The best areas to stay in Osaka should be around the subway stations. There are plenty of stellar hotels surrounding the major stations of Osaka like Umeda, Namba, and Shinsaibashi. The red Midosuji subway line meanders through major parts of Osaka and connects the city core of Namba, Umeda, and Shin-Osaka Shinkansen bullet train station.
Your hotel doesn’t have to be smack dab next to the station but should be somewhere between five to ten minutes on foot. First, you can get anywhere easily only a few steps from where you stay without dragging your luggage everywhere.
In this article, I’ll be suggesting the four best areas to stay in Osaka and what’s great about them so you can pick the most suitable spot plus ten recommended hotels for your next stay.
Namba Station: Best Area To Stay In Osaka For Nightlife, Food, And Shopping Possibilities
Namba is the best neighborhood to stay in Osaka if you wanna spend most of your days exploring Dotonbori. Its easy access to Nara and Kyoto makes it a perfect layover to rest your back. From Namba Station, you can reach Osaka Kansai Airport in roughly 40 minutes.
The main happenings here center around shopping and nightlife with an impressive collection of stellar food spots and well-received restaurants. These dining holes are usually open very late at night so you won’t miss out on any chance of losing your favorite midnight craving.
Speaking of the hotels, you’ll find that most of those accommodations are a tad bigger than the average room size in Japan. You can choose from a wide range of three-star hotels to four-star heavyweights.
Best Read: A Travel Guide to Dotonbori, Japan: Your Favorite Eats, Insta-worthy Spots, Things to Do, and More
3 Best Hotels In Osaka Near Namba Station
Swiss Hotel Nankai Osaka
Bring exceptional Swiss hospitality to the ever-bustling streets of Namba, Swiss Hotel Nankai Osaka is designed to have you wowed right at the moment you enter the lobby. Its exquisite palatial lobby atrium enfolds an extensive collection of over 540 fully-stocked guest rooms.
Its on-site Pürovel Spa is a perfect hideout to rest your tired cores after a long day. And if your hungry stomach goes rumbling, reserve a seat at one of the restaurants at the Swiss hotel to munch on freshly crafted sushi rolls or fusion Cantonese dishes.
Holiday Inn Osaka Namba
Repeated guests of Holiday Inn love how easy it gets to visit the Osaka Castle, Universal Studio Japan, or the Floating Garden.
The hotel is wrapped around by a multitude of shops and department stores as well as bougie bars and dining holes.
Holiday Inn keeps it humble with just over 300 guest rooms to retain the personal feel. There’s an on-site restaurant dishing up authentic bites and even a convenience store to restock your luggage anytime you need.
Hiyori Hotel Osaka Namba Station
Last but not least, Hiyori is another great call to bring you a curated stay with a short car ride to both Kyocera Dome Osaka, Osaka Castle, Universal Studios Japan, and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Hiyori Hotel can be reached from Namba Station in less than eight minutes on foot.
The La Biyori restaurant here can’t be missed. They dish up incredible Italian cuisine if you need a spin on the palate.
Best Read: An Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Universal Studios Japan
Umeda: Best Area To Stay In Osaka For Modern Cityscapes & Direct Trains To Kansai
Stick to Umeda if you plan to go somewhere further afield such as the Kansai region on a direct train without wasting time on a layover. This is a luxury that Namba Station cannot offer as there are not many direct train rides to Kansai from Namba. Trains between Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and Himeji also cut through Umeda before heading to Kansai.
If you’ve obtained the JR Pass, that’s even better as the pass also covers rides on the Shinkansen bullet train. It stops at the Shin-Osaka Station which is a stone’s throw away from Umeda’s Osaka Station.
Even though the Umeda neighborhood is not as busy as Namba, it has a better concentration of higher-end accommodations and upper-mid-range brands. The rooms are also bigger here and you can reach the airport in just an hour on the JR Kansai Rapid Airport train. Umeda is not short on tasty eateries without costing you an arm and a leg for a great meal.
2 Best Hotels In Osaka Near Umeda Station
The Ritz-Carlton Osaka
What to expect from a 100-year-old tycoon when they brought their massive chain to this part of Osaka? Well, be prepared to immerse into a beautiful blend of the West and the East. The hotel takes over the upper floors of a skyscraper, embracing you with its distinctive Old Europe style. The tastefully curated fusion cuisines here will have your jaw dropped. Hanagatami is dubbed as one of the must-try spots, levitating your palate with an extraordinary take on traditional sushi. It teams up with Xiang Tao, La Baie, and Splendido to spoil your empty stomach with choices.
Hotel Monterey Osaka
Hotel Monterey, a quirky three-star hotel in Osaka, is disguised as a European palace when you look at it from the facade. A few-night stay here levels up your experience with its royal feel insured with a casual and friendly touch. Nestled on the eighth floor of the building this hotel sets foot in a small chapel, bringing its medieval vibe to this iconic mid-range hotel in this part of Japan.
Shinsaibashi: Best Area To Stay In Osaka For Shopaholics
Namba and Umeda take the lead as the most popular area to stay in Osaka but Shinsaibashi emerges as a stellar choice for those planning to stick to the west end of Dotonbori.
The main thrill here is everything shopping related, with two major shopping hubs stretching along Midosuji Avenue and Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade. The first one is a holy land for higher-end boutique stores and world-renown fashion chains while the latter is home to mid-range heavyweights such as Uniqlo and H&M.
4 Best Hotels To Stay In Shinsaibashi, Osaka
Hotel Nikko Osaka
This symbolic Japanese hotel chain is no stranger to repeat travelers to the swanky Midosuji Avenue. The hotel is enveloped by a huge range of luxury shops within a short walk from the nearby Shinsaibashi Subway Station. Plus, you can easily get to Dotonbori on foot from the hotel.
The guest rooms here are carefully appointed with plush beddings and large bathtubs to rest your tired bones after a long day hitting the shops. On top of that, the city view from the room will have you hypnotized with its sweeping wraparound vista of the city lights.
Hotel Mystays Shinsaibashi
The best thing about Hotel Mystays is that it’s only a minute’s walk from Shinsaibashi Station. A train ride from here to Umeda is only 20 minutes, while Kyoto is less than 45 minutes.
W Osaka
Meanwhile, W Osaka is located smack dab in the heart of the Shinsaibashi on a vibrant street called Midōsuji. Staying at W Osaka Hotel means staying sociable and celebrating the eclectic nightlife is never a daunting task thanks to its proximity to the nearby Dotonbori.
W Osaka Hotel captures your heart with a modern take on traditional Japanese design by blending luxurious hints into a casual yet playful chic atmosphere.
Capsule&Spa Grand Sauna Shinsaibashi
Unlike the other hotels I mentioned above, Capsule&Spa Grand Sauna keeps it neat and straightforward by designing a cool capsule bed to rest your back at the end of the day. Instead of shining its torch on the whistles and bells like award-winning restaurants or a magnificent lobby, Capsule&Spa Grand Sauna helps you save some bucks so you can enjoy what Osaka has to offer to the fullest without maxing out your credit card.
The capsule hotel is walkable to the transport hub, convenience stores, and many department stores selling electrical appliances, cosmetics, and Japanese snacks. If you wanna spend a tad more for extra comfort and amenities, there are private capsule rooms with desks. Meanwhile, the shared lounge is stocked up with sauna facilities, Japanese comics, and even a game room where you can socialize with other like-minded travelers.
Tennoji: The Best Place To Stay Away From The Crowd
Last but not least, the upstart Tennoji rises from a humble beginning as a seedy area that most tourists used to overlook. Today, Tennoji has become a wonderful area to spend your nights in the south of Osaka. As Tennoji is not that popular compared to other parts of the city, the nightly rate here tends to be more reasonable. If you don’t really need to pursue those chaotic shopping hubs, staying in Tennoji will guarantee a pleasant vacation with fewer people and less noise.
Today, Tennoji is known as the home of the tallest building in all of Japan, Abeno Harukas. A brief visit to this skyscraper will take you to the largest department store in the country and a namesake art museum. Meanwhile, the top three floors of the building have been converted into an observation deck called Harukas 300.
Best Hotel In Tennoji, Osaka
Osaka Marriott Hotel
Occupying the 38th to the 57th floor of Japan’s tallest building, Abeno Harukas, Osaka Marriott is undoubtedly the most luxurious place to stay in Tennoji. The hotel neighbors Ōsaka-Abenobashi Station. Each guestroom sits on a large footprint with massive floor-to-ceiling windows to create a sun-flooded space up in the air. On the other side of the windows, the sweeping wraparound vista of the dazzling skylines becomes your neighbor when the sun is out.
The exquisite Club Lounge makes sure you don’t have to travel far for great bites. They serve incredible breakfast choices as well as afternoon tea and cocktails here whenever you’re back from the road. Meanwhile, the M-Boutique is my absolutely favorite spot here. All the baked goods and sweet treats are house-made, so get ready to be spoiled with choices if you’re looking for a perfect souvenir to bring home.
With this ultimate hotel guide in Osaka, you won’t have a hard time picking your favorite stay. To help you make a better plan for Osaka, I’ve compiled some handy travel guides below so you don’t have to search for things to do yourself:
Everything You Need to Know about Osaka
Explore more of our adventures around Osaka:
- Travel Guide: A Pocket Osaka Travel Guide
- Attractions: Top 15 Things To Do In Osaka
- Food: Ultimate Osaka Food Guide
Simplify Your Osaka Trip