Where to stay in Osaka: our best recommendations (2022 guide)

Where to stay in Osaka? Osaka is with 19 million inhabitants Japan’s second-largest city. 

It has a very well-organized public transport system but for first-timers and tourists, it’s not always easy to choose where to stay in Osaka or to find the best area to stay in Osaka.

That’s why we cover in this where to stay in Osaka blog post the most popular regions to stay in Osaka. We also explain the pros and cons of each region.

We hope that our explanation of the districts will help to make your choice taking into account what kind of activities you want to do in Osaka and what places you want to see.

The best area to stay in Osaka

Based on our own experience we cover in this blog the 7 most popular regions of Osaka and give the pros and cons of each region.

We have tried to give a good idea of the differences between the various regions so you can pick the one that best suits your travel plans.  Here’s a map highlighting the various regions we will cover. Clicking on a region will take you to the hotels in that region.

All of these regions are perfectly safe (we never felt unsafe in the whole of Japan).

We also list the best hotels and accommodations in Osaka. If you are looking for the best Airbnb’s in Osaka, click here. For a list of cool Osaka hotels, click here.

The best place to stay in Osaka: Central

Kita (North Central Osaka)

Kita is one of the main tourist areas of Osaka and a good place to stay for tourists and first-timers.

It is a major business and retail hub with a large subterranean network of shopping arcades.  Here you also find JR Osaka station, the major transportation hub of Osaka.  This station offers quick access to all sights in Osaka as well as major tourist attractions around Osaka like Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. 

Kita also has numerous attractions including the photogenic Umeda Sky building, the Tenjimbashi-suji Shopping Street which is the longest shopping arcade in Osaka, the national museum of Art, Osaka, and Umekita Garden. 

Many hotels are located in this region and you may be rewarded with a splendid view of the other skyscrapers making up the skyline of Osaka.

Pros and cons

Conclusion

Hotels in Kita

Luxury Hotel

Ritz Carlton Osaka

The Ritz Carlton Osaka is a mix of older classic architecture inside and a modern outside. It’s is a short walk to the main train station in Osaka and they supply a shuttle to the station on a first come first serve system.

Premium Comfortable Hotel

Hilton Osaka

The Hilton Osaka is located very close to the Umeda train station and there is a tunnel that connects the two. There are many shopping malls situated within walking distance of the hotel. The rooms are clean, spacious and comfortable. Ask for a renovated room.

Comfortable Hotel

ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka

Crowne Plaza Osaka is located about a mile from the train station but they offer a free shuttle to the airport or the Narita train station.

You can enjoy a delicious breakfast on the 24th floor with a nice river view. The rooms are comfortable and quiet.

Minami (South Central Osaka)

Here’s where you will find what’s probably Osaka’s most vibrant district: Namba.  The district is alive day and night and it’s easy to find places to eat, drink and shop.

The main street Dotonbori is a lovely place to stroll at night, taste the street food and feel the vibe of Japan.  Shinsaibashi borders Dotonbori in the North and has a wide range of all kinds of shops as well as more restaurants and bars.

Namba station is also a major transportation hub with direct connections to Nara and Wakayama but most destinations require you to transfer if you would travel with JR.

Pros and cons

Conclusion

Hotels in Minami

Here we list several hotels in Osaka near Namba and Dotonbori.

Premium Comfortable Hotels

Fraser Residence

The Fraser residence lies just opposite Namba station which gives easy access to key attractions Dotonbori, Kuromon Market, and Denden town. Very comfortable rooms with good in-room amenities.

Swissôtel Nankai Osaka

Swissôtel is located in the Namba train station building and within walking distance to eateries and bars.

The rooms are very big for Japan. From the restaurant on the 36th floor, you will have stunning views.

Comfortable Hotel

Holiday Inn Osaka Namba

From Holiday Inn Osaka Namba it’s only a 3-minute walk to the famous Glico man bridge in Dontonbori and all of the craziness of that area.   Namba station is also nearby.

The room size is ok considering the hotel rooms in Japan are normally very small.

Honmachi (in between Kita and Minami)

Honmachi is a business district and one of the cheapest places to stay in Osaka. 

Here you will find many (regional) headquarters of banks and corporations.  As this is mainly a business district the area is less popular and quieter at night.

But it still has enough bars and restaurants to choose from.

It’s within walking distance to Kita and Minami or just one stop away with the Midosuji subway line.

Pros and cons

Conclusion

Hotels in Honmachi

Luxury Hotel

St. Regis Osaka

If you are looking for a very beautiful, elegant, sophisticated, and quiet hotel then this St. Regis hotel is a perfect choice.

Very convenient location, right on top of a Honmachi subway station and just around the corner from lots of shops and restaurants.

Enjoy a fantastic view from your room as well as from the NY Champagne garden on the rooftop terrace. Amazing very attentive staff.

Comfortable Hotels

Brighton Osaka Kitahama

The Brighton Osaka Kitahama lies near Kitahama Statio in a quiet surrounding.

The rooms are small but have all the amenities and a comfortable bed.

Nice bathroom with both shower and bathtub.

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Osaka Yotsubashi

All rooms are relatively small in Japan, however, Daiwa Roynet rooms are clean, modern, well equipped, and come with adequate space.

It’s located close to the restaurants, river, parks, and Osaka suburbs and a 5-10 minutes walk to the Shinsaibashi subway station.

Where to stay at Osaka: outside Central

Shinsekai and Tennoji

Shinsekai, with the Tsuenkaku tower, is a popular area to visit.  It seems like time has stood still for quite some years and it gives you a feeling of how modern Japan would have been in the ’70s or the ’80s.  The district is packed with cheap bars, restaurants, pachinko gaming halls as well as hotels and attracts a more seedy clientele.

Neighbouring Tennoji has gotten an impressive upgrade over the last years with lots of new restaurants, bars, and shopping places.

It’s now home to Abeno Harukas, the tallest skyscraper in Japan.  In this building, you find the largest department store in Japan, the Marriott Miyako hotel, and the Abeno Harukas Art Museum.  The top 3 floors of the building are reserved for the building’s observation deck: “Harukas 300”.

By staying here you’re close to Shinsekai, the Shitennoji Temple, and Tennoji Park.  3 popular tourist spots.

It’s very well-connected, being both on the main Midosuji metro line and the Osaka loop JR line and just a short subway ride away from Namba. 

Tennoji is still less popular than other areas and therefore hotels in Tennoji tend to be a bit cheaper.

Pros and cons

Conclusion

Hotels in Tennoji

Luxury Hotel

Mariott Miyako Hotel

Located on the top floors of the city’s new tallest building with amazing views in the lobby. All 360 guest rooms offer tremendous views. 

There are many restaurants around the area and the subway station is right underneath the hotel. The hotel is open since 2014.

The rooms are very clean, spacious, and well maintained. The Marriott Miyako offers an excellent breakfast.

The hotel also offers the free “Handy” smartphone which you can use during your stay. (read more about this great phone in our 15 tips article)

Premium Comfortable Hotel

Sheraton Miyako

The location of the Sheraton Miyako is great. It is next to the Kintetsu Department Store, several trains and subway lines, and is only a couple of train stops from the Dotonbori.

Enjoy amazing views from your room.

The hotel offers a free “Handy” smartphone which you can use during your stay. (read more about this great phone in our 15 tips article) Ask for a renovated room.

Comfortable Hotel

Tennoji Miyako

Tennoji Miyako hotel is a minute walk from Tennoji station that serves many different train routes.

It is a short walk to a number of shopping centers, restaurants, and a 7-11 supermarket is right next door.

Rooms are Western and very clean with a Japanese slant so ideal for both. The room size of a double room is just enough for 2 persons.

The hotel provides a free “handy” smartphone in the room.

We talked about this smartphone in our 15 tips article. The phone comes with an unlimited data plan and free local and international calls.  We used it a lot to explore the city.

Hotels near Shin-Osaka

Shin-Osaka is on the far north border of Osaka, around the Shinkansen train station.

This is the best place to stay in Osaka if you want to make day trips from Osaka with the Shinkansen.

Subways in Osaka run frequently, even late at night, which makes this less cumbersome but still I would recommend staying in other areas if there’s no particular reason for you to stay close to the Shin-Osaka train station.

There are plenty of places to eat and shop in and around Shin-Osaka Station. 

Pros and cons

Conclusion

Hotels in Shin-Osaka

Comfortable Hotel

Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka

Convenient hotel next to the Shin-Osaka train station. Very friendly staff and nice large rooms.

The breakfast buffet includes made-to-order eggs, french toast, omelets, etc.

The Courtyard by Marriott offers the free of charge “handy” cell phone that you can use throughout your stay. (read more about this great phone in our 15 tips article) Highly recommended.

Basic Hotels

Station Hotel Shin-Osaka (annex)

The station hotel Shin-Osaka (annex) is in a very convenient location, only a couple of minutes walk to the JR Station.

You need to cross a pedestrian bridge across the train tracks with steep steps, not the best option if you’re bringing along heavy luggage. 

There are many restaurants nearby.

The hotel has a free shuttle bus to pick up guests from Kansai Airport. Everybody from the staff is very friendly and helpful.

The rooms are quiet and comfortable with the usual amenities such as bath gel, shampoo, and conditioner.

Remm Hotel Shin-Osaka

The Remm Hotel Shin-Osaka lies is in a perfect location if you plan to make day trips from Osaka.

All you need to do is literally go down to the 3rd floor and will find yourself in Shin-Osaka train station.

The room itself is very small by international standards but at the same is very modern and uses space well. 

The bathroom is comparatively a good size with an excellent shower.

They also have a massage chair which is nice after a long day of sightseeing!

Around Osaka’s castle

This is a relatively quiet area suitable if you want to be away from the crowds of Osaka. It is the biggest green area in Osaka with many parks and waterways perfect if you want to stay near a spacious park where you can go for a walk.

It is connected with the rest of Osaka by the Osaka Loop train line and the Tanimachi metro line and has plenty of shops and restaurants. Lots of them are located around the metro and train station.

Because it’s slightly less well-located than other areas of Osaka, hotels tend to be cheaper.

Pros and cons

Conclusion

Hotels near Osaka castle

Luxury Hotel

New Otani Hotel

The New Otani Hotel is nearby JR station Osakajokoen serviced by the Loop line and offers splendid views of Osaka Castle.

Make sure to book or to ask for a room with a view of the castle, you won’t be disappointed. 

The rooms are quite big for a Japanese hotel standard.

Premium Comfortable Hotel

Monterey La Soeur Hotel

The Monterey La Soeur hotel lies close to Kyobashi subway station and within walking distance of Osaka castle.

There are lots of restaurants and shops nearby.

Rooms are well-appointed, have good amenities, are very clean and relatively spacious for a Japanese hotel.

They provide the free Handy Smartphone which we talked about in our 15 tips article. The smartphone comes with an unlimited data plan and free local and international calls.  We used it a lot to explore the city.

Comfortable Hotel

KKR Hotel

The KKR hotel is located in between two subway stations, about 10 mins walk to either one, and across the street from Osaka Castle.

The rooms are clean and not too small (compared to Japanese standards).

The staff is attentive and speaks English.

The buffet breakfast has a mix of traditional Japanese food and American style.

A shuttle bus is available to drop you off at the subway stations but does not offer pick-up service at these stations. 

Ask for a castle view room. 

Not close to any major shopping or food, but restaurants and shops are easily accessible using the subway.

Osaka Bay area (including Universal Studios)

The bay area consists of several man-made islands and peninsulas to accommodate Osaka’s growth.  Here you find Osaka’s aquarium, Universal Studios, and the Tempozan Ferris Wheel.

You can find several hotels in this area as it’s also a popular location for conventions.

Hotels here are cheaper and you will get bigger rooms.

On the other hand, if you plan on visiting many tourist spots in Osaka it’s still better to stay in Osaka itself as, despite the good public transport, you will easily spend 20 to 30 minutes on the subway to get from the bay area to Osaka.

Pros and cons

Conclusion

Hotels in the Osaka Bay area

Premium Comfortable Hotels

Universal Port Hotel

The Universal Port hotel is a few minutes walk from the front gates of Universal Studios.

The room is adequate.

The hotel is close to Universal Studios Citywalk with its restaurants and shops and very close to the train station.

Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios

The Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios is less than a minute walk to both the park entrance and the train station plus right in the middle of City Walk restaurants.

The breakfast buffet provides a good choice of foods including smarties, flumps, and a chocolate fountain!

Comfortable Hotel

Kintetsu universal city hotel Osaka

The Kintetsu universal city hotel Osaka is conveniently located in the middle of Universal City Walk with lots of shops and restaurants. They offer a good breakfast, with American and Japanese options.

Conclusion

If this is your first visit I would say that the best place to stay in Osaka is somewhere in Central Osaka (Kita, Minami or Honmachi). This will save you a lot of time on trains and subways that can be better spent exploring the many sights Osaka has to offer.  Kita is the absolute favorite if you fancy some day trips to nearby places like Nara.  You will be able to leave directly from Osaka station without the need to take the subway first.

If you prefer a more relaxed neighborhood the best place to stay in Osaka would be Honmachi or the Osaka Castle Area.  The latter would certainly be the best choice in the cherry blossom season or if you’re a fan of a morning run or sunset strolls in the park or along the river.

If you travel with kids you might consider the Osaka Bay area.  Rooms tend to be bigger and cheaper as well as kid-friendly.  This is of course because of the nearby Univeral Studios and Tempozan, another entertainment complex which included the Osaka Aquarium, the Ferris wheel as well as many restaurants.  You will also find many Western-themed restaurants here which can be another plus if you’re traveling with children.  On the downside, the Osaka bay area is at least a 20-minute ride out of Osaka.

Other Japan travel tips

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