Osaka Ebisu Hotel

Our honeymoon stay was frustrating and uncomfortable, and I wouldn't recommend this hotel. We chose it because it looked like a great option and had an excellent reputation on Booking.com, but we felt completely misled by the photos and reviews. There were no blackout curtains or proper blinds, so once sunrise began the room got painfully bright. By about 4 AM it was impossible to keep sleeping. We uploaded photos from 4 AM on two separate days to show how bad it was. The room also wasn't cleaned daily, only every two days. We stayed four days and got just one cleaning. The breakfast was very limited, with no fruit or even bread for toast. On arrival, the room smelled strongly of humidity and mold, and the old, unattractive bathroom was poorly maintained. The smell was so bad we had to leave the window open to feel comfortable. Our room also looked nothing like the Booking photos: we got an unattractive setup with the mattress directly on the floor, while most of the advertised pictures showed modern rooms with proper high beds.

For about what a hostel costs, you get your own bathroom and shower and more personal space. The price and amenities are perfect for that. Front staff were friendly and spoke English, and the view of shinsekai was great. It's just one train ride from Dotonbori, and I'd definitely come back.

Breakfast comes free, though there isn't much variety to choose from. The room was a standard Japanese-style one, small but compact, and I liked the big cupboard, which fit my 28-inch luggage. It's a decent place to stay, close to the metro station and one of the landmarks in Osaka.

The staff were lovely, and transport links were easy to use, which made getting around the city simple. We could see Tsutenkaku tower from our balcony, and the location is unmatched. To be honest, the standard room is small and basic. The bathroom can be awkward to move around in if you're tall. Even so, I'd absolutely recommend it and stay again for a few nights in Osaka.