Osaka Grand Hotel Annex

“The low price is an apology fee for any trouble.” If you only need a roof over your head, or can’t stand capsule hostels and want one fixed price, this place may suit you. Just be ready for surprises. There may be no hotel staff around, calls go unanswered, nobody speaks Japanese, showers can be cold, and room quality is mixed. It’s around 10 minutes from the nearest station, just across a major road. The area isn’t exactly a quiet residential neighborhood. It feels like a hidden gem. The building used to be a love hotel, and it seems poorly managed by a foreign owner. The rooms still have the feel of a very old love hotel, and the toilet has no washlet. Shower temperature depends on the room, and hot water isn’t available late at night.

I booked several nights through Trip.com at a very reasonable rate. The hotel seems aimed at small inbound tour groups. Since it used to be a love hotel, you can still see traces of that, but the rooms and bathrooms were spacious and comfortable. Watch out for the slippery bathroom floor, though. Sandals are a must. The parking area was taken up by minivans that looked like shuttle vehicles, so I used the coin parking across Prefectural Road 702. It was incredibly cheap, with a 300 yen maximum at night. There’s hotel Wi-Fi, so it wasn’t an issue that the TV had no antenna and couldn’t show terrestrial channels. Shin-Fukae is a rather plain area, well away from the tourist spots, so the hotel doesn’t stand out. Still, it offers excellent value, unlike the cheap hotels in Nishinari that keep getting more expensive. Fuse shopping street is within walking distance.

The host was so kind and helpful, even coming to our rescue when we got lost and helping with our luggage. Our room was unusually spacious for Japan, with two beds, a refrigerator, closet, and bathtub. Everything was spotless, and the building has an elevator, good Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and heating. It’s easy to reach and close to the subway. The price is very good for what you get. Highly recommended! Arigato gozaimasu!

The negative reviews I’d read didn’t line up with my stay. Whoever runs the hotel, the rooms were clean and spacious, and the price was reasonable. The service was excellent, and the staff were very friendly and helpful.