Step Inn Shin-Osaka Higashiguchi

There weren’t many hotels available when I visited Osaka, so I ended up here. It was decent for the price, and I’d come back if I needed to, though I’d choose somewhere else first next time. The main plus is the location near Shin-Osaka Station, but getting there from the East exit is a bit awkward with luggage. There’s an elevator by the exit, though no escalator, and taking the stairs means dealing with three floors. There aren’t convenience stores nearby either, so pick up anything you need at the station before heading back. Breakfast is served downstairs in the morning for ¥500. Toiletries are provided free, some in the room and others in the lobby, as is common at Japanese hotels. My room’s AC worked well, even though I was there during winter.

An older hotel, but handy for getting to Shin Osaka station.

We traveled around Japan by train a lot, so having the hotel right beside the station made things easy. The place was clean, and the staff were friendly. One tip for the TV: steer clear of channel 11.

The location is handy and the staff are friendly, but our double room was laid out in a way that left almost no room to do anything. I was also uneasy about being told to take our belongings, especially valuables, with us when staff came to clean.