Hotel It. Osaka Shinmachi

The supermarket right downstairs is handy, with a FamilyMart and a Lawson nearby, and the subway station isn't far. But there are plenty of problems. The Venetian blind in my room let in all the light, with effectively 0 % blackout. The bathroom felt overwhelmingly plasticky, had large gaps everywhere, and a vent covered in dust. I understand the environmental policy of skipping disposable amenities, but I don't get why there were no paper cups even beside the ice machine, or why a toothbrush cost 200. You can buy those things near the shop. For a four-star hotel to have no central air-conditioning feels like a youth hostel. I was genuinely stunned. I'd never come back, it was utterly disappointing.

The biggest issue was the wifi, which became deathly slow or almost nonexistent late in the evening, overnight, and in the morning, when more people seemed to be in their rooms. From noon onward it seemed fine. I hope they fix it. Otherwise, I had a very decent six-night stay over Golden Week, and I'd keep the hotel in mind for a longer Osaka visit. If you have limited time and want to be closer to attractions, this probably wouldn't be my first choice. It's a short walk to Nishi-Nagahori and Awaza stations, with two lines for getting to central sights. The residential neighbourhood is quiet and has a well stocked supermarket downstairs and a Lawson one street away. It made a pleasant place to return to at the end of the day, though it's rather staid and uninteresting otherwise. The room was small but comfortable, with good natural light. I wished the window had blackout blinds because sunrise made it bright when I wanted to sleep in. The standard Japanese-style bathroom was manageable, though the toilet bowl was a little small.

I expect to be treated with the same dignity and respect as any other guest, whatever my background. I'm Chinese and Singaporean, and the way the service counter staff treated me felt discriminatory. I hope management takes this seriously, retrains staff on anti-discrimination and customer service, and makes sure all guests receive fair, respectful treatment. I saw a stark difference in how guests of different nationalities were treated. The staff spoke gently and patiently to Japanese guests, but their attitude toward me changed immediately. I asked two different staff members, a woman and a man, for help. Both were rude and dismissive, with no patience. This didn't seem like a language barrier. Their tone, body language, and willingness to help were clearly different. This kind of racial discrimination is utterly unprofessional and has no place in hospitality, especially at a 4-star hotel in Osaka, Japan, known for omotenashi (hospitality). I write this with deep disappointment about my experience.

The location is a little out of the way for sightseeing, but the metro is just a two-minute walk if you want to go farther. The lobby has a nice vibe, and the staff were helpful. The bedrooms are great, with large twin beds and a wet room for the shower.