Sotetsu Fresa Inn Osaka-Namba

The room was spacious enough for me to open all four suitcases at once, and it was clean with all the essential amenities. Housekeeping came every three days, which I didn’t mind, and I got fresh towels daily. The staff were helpful and friendly. After I accidentally left my power bank behind at checkout, they kindly arranged to send it to my next accommodation, which I really appreciated. The main drawback was the laundry. The washers and dryers didn’t seem to have enough capacity when lots of guests wanted to use them at once. The location near Nankai Express and Namba Station made getting around very convenient, and I had a great stay. I’d strongly recommend the hotel.

The rooms were cramped but okay, and the hallways got very hot. We often found the rooms stuffy too. They cleaned rooms every three days, changed towels daily, and emptied the trash. For a three-day stay, it was fine for the price. The location is very convenient for getting around Osaka and beyond, basically right by one of the 32(!) entrances to Namba Station. There’s lots of shopping nearby, and Dontonbori and Shinsekai are easy walks.

The location was great, and my room was quiet, large, and clean, with a very comfortable bed. But I was really disappointed by the service from one male staff member, who was a bit chubby, wore glasses, and spoke rudely to me. I was first put in a second-floor room beside the laundry. As a light sleeper, I asked to move. He bluntly said the hotel was fully booked. He could have put it more politely, or said another room was available for an extra charge. I work for a Japanese company and speak Japanese, and my Japanese boss and colleagues always put customers first. His attitude felt very different, and I wondered if it was because I'm a foreigner. I checked the hotel website myself to see whether the rooms really were full. He noticed and rudely asked if I had used the room. He eventually moved me, but didn't apologize. Why did he say the hotel was full at first? The hotel should train its staff to communicate and serve guests better.

We’re having a great stay. The staff are lovely, and the rooms are clean and make smart use of the space. The breakfast is really amazing. Namba Station is just steps away, so it’s easy to get around town or travel out of town. Buy a new IC card at the pink stations. There’s also tons of stuff within walking distance.