Osaka is one of my favorite cities in Japan! The vibe is definitely different than anywhere else in the country. The street food is delicious, the locals are lovely, the architecture is modern and it’s not far from Kyoto. Being the second largest city in Japan, finding the right accommodation in Osaka can be daunting. Which is why I wrote this guide listing where to stay in Osaka, list the best hotels in Osaka and the best neighborhoods in Osaka!
Table of Contents
Minami (Namba)
Minami is a major transport hub in Osaka, you can easily get around the city and surrounding cities like Kyoto or Nara. Moreover Minami is perfect if you want to go shopping, try the local gastronomy in one of the numerous restaurants of the district, enjoy the Osaka nightlife. There’s also an abundance of bars! Minami is great for travelers who love food and shopping.
Where to stay in Minami (Namba)
- Luxury: Swissotel Nankai Osaka. A great hotel for first timers in Osaka. It’s perfectly located on top of the Namba Nankai Station and it offers great views! The rooms are large and comfortable, the staff is friendly and professional, and the buffet breakfast is excellent. There are seven dining options on-site. The hotel also features a fitness center, a spa, and a swimming pool. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Mid-range: Cross Hotel Osaka. This hotel is also well-located, not far fromDotonbori and the Namba Station Midosuji Line. The staff is helpful and very professional. The rooms are modern, stylish, and comfortable. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, and cafe. A nice hotel, not too expensive. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Budget: Kamon Hotel Namba. A calm hotel, contrasting with the bustling Minami neighborhood. The rooms are quite cheap, clean and comfortable. The design of the hotel is unique, with a stylish and cozy Japanese twist. The breakfast is excellent and the hotel offers a nice rooftop terrace to relax and socialize. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Find all the Minami hotels
Kita (Umeda)
Kita is also a huge shopping, dining and entertainment district. There are numerous restaurants in the area. It’s also Osaka’s business district with tall modern skyscrapers and department stores. It’s the best place to stay in Osaka for luxury travelers, there’s a wide selection of 5-star hotels. But it’s also the best place to stay for first-time visitors. You’ll notice the area is can be crowded but still, it’s very clean and safe.
Where to stay in Kita (Umeda)
- Luxury: Intercontinental Hotel Osaka. A great luxury hotel offering large, modern, bright rooms with amazing views. They include a large flat-screen TV, free wifi, a Bose sound system, mini-bar, tea and coffee, and a safety deposit box. The hotel features five in-house restaurants and bars, a fitness center, a spa and a swimming pool. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Mid-range: Hotel Granvia Osaka. It’s an elegant 4-star hotel above Osaka station. The rooms are comfortable and there are several on-site restaurants. The staff is polite, professional and welcoming. Don’t miss it! Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Budget: Hotel Wing International Select Osaka Umeda. A nice budget hotel, reminding us of the movie “The Great Gatsby” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In fact, there’s a Gatsby bar in the hotel, and you can get a free welcome drink there. The rooms aren’t big, but they’re stylish, clean, and comfortable. Moreover, the hotel is not far from JR Osaka Station. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Find all the Kita hotels
Osaka castle area
Staying there is convenient if you want to visit the Osaka castle early and beat the crowds. It’s slightly less convenient than other parts of Osaka, but still you’ll find good restaurants and various shops there. That means accommodation is cheaper here. However, it’s the best place to stay in Osaka during the cherry blossoms season. Sakuranomiya Park has a huge concentration of 5,000 cherry blossom trees, they’re wonderful!
Where to stay in the Osaka castle area
- Luxury: Hotel New Otani Osaka. This luxury hotel offers excellent views of Osaka Castle. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The hotel features several in-house restaurants, shops, a spa, hot tub and sauna, plus a shuttle bus service to and from Kyoto! Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Mid-range: KKR Hotel Osaka. This hotel also offers spectacular views of Osaka castle. The rooms are modern, the beds are comfortable, the staff is friendly and accommodating, the hotel is very clean and the breakfast is excellent! Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Budget: Hotel The Lutheran. This hotel offers Western-style rooms and features conveniences like a fridge, TV, kettle, phone, Wi-Fi, and hairdryer. For an extra fee, you can get a good buffet breakfast. The hotel is well-located, close to the subway train station and convenience stores. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Find all the Osaka castle area hotels
Honmachi (Central Osaka)
Honmachi is located between Minami and Kita, in Central Osaka. This area is much quieter than Minami and Kita, it’s for the most part office and residential in nature. But you’ll still find numerous restaurants and bars there. Honmachi is a good choice for where to stay in Osaka for travelers looking for a quiet area, or those traveling on a budget. Since it’s not as popular as Kita or Minami, hotels tend to be cheaper here.
Where to stay in Honmachi
- Luxury: St. Regis Osaka. This luxury hotel is located directly on top of the Honmachi Subway Station. The elegant rooms include a minibar, a Nespresso coffee machine, a spacious marble bathroom and a built-in LCD TV. You can even get your private butler who can make reservations for sightseeing, and restaurants for you! There’s a gym, a business center, in-house restaurants such as La Veduta and a rooftop Japanese garden. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Mid-range: Moxy Osaka Honmachi by Marriott. This well-located hotel has a youthful hipster vibe. They have darts and a table football, a DJ is playing on weekends… The rooms are stylish, well-equipped with a remarkable interior design. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Budget: Roots Hostel. A great hostel! It’s cheap, comfortable, modern with a cool design! Moreover you can easily meet fellow travelers. It offers mixed dorms, women-only dorms and private rooms. There’s also an on-site bar, a luggage storage and laundry facilities. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Find all the Honmachi hotels
Tennoji
Tennoji is the old part of Osaka. It used to be a seedy area, it feels a little rougher than the other districts, but it’s actually completely safe. Much of Tennoji’s resurgence was driven by the 2014 opening of Abeno Harukas, Japan’s tallest building. You’ll find shops and restaurants here, but let’s face it, it’s a quiet place offering budget-friendly accommodations.
Where to stay in Tennoji
- Luxury: Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel. This luxury hotel is in the Abeno Harukas building! The rooms are all located above the 38th floor, meaning the views are great! The rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable. There’s a fitness center, you have direct acess to Tennoji station and you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama on the 58th-floor observation deck. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Mid-range: Hotel Trusty Osaka Abeno. A nice mid-range hotel where you’ll find clean and warmly-decorated rooms with a modern Asian twist. There’s an on-site Japanese restaurant serving teppanyaki where the chef cooks the food on an iron plate in front of guests. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Budget: Khaosan World Tennoji. It’s a nice Japanese style hostel offering dorms but also private rooms. There’s a common area to socialize, a shared kitchen, a lounge with tatami (woven-straw) flooring, a foot bath and a vending machine with free coffee, tea, water, and sports drinks. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Find all the Tennoji hotels
Osaka Bay
Osaka Bay is perfect if you’re traveling with kids or if you just love theme parks! Osaka Bay is where you’ll find Universal Studios Japan, but also the Osaka aquarium, a huge Ferris wheel, and a shopping center with lots of restaurants. Unsurprisingly, accommodations in Osaka Bay are among the most family-friendly places to stay in Osaka.
Where to stay in Osaka Bay
- Luxury: Hyatt Regency Osaka. A great luxury hotel with a stunning ocean view. It features a rooftop pool (both indoor and outdoor), a spa and beauty salon, a fitness center and five restaurants. It’s a great hotel if you’re looking for luxury and calm at the same time. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Mid-range: Hotel Universal Port Vita. It’s definitely a hotel designed for families, very kid-friendly. It’s in front of Universal Studios Japan, and it’s one of the park’s official hotels. The hotel’s design is inspired by the movie “Minions”. The rooms are large and comfortable, and the service is excellent! Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Budget: J-Hoppers Osaka Universal. A great hostel offering mixed dorms, women-only dorms and private rooms. The staff is friendly and helpful, the hostel is clean, the atmosphere is relaxed and the rooms are spacious. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Find all the Osaka Bay hotels
Shin-Osaka
Shin-Osaka is not far from the shinkansen (high-speed train), meaning you can explore Japan easily from Shin-Osaka. Moreover it’s not far from downtown Osaka via the Midosuji subway line. There are plenty of places to eat and shop in Shin-Osaka, and numerous hotels. There’s not much to do in the area, but it’s perfect to do day trips from Osaka.
Where to stay in Shin-Osaka
- Luxury: Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka station. This luxury hotel is next to the shinkansen terminal. The rooms are modern and comfortable, there’s an on-site teppanyaki restaurant on the 19th floor where you can enjoy great views and the staff is friendly! Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Mid-range: Remm Shin-Osaka. This mid-range hotel offers modern and spacious rooms at affordable prices. The breakfast is great and the staff is helpful. Again, it’s very convenient if you need easy access to the shinkansen. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Budget: Y’s Hotel Shin-Osaka. It’s a nice, modern budget hotel in Shin-Osaka. The hotel features a public bath, it’s very clean and the staff is friendly and helpful. The rooms are not spacious but they’re comfortable. Click here to check the reviews, photos and availability.
- Find all the Shin-Osaka hotels
Now you know all the best places to stay in Osaka! Feel free to check out my Osaka post, and also my Japan travel tips post!
- Traveling soon? Check out my travel resources page! This list of travel accessories can also be useful!
- Don’t travel without travel insurance! It will protect you against illness, injury, theft and cancellations. Click here to get one. Here’s why get travel insurance!
- Want a tailor-made trip to Japan? Get a free quote here!
- Always use a VPN when traveling. I use ExpressVPN and I love it! Here’s why use a VPN when traveling.
Leave a Reply