SJ Osaka Central

There was a stove and microwave, but no table or chairs for eating, and the room was far too cramped for three. It had one couch and a tiny double bed that didn’t really fit two people. The couch was much shorter than I am, so it wasn’t suitable to sleep on either. Service was lacking throughout. Check-in happens over FaceTime at a cold, empty reception, communication was poor, and they completely refused to help with safe luggage storage or an extra blanket. We needed another blanket because the one provided, like the bed, wasn’t big enough for two. We’d booked a three-person room expecting enough space for three. Instead, SJ Osaka Central made every part of the stay feel at the lowest acceptable level, which added up to an unacceptable experience. A sad end to an otherwise enjoyable visit to Japan.

There were lots of places to eat nearby, but with our stay falling over NYE, many were closed and it was very quiet, so we had to go farther for meals. The location was okay and the rooms had all the features, though they weren’t serviced daily. The beds were small for 2A x 2C and hard, and the pillows weren’t great.

A decent option for trips longer than a day. It’s set up like a serviced apartment, with a small kitchen, enough cupboards and closets, and basic cutlery. You can choose between bed setups or futons on the floor. The walls are fairly thin, though, so noise from outside can sometimes be disturbing.

We could walk to Nanba, or take the subway, which was easy to access. Conbinis and a huge life supermarket were close by for anything needed to cook in the equipped kitchen. The apartment was a good size, really clean, and had nice, modern facilities. An easy, hassle-free stay.