Nipponbashi Crystal Hotel

They tried to bribe us with an extra hour for checkout in exchange for a five-star review. I'm glad we didn't accept, so we could describe what actually happened. The room was a nice size, and the location was okay, close to a lot of useful places. But the only way to heat the room was the AC unit, which was very loud at night. The walls and windows were so thin that we could hear other people and outside noise. Housekeeping didn't clean the rooms or even make the beds. No one told me about breakfast, so I assume they don't offer it. I didn't see anyone eating in the designated area either. This isn't a four-star hotel, or even really a hotel. It felt like a dressed-up apartment building without kitchens. There's just one elevator, and the windowless floors were cold. The lobby and a room with the AC turned on were the only warm spots. The bathroom was freezing at around 10°, with no way to heat it. The faucet and shower were connected and barely worked, and it was very uncomfortable using the only toilet in Japan I'd encountered without a heated seat. I don't have enough words for how bad it was. We considered leaving Osaka a day early because of the hotel. The neighborhood was also a problem: there was a lot of nsfw nightlife nearby. It felt like the “fun neighborhood,” but wasn't kid friendly, and we felt a bit unsafe. That left us with a bad impression of the city, which didn't seem fair because Osaka is cute.

For tourists, the location is very good, right in the middle of many of Osaka's busiest spots, with several rail stations a short walk away and lots of places to eat nearby. The hotel is clean and well maintained, and the staff are polite and helpful. They speak English too, which was a plus for me as a tourist.

The room was comfortable and had plenty of space, and getting around from the hotel was convenient. The staff were helpful and arranged a room change quickly when I asked. But after just one night I had several itchy bites. I can't say for sure what caused them, though bed bugs came to mind and made me worry about cleanliness. I hope they look into it for future guests.

The price was affordable, and with shops close by it was easy to pick up whatever I needed. The location worked well for going out at night. My room was very clean, and the staff were polite, so it made for a good stay.