Wafu Ryokan Uehonmachi

Getting around is handy, with Uehonbashi Kintetsu railway station, the subway, Donki, Muji, and Uniqlo nearby. Shin-Osaka is a different story, about 20 minutes by taxi and 4000 yen away. This is a small, simple ryokan, and the price felt too high for the level of comfort. The rooms have A/C, a fridge, and a kettle, but no chairs. The walls are thin, so you can hear the neighbors. The bathroom is tiny, and getting the shower temperature right is difficult, either hot or cold. The futon setup is fine if you want to sleep on the floor, though the pillows were hard enough that I bought a regular one at Muji. Staff aren't usually around, so you need to email to check in. They communicate only in Japanese😒, and should use Whatsapp in English. Cleaning happens every 2 days, while fresh towels are provided daily. The stairs up to the rooms are very steep, which isn't convenient for elderly or handicapped people. A heavy suitcase is impossible to carry up, though staff would help. The front door stays open 24/7, but if somebody accidentally locks it, you're left standing in the street.

We were three and had a lovely, authentic Ryokan stay. The room was spacious and we all slept really well. The bathroom was a little cramped, but it didn't spoil anything. It's a peaceful spot away from the busy tourist area, with supermarkets, a train station, and lots of restaurants close by. They'd also left Japanese snacks, tea, and coffee for us, which was a nice touch.

The receptionist was genuinely kind and welcoming. The service and location were fine, though nothing especially memorable. We liked the traditional atmosphere and the room at Wafu Ryokan was really cool. The bathroom, though, felt quite small and a bit dated.

The host was helpful with things like booking lunch at a restaurant that only took phone calls and sharing a gmaps location for nearby amenities, if you can speak Japanese. The host only knows very basic English. The train station is extremely close and has a small mall; there's also a supermarket and convenience stall less than 5 minutes away. Buses and trains connect well to lots of Osaka areas. The corner room had a strange machine rumble that caused little tremors through the floor, and I couldn't sleep well that night. The host kindly let me switch rooms. The building and fixtures are generally old. Some remote controls barely respond because the battery covers are broken or they're simply old. The walls are thin, so the rooms get cold.