy, with 4.5 tatami mats, and they provided a yukata and fresh towels each day. I’d recommend it if you’re staying in Osaka.

We’d booked this ryokan after seeing encouraging reviews and wanted to try the experience, but arriving in Osaka after a long flight turned into a terrible ordeal. The staff and owners felt stubborn and unpleasant, and I felt they took advantage of us. They didn’t seem kind or hospitable when things went wrong, which can happen while travelling. The booking through Agoda was about USD125, or ¥19,000, for a triple room. I’d forgotten to correct the occupancy settings, so it showed two adults even though I was travelling with three girls aged 12-16. They initially refused to let us use the room on that basis. The woman owner or staff member also said they were full and had no other rooms. I asked for a refund so we could stay elsewhere, but they insisted they wouldn’t refund us and that we couldn’t use the triple room. I politely said through Google Translate that I’d report them to the police if they wouldn’t refund me. The older man picked up the phone and offered to call the police. I find it funny in hindsight, but at the time I wasn’t amused. He came across as rude and seemed to enjoy our bad situation. Eventually he offered an extra mattress for ¥6,000, around USD40, and I paid. I wondered why that hadn’t been offered at the start. They didn’t give me a receipt, and what made it even more galling was that after the payment they said we could book another room, despite saying half an hour earlier that they were full. Even without that experience, I don’t think this ryokan is worth ¥25,000 for a triple room. The rooms are very small and basic, the bathroom is tiny, and I didn’t find anything unique or charming about the place, despite what other reviews say.

Quiet, nice, and affordable. It’s a little outside the center, but the train gets you to the good spots quickly.