Osaka Corona Hotel

For the price, getting breakfast and hot baths is unusual in this area. The hotel was reasonably priced, and both the staff and the amenities made it a good stay. They were friendly and polite. There's a hot spring, plus a funny sauna shaped like a pig. Pig characters appear all around the lobby, which is really strange and amusing. Definitely recommended.

Being near Shin-Osaka Station is a real plus, but there are some major things the hotel needs to change. The rooms are very outdated, and the first thing I noticed on entering was a strong cigarette smell. The language barrier was another problem. How can the employees not speak a second language, not even English? Front desk staff couldn't explain the check-in process, point me to somewhere nearby to eat, or tell me how to get public transportation. If this Corona hotel presents itself as a place for conferences, business, and meetings, how can nobody on staff communicate properly with clients?

Breakfast had a nice range of choices, and the best thing about this true budget hotel is its closeness to Shin Osaka station. The way in isn't clearly marked, but you can reach it from either side of the building. The rooms are typical for a budget place, though they can be noisy. The curtains hang just above your face, so morning light can be strong.

The staff were polite and helpful, but this was a very poor hotel. Our non-smoking room reeked of cigarettes, and the provided air freshener smelled even worse. The lobby smelled of smoke too, and the main vending machines were in a smoking room. Their selection was very poor, as was the convenience store situation: the nearest one was more than 300 m away. The lobby halls had pig decorations. The toilet leaked, soaking your pants, and the bathrooms were small. Rooms were old, some had no fly screens, and the bullet train rushed past the window every two minutes. Though the hotel says it's right by the station, you have to walk all the way around the building to reach it. Website photos were misleading, since the windows look out onto train tracks.