Toyoko Inn Osaka Hommachi No.2

We stayed five days and four nights. The facilities were great, and it was easy to get around from here. Breakfast was a simple, homemade-style Japanese meal. I only wish they would label which dishes contain pork. The reception staff were lovely and did their best to speak English even though I don't speak Japanese.

We were exhausted and only stayed one night, so the place suited us fine. The room was clean, and breakfast was included. There weren't many choices, but everything was fresh, tasty, and enough for us. I liked the effort to cut plastic: they recycle used combs and toothbrushes, use recycled toilet paper rolls, and provide liquid soap, shampoo, and conditioner from dispensers in the bathroom. The room also had a kettle, a small locker and fridge, air conditioning, a TV, and a hair dryer. Room wear and other amenities were free; an extra pair of slippers, if you wanted one, cost 50¥.

For someone traveling to Osaka for business, this is my usual place to stay on the occasional trip. It's in the heart of the city's textile area, and most guests seem to be Chinese. The rooms are a good size for the price, especially by Japan's standards. There's a fridge, AC, TV, tea maker, hair dryer, and the other basics in the room. You can get water and use a microwave in the lobby too.

The staff were nice, but we were put in a smoking room and the smell was really bad. The beds were very hard and uncomfortable. The toilet door didn't lock, and switching on its light also turned on the light for the whole room.