Live Max Otemae

The room has what you need for a comfortable stay, and a solo traveler can fit comfortably, though the bathroom is quite small. The room size is typical for Japan. The hotel is old but well maintained, with easy check-in and check-out; if you arrive early, they’ll store your luggage. You can pick up amenities in the lobby. It’s near a subway station, and the closest exit has an elevator. I had nothing to complain about and would definitely return.

There are several breakfast choices, enough to get the day started, though I still preferred Dotonburi food. The room is clean and the amenities are complete, but you have to go downstairs and pick them up yourself, which isn’t too bad. Don’t expect much space: there’s just enough room for luggage and moving around. The AC knob actually controls the heater in winter. For cool air, you have to call the front desk to unlock the window, which isn’t very convenient.

The staff were especially kind and helpful when I realized I’d left my passport at my previous hotel. They contacted that hotel, let me check in using a copy of my passport, and stayed cheerful and courteous throughout. Of the four similar hotels I’ve stayed at in Japan this week, this one was the best presented and had the best facilities. It’s near a station and well placed for Osaka attractions, although the area gets a bit noisy at night.

The location is excellent, but a lot went wrong for us. The rooms were old, stained, and tiny, with an even smaller bathroom and nowhere to put a suitcase. The beds weren’t large enough for two adults to sleep on their backs, even though my wife is only 152 cm. At 188 cm, I couldn’t sit straight on the toilet without hitting my head, and I bumped into all the doorways. The shower was tiny too, with the head at chest level. I had to take apart its connection, clean it, and reattach it to stop water spraying everywhere. I could also see dust and dirt the cleaning had missed, and the carpet left a lot to be desired. At checkout, four staff were watching three self-service check-in machines, but every guest needed help, so using the machines seemed pointless and it would’ve been quicker to just assist people.