SARASA HOTEL Shinsaibashi

The room itself had dirty walls and wallpaper peeling away. The bathroom was worse: the toilet had a strange smell, and the sink drained poorly. Towels weren’t replaced unless we went to reception to ask, and housekeeping also only provided a tiny 4.5 gram toothpaste for three nights. More cost extra. We got one key unless we specifically requested another. The slippers seemed unhygienic, with something attached on top, and the dryer took so long that our clothes were still damp after two cycles. WiFi was slow, at least at night. At breakfast, staff kept watching us eat, which made it uncomfortable. It was a thoroughly disappointing stay. I’d stayed at three other hotels in Japan, and this was unbelievable.

The shared spaces were useful, with a microwave, laundry area, ice machine, and Japanese storybooks on the second floor. Downstairs there was free coffee and a luggage scale. The staff were very friendly, too. My room was small but comfortable for two, and it was clean. The bathroom was compact, with hot and cold water working properly. The hotel supplied pajamas, slippers, and two large and two small towels. Housekeeping came once during my five-day stay in early 2026. It’s easy to find and close to the train station, and the elevator was handy with luggage. Since the hotel is on a main road, I could hear traffic sirens at night.

There’s free coffee in the lobby, but the room wasn’t great. It felt like a corridor, hairs were scattered around, and the wallpaper was peeling. The beds were only about one and a half person size, not a full double.

We had a twin corner room, and the staff were excellent. The room was small but fairly typical, with just enough space to open two carry-on bags. The bathroom was incredibly tiny. I’ve stayed at many hotels in Japan and this was one of the smallest bathrooms I’ve seen. I’m not tall, but anyone over 170 cm might find the ceiling low. We stayed three days, so the room wasn’t cleaned. The shower drain is so small that you may need to clear it yourself to keep it from clogging. For reference, we were two women with mid-length hair and ordinary hair fall. Even from our eighth-floor room facing away from the street, cars and motorcycles woke me a couple of times. The WiFi was awful in our room, so we mostly used eSIM data. They only gave us one key card for two people. Exit 5A is right by the station, but with luggage, take exit 3 for the elevator. Also, the entrance nearest the station exit isn’t the main entrance, and it closes at night.