3 Best Areas to Stay in Osaka for Your First Epic Visit to Japan
3 Best Areas to Stay in Osaka for First Time Visitors (With a List of Recommended Osaka Hotels)
After visiting Osaka for so many years I’ve now narrowed down 3 of the best areas to stay in Osaka for first time visitors.
And I’m strictly writing this from my own past experiences traveling and exploring this amazing city of Osaka, Japan.
Because I am often asked for names of the best affordable hotels in Osaka to stay for a memorable first trip. I figured now is a good time as any as to write a post on the best areas to stay in Osaka. Especially now when Japan is a super popular tourists destination, especially with the current weaker Yen. So you get more with your hard earned dollars.
You won’t have difficulty finding good food in Osaka…
And as the second largest city in Japan, Osaka has lots of distinct neighborhoods with affordable hotels and rustic ryokan guest houses. Even those famous fun little Japanese capsule hotels are popular accommodations for single or small group of travelers.
My recommended Osaka hotels are located in prime locations of the city. Without the big price tags. All the hotels I recommend here are easy to find. And especially easy to get around Osaka for your very first epic visit to this amazing city after dropping off your luggage.
And I’ll also include some pointers for booking Osaka hotels. Also give my advice on whether or not you should pay for breakfast at the hotel of your choice or not.
Osaka has some of the friendliest fun loving and tourist friendly people in Japan…
If you are undecided if whether you should stay in Tokyo or Kobe instead, here are 5 reasons why Osaka is the perfect start point on your inaugural Japan journey.
5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD STAY IN OSAKA FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT TO JAPAN
- Osaka is close to Kansai International Airport (KIX) via public transportation. Kobe Airport is also reasonably close especially by train.
- Osaka is a great jumping point for visiting other cities in Japan’s Kansai region. Because of all the train stations connecting to nearby major cities such as Kyoto, Nara, Himeji and Kobe.
- In Japan, Osaka holds the title as the “The Nation’s Kitchen” and considering it’s Japan, a gourmand’s paradise, that’s quite a title to behold. So you’re going to find a wide variety of local Japanese and Western foods to enjoy.
- Osaka is one of the easiest to wander around on foot. The streets are flat and well-paved. Osaka is Japan’s second biggest city so go have fun exploring.
- Don’t like to walk? Osaka has the Midosuji subway line. This subway train line runs north and south. Kind of like the backbone of Osaka. Making stops at popular neighborhoods in Osaka such as Shin-Osaka, Umeda, Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Tennoji.
So those are the five reasons why you should pick Osaka as the city to explore for your first visit to Japan.
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If that’s the case, you’ll find out whether or not breakfast at the hotel is a must for your first visit to Osaka for a holiday.
TO BOOK HOTELS IN OSAKA WITH OR WITHOUT BREAKFAST? THAT IS THE QUESTION
Let’s face it hotel breakfasts are not really free. The price is lumped into the room rate. From my experience, Osaka hotels or Japanese hotels in general do not automatically include the breakfast option. You have to select the breakfast option at an additional cost.
Below are rates for hotel rooms with and without breakfast for 2 guests. If you book the room with breakfast it comes out about $8USD per person. Which is not a bad price for a buffet breakfast.
Check breakfast price, sometimes it’s actually a good deal
MY PERSONAL TAKE ON JAPANESE HOTEL BREAKFAST
Eating three square meals a day in Osaka with snacks in between is a pricey ordeal. Especially if when you are not dining alone. And ordering coffee at a Starbucks for two in Japan is not cheap. Yes, we do love our expensive caffeine wherever we go. Even coffee in small cafes in Japan can be expensive.
At buffets, you get unlimited coffee, albeit not the best-tasting coffee. But you get unlimited green tea and it’s the good powdered green tea.
Even an affordable and delightfully delicious sandwich with hot or iced coffee from 7-Eleven in Japan will cost around $8USD per person.
A typical breakfast buffet choice at hotels in Japan. Filling, but is it worth the money?…
That’s why in Japan when I travel with my wife these days I always book a hotel room with breakfast included. If you take the above sample you’ll see that the price for breakfast divided between the two of us is about $8USD per person.
That’s not bad considering I eat a lot. I mean I really, really eat a lot. My wife doesn’t but I make up for her share to the point I’m sure the hotel loses out.
Obviously, not all hotels in Japan charge the same price for breakfast. Personally, any hotel in Japan that charges $8USD to $15USD for buffet breakfast on top of the hotel room rate I consider reasonable.
There were times that I ate so much at the hotel breakfast buffet that I skipped lunch. Okay, most of the time. As I mentioned, I can really, really eat a lot.
IF YOU CAN’T STAND SECONDHAND SMOKE, MAKE SURE YOU BOOK NON-SMOKING ROOMS
I’m not a smoker and neither is my wife. Typically Japanese hotels, capsule hotels, hostels, and guesthouses have specific floors or designated smoking areas. While booking Japan hotel rooms you will be given the chance to choose non-smoking and smoking rooms.
I made a mistake once and booked a smoking room in Tokyo by accident. Don’t ask how. But I can say it’s not a good idea to book a hotel room online after a night of hard drinking.
The Wayfaring Soul Tip #10 “Book hotels when sober.”
Since Japanese hotel rooms are very small the smell of cigarette smoke gets condensed to the point I felt I was getting choked. I had to stay one night as there were no nonsmoking rooms when I checked in. Luckily one was available the next day which the hotel staff gladly moved me into. But that was one rough night.
I always make sure I book a non-smoking room in Japan…
If you’re like me and you can’t stand the smell of stale cigarettes you’d better remember to select a non-smoking room.
So now you know it’s probably best to book a Japanese hotel room with breakfast and to stay away from smoking rooms if you’re a non-smoker, I’ll show you where to book your hotels in Osaka for the best vacation ever.
HERE’S WHERE TO STAY IN OSAKA WITH HOTELS PERFECT FOR SIGHTSEEING
There are three primary areas that I highly recommend you to search for a hotel in Osaka. Each of these areas has a certain unique character and charm. All the locations I mention below in Osaka are very cool places to stay especially for first-time visitors:
- Minamai Area – It’s all here in Minamai. Shopping, eating, and an infinite number of locations to take your selfies. Overall Minami is the best area to stay in Osaka. But be warned, it’s also the busiest area with many tourists and locals.
- Kita – A slightly more expensive area in uptown Osaka. A more family and kid-friendly part of Osaka too. It is less crowded and hectic but you can take an easy stroll down to Minami for more action.
- Tennoji – This area is a toned-down section of Osaka with peaceful parks and hotel rates that are more affordable compared to Minami and Kita. This is the best area to stay in Osaka to take in the slow pace and tranquil qualities of Japan.
1. MINAMI AREA – This is Where You Want to Stay for Food, Shopping, and Pure Eye Candy
The most famous spot in Minami is an area called Dotonbori. It’s Times Square in New York City. The Piccadilly Circus of London. Many people including myself consider Minami as one of the best areas in Osaka for first-time visitors.
I also recommend booking a hotel around Dotonbori. Because you’re also within easy walking distance to Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade, which is another popular area in Osaka to explore, eat, and shop. It’s like a two-for-one in terms of travel convenience.
Staying at a hotel near Dotonbori means you won’t have to go far for food and shopping…
Hotel prices in Minami are not cheap. That said you can still find bargains and deals for hotels around Dotonbori. And still, save cash for traveling expenses in Osaka.
Because if you stay in Dotonbori you don’t have to worry about taking a train to get there. Dotonbori is one of Osaka’s most famous areas. Chances are you’ll be traveling there more than once if you’re basing yourself in Osaka and exploring cities on the outskirts.
I’ve always been a fan of the Japanese brand of Sotetsu hotels. Both of these Japanese chains of business classed hotels are also great for tourists. And their rates usually include breakfast. Sotetsu Grand Fresa Osaka Namba is conveniently near Namba Station and steps to Dotonbori a very popular tourist hotspot for food, sightseeing, and selfies.
While APA Hotel Namba-Shinsaibashi and Hostel Wasabi Osaka Bed and Library have a little bit of a longer walk but are still very good alternatives in the Minami area.
2. KITA – A Kid-Friendly Neighborhood in Osaka
Kita means north in Japanese but this area is also called Umeda. Just north of Dotonbori along Midosuji Boulevard, about a 15-minute walk north or a very short train ride on the Midosuji subway train.
JR Osaka-Umeda station is also here in Kita and with a convenient JR West office so you can pick up pre-ordered JR passes.
In general Kita hotel rates are higher. And that means the rooms are of higher quality. There are more hotels in Kita than Minamai area. So it’s quite possible to find not cheaper but rather better hotel deals within the neighborhood of Kita.
Osaka’s City Hall is a small narrow island surrounded by the O River…
This location in Osaka is less congested and crowded. But that doesn’t mean it’s not as fun as Minami Area. And if you’re traveling with young children they’ll definitely have a fun-filled day at Kids Plaza Osaka. This is why I recommend Kita as one of the best areas to stay in Osaka for your first visit, especially with young children.
If Hotel Monterey Osaka rates are to your liking then this is the hotel I recommend on top of Hotel New Hanky Osaka and Hotel Kinki. If not then the latter two are very good budget-classed choices in Kita.
3. TENNOJI – Quiet and Beautiful With a Nice Public Park
Just south of Kita and Minami, Tennoji has the most affordable hotel classes between the two other areas. It’s quieter yet you won’t be hard-pressed to find places to eat and shop.
Tennoji is also a major train transportation hub. JR Tennoji station is where I took the train for a short day trip to Wakayama City. When you get a chance be sure to check out Tennoji Park.
That’s where you’ll find the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts and Osaka Zoo. So Tennoji is also a good area to pick a hotel if you’ve got kids traveling with you as well.
It’s also one of the best areas to stay in Osaka if you want to be close to one of the city’s most beautiful parks and open spaces.
Lots of malls in Tennoji as well as a major train hub in Osaka with many hotels nearby…
Tennjoi is the area I least stayed the most in. That doesn’t mean I don’t like Tennoji I just prefer being in the Minami area is all. But if the hotels I like in Minami and Kita cost more during my travel period I usually find cheaper hotel rates in Tennoji.
APA Hotel Tennoji_Ekimae is my top pick of hotels in downtown Osaka. Followed by Hotel Trusty Osaka Abeno which is a good alternative.
Of course, I also like Miyako City Osaka Tennoji which is an expensive hotel. But if you find out there’s a good price for your particular travel dates you should book it because it’s a really nice hotel in Osaka.
So there you have it, I’ve covered the 3 areas in the amazing city of Osaka that I’m sure will be perfect for first-time tourists to Japan with hotels for some awesome sightseeing.
There are several Don Quijote stores in Osaka to pick up souvenirs during your first Japan trip…
THE TAKEAWAY
Osaka is an awesome city filled with spacious avenues, peaceful parks, and one of the wildest shopping and entertainment districts in Japan. Granted Japan hotels are not cheap. But they are not overpriced either. There are ways to save on food, such as booking a room with breakfast as I mentioned.
Staying at a hotel in Osaka where you can easily walk from one popular tourist attraction to another is a way to save on costs. That is otherwise spent on public transportation and taxis.
Which is why I recommend staying in Minamai, Kita, and Tennoji. Those are the 3 best areas to stay in Osaka for first-time visitors. You can easily explore central Osaka by staying in those three areas alone for a breathtaking first experience in Japan.
