Osaka Tomato Hostel

The two showers were sometimes in demand at once, which was the only downside for me. Getting to the metro took about 5-7 minutes on foot, and Osaka center was around 20-30 minutes away. I really enjoyed staying here with my friend and would recommend it to anyone visiting Osaka. The house was cleaned every day, and I liked how safe it felt for women: there were women only rooms, locks on our room doors, and free sanitary pads. The host was also so friendly and hospitable. He suggested places to visit around Osaka and always asked us how our day had gone. I appreciated that.

I spent three nights here, and it was a disaster. The hostel is far from central Osaka: the nearest subway is a 10-15 minute walk, then downtown takes another 5-6 stops. For me, it deserves one star at most. I don't understand the Google rating of 3.9 or the Booking score above 8.0. The host was extremely rude and unprofessional. Before check-in, I'd messaged through booking to ask about leaving my luggage early. When I arrived, he opened the door just to demand extra payment, rudely, and wouldn't let me in. At check-in, he handed me two pages of strict rules in a military-style way. He kept entering the dorm without knocking, including when I was shirtless in bed and when I was on the toilet. The latter time, he knocked and opened the door immediately without waiting for my answer. When I raised this, he refused to apologize and blamed me, then said he'd report me on booking. His own rules say to knock and wait before entering. Looking at the Google reviews, it seems that when someone complains, he denies everything and says they're wrong. The dorm beds were worn out, with deep dips in the middle, so it felt like sleeping on wood. The curtains were dusty, and one was so thin it was almost see-through. The showers were moldy and dirty. The whole place felt unhygienic and uncomfortable. The host also kept checking on guests, even walking into rooms at night to see if people had broken rules like leaving lights on. That made the stay stressful and intrusive. The tomato decorations everywhere added to the strange, uncomfortable atmosphere. In his reply to my review, the host said I was shirtless once, apologized, and didn't do it again. He knocked at the toilet, I answered, but he didn't wait. He knocked and opened the door right away while I was sitting there. I was also speaking quietly outside, and at exactly 22:59 he came out to tell me to go inside. He'd checked on me several times before, as though waiting for a chance to make me go in. It was all very impolite. When I asked him to turn the AC cooler, he refused. I said it was too hot for me, I'd sweat, and that would be unhygienic for the next guests. He said it was okay and that he was cold, even though he doesn't sleep in that room. The water dispenser was only available at times when you wouldn't use it, which also made me feel he didn't care about guest convenience. The available laundry bag was dirty, and dirt got onto my white shirt that I can't get out. This was the worst hostel experience I've ever had. Cheap or not, it wasn't worth it. Spend a bit more and stay elsewhere to avoid a lot of frustration and discomfort.

I spent four nights here and had a great stay. The station is just a few minutes away on foot, and they give you a map showing convenience stores, restaurants, laundry, and other places. I stayed in the female dorm, which had cotton buds, nail clippers, a hair dryer, scissors, hair bands, and everything a girl might need. I especially liked the tomato concept. There was also a kitchen for cooking and a refrigerator. The hostel has a balcony with a great city view. My dorm also had some manga to read, which I really enjoyed. I learned some Kansai language from it, and there were four cute cushion staffs too. The owner was amazing, friendly, and gave me a careful, clear explanation in English on my first day. Whenever he saw me in the common room, he greeted me warmly. On checkout day, he took my picture in the tomato room and gave me lots of gifts as he said goodbye. I was really touched by his dedication and hospitality.

The welcome felt really warm. The host works hard to keep things clean, is very organized, and is glad to suggest good local places. He speaks Japanese and English, maybe other languages too, though you have to listen closely to catch everything. The check-in instructions can seem unusual, so read them carefully. The kitchen and shared room, like the bedrooms, are surprisingly roomy, while the hallways are narrow, as is common here. You can see the river from the balcony. There are two toilets and two showers available around the clock, though the kitchen and common room close overnight. This was the cleanest hostel I’ve stayed in across Ōsaka and Kyōto. It’s still a hostel, so bring earplugs and perhaps a sleep mask. There are illustrated explanations posted around the place, with a few things to learn about Japanese homes. The tomato was a very good choice.