Where to Stay in Osaka: The Ultimate Guide

Osaka is an incredible city, and once you visit, there's no question why it's one of Japan's tourist mainstay locations. It's a city powered by neon lights, excellent food, and fast-talking, fun-loving locals. It's also an ideal spot for day trips to nearby destinations like Kyoto, Nara and Kobe, so you'll never run short on things to do.

Looking for somewhere to crash while you're in town? Here's an ultimate guide to all things Osaka accommodations. Want a little travel inspiration for the planning stages? We also have three, five and seven day itineraries for you.

Osaka is one of Japan's most vibrant and diverse cities. Head to the downtown area, and you may find yourself engulfed by the towering billboards with neon lights and gigantic animatronic seafood beckoning you into its restaurant; you're in Namba, a high-octane entertainment district home to some of the city's most iconic sights, from the dazzling neon billboards that line the futuristic landscape to the bustling back alleys full of hearty izakaya (Japanese pubs).

Walk a little further and expect to be in the throngs of Amerikamura, which translates as American village, an area populated with shops peddling vintage Western clothing and hipster coffee shops.

Afterward, hop on a train, and you may wander around an early 20th-century Japanese entertainment district, aka Tennoji, a draw for visitors wishing to travel back in time to Showa-era Japan. Shinsekai, which translates as New World, is an entertainment district crammed with offbeat cafeteria-like restaurants, flashy pachinko parlors, and hole-in-the-wall style dining establishments. To get a better lay of the land, bookmark our guide to Osaka's best neighborhoods.

Osaka is a gastronomical city often referred to as "Japan's kitchen". If you're traveling on a budget and want to save as much money as you can so you can spend it on eating your way through the city, we've got some ideas. 

Hotel Relief Namba Daikokucho is five minutes from Daikokucho Station by foot; this hotel is suited for travelers looking for the best value for money deals in Osaka. They offer bunk bed twin rooms for as low as $42 or double rooms for about $45 a night. Hotel Relief also started an all-you-can-eat homemade baked bread breakfast service between 7:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. at the 2F lounge.

Karasaka Hotel rooms are spacious and aesthetically pleasing, with rooms on the 24th floor providing a breathtaking view of the Osaka skyline. For a budget of under $150, you can book their double or twin-sized rooms with the bonus option of an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast.

Hotel Hillarys Shinsaibashi is your ideal choice if you prefer a slightly more zen hotel experience. Hotel Hillarys incorporates a unique spatial design called "enishi" that engages the five senses by fusing traditional Japanese architecture with select art pieces. You can rest and recharge in their double or twin-sized rooms for about $60 -$80 USD a night. The hotel can be found three minutes on foot from Exit 4 of Shinsaibashi Station, nicely tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main city district.

Want to explore even more budget options? Check out our list of the best hotels in Osaka under $150.

While Osaka is known as the "kitchen of the nation", all those calories don't burn themselves — if you're looking to temper all that indulgence with a good workout, here's a list of the best hotels in Osaka that offer gyms with state-of-the-art equipment.

For guests seeking a hotel equipped with a gym and a natural hot spring bath, City Plaza Osaka Hotel & Spa is the perfect choice. With a large open-air hot spring on the top floor, you can enjoy the view of the night sky as you soak your fatigue away from all the traveling! When you're ready to get the blood pumping, check out the fitness club airsis located on the 14th floor. The fitness club gives you access to a full range of training equipment, plus an indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi.

A next-generation lifestyle hotel for music lovers, Aloft Osaka Dojima is a perfect fit for the self-expressive traveler. Just a three-minute walk from Watanabebashi Station, Aloft Osaka Dojima is a unique hotel offering open-concept designs alongside playful art to deliver sleek and stylish lodging for the modern traveler. The hotel also features an in-house fitness center, Re:charge, available to all guests. Re:charge has a large variety of equipment installed, from treadmills to free weights. Re:charge is available 24 hours a day and is best enjoyed with your favorite workout music.

The stylish W Osaka is another top gym choice. Besides an impressive range of amenities, such as a full-service spa and a pool, W Osaka houses the fitness gym FIT, equipped with state-of-the-art training equipment and a yoga studio. Inside FIT are several treadmills that offer an unbeatable view of the city and premium Technogym equipment for a complete workout.

Feeling pumped and want to explore more options? Read our complete guide to hotels with gyms in Osaka.

Only need the basics? A bed to rest your head, storage space for your luggage, and a clean bathroom to freshen up? Then, a capsule hotel is worth considering. Staying in a capsule hotel is a unique and quintessentially Japanese experience that has evolved over the years to cater to the modern traveler. 

Originally designed for business travelers seeking a convenient place to rest, capsule hotels have transformed into trendy accommodations for tourists and adventurers looking for something different.
The world's first capsule hotel is here in Osaka, the Capsule Inn Osaka. Founded in 1979 by renowned architect Kisho Kurokawa, Capsule Inn Osaka is located in the commercial district of Umeda, just a seven-minute walk from the Higashi-Umeda Station.

If you are searching for a capsule hotel in the heart of the city, look no further than Cabin & Capsule Hotel J-SHIP Osaka Namba. The modern Japanese-style capsule hotel is located just south of the JR Namba exit, just four minutes away by foot. The hotel also has a large public bath and jacuzzi for guests to soak in and relax. The hotel's fifth floor features a Japanese rock garden and a lounge area with a library of manga and board games that guests can freely enjoy.

Branding itself as a revolutionary capsule hotel, Hotel The Rock aims to deliver a luxurious experience at a reasonable price that will make guests want to come again and again. The capsule hotel is located a seven-minute walk away from Honmachi Station in a quiet and calm area separated from the frantic energy of the main downtown area.

Want something a little more unique? Step back in time to the Edo period with this one-of-a-kind capsule hotel. Ninja & Geisha is a new and exciting kind of capsule hotel that will make guests feel like they've entered into an Edo-period picture scroll. The hotel itself is also very well-connected, just a minute's walk away from Hankyu Awaji Station and two minutes from JR Awaji Station.

For a deeper dive into capsule hotel options in Osaka, check out this list of the best capsule hotels in Osaka.

Osaka is an undeniably cool city with excellent bars, vibrant nightlife, cutting-edge fashion, and all-around world-class style. If you want to soak up some of the vibes, consider staying in one of the city's coolest establishments. From ultra-luxury accommodations to quirky themed rooms, there's something to suit everyone's taste. To help you find your perfect match, here are some places to start.

Hotel Universal Port Vita is a must-visit, conveniently located in the Konohana-ku district. This vibrant hotel looks like it's come straight out of a cartoon and is just a stone's throw away from Universal Studios Japan, the area's most famous attraction. Themed rooms, like the Minion Room, add an extra touch of excitement to your stay. The hotel also features a buffet-style restaurant, a bar, and a gift shop where you can pick up unique souvenirs.

Namba is famous for its shopping, dining, and entertainment options, so you'll be hard-pressed to run out of things to do during your stay, and to make the most of the area, consider a night or two at Swissotel Nankai Osaka. 

For a guaranteed chic, contemporary stay with spectacular city views and surrounding areas, it's the Conrad Osaka for you. This hotel is located in the Kita district and is known for its vibrant shopping malls, such as Grand Front Osaka and the Umeda Sky. This luxury hotel offers elegantly designed rooms and suits that can be mistaken for a modern art museum. The hotel is also equipped with amenities such as an indoor pool, a spa, and an array of dining choices, including a sophisticated teppanyaki restaurant and a stylish sky bar to take in those stunning city views.

We have plenty more cool Osaka hotel options right here.

A wave of sustainable transformation is sweeping through its skyscrapers, with luxurious hotels leading the charge. In Osaka you can see that ecological commitment and opulent experiences harmoniously coexist.

Hotel Granvia is a great choice; this hotel is a beacon of luxurious outposts that has seamlessly woven sustainability into its excellent design. As part of its dedication to a greener future, the hotel has embarked on several sustainable initiatives that resonate with the UN's global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Recognizing the environmental impact of single-use plastics, Hotel Granvia has taken a decisive step toward reducing its plastic footprint. Guests will notice refillable dispenser bottles containing bath amenities, such as shampoo, conditioner, and body soap, in their rooms. This initiative reduces plastic waste and speaks of the hotel's broader environmental commitment.

For more luxury, Hilton Osaka is a wonderful example of environmental and social responsibility. Energy efficiency is paramount to Hilton Osaka's strategy to combat environmental degradation. The hotel recognizes that renewable power and energy efficiency are pivotal to achieving its ecological and economic goals. By 2030, Hilton has committed to slashing its carbon intensity by an impressive 61%.

Next up, Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is a top pick for those looking to strike the perfect casual, comfortable, and stylish blend. Recognizing the environmental cost of conventional gatherings, the hotel has introduced a revolutionary method: all electricity consumed during these events is replaced with renewable energy.

When it comes to daily operations, the hotel's dedication shines. They're made eco-friendly cleaning a standard for long-term guests. Rather than typical exhaustive room service, they're introducing a minimalist option. Guests can choose a service that replaces linens, replenishes amenities, and manages waste. This simple yet effective strategy considerably reduces the hotel's environmental footprint. 

The city is home to many other eco-friendly options, and to make it a little easier to choose the right fit for you we've put together this handy guide.

While people have been getting to Osaka by shinkansen or highway bus, more and more international flights are slated for departure and arrival at Kansai International Airport (KIX): the region's main international airport. 

Much like Narita Airport, Kansai Airport is a good way outside the city, making it quite the trek for those either coming or going. As such, we've found hotels that will make your transition from airport to city (or vice-versa) as seamless, convenient, and accessible as possible.

Hearton Hotel Nishiumeda is a budget-friendly choice with incredible access to the city and the airport as it's located just outside JR Osaka Station's Sakurabashi Exit. The hotel is great for those coming and going to the airport. From JR Osaka, you've got two choices: the Kansai-Airport Express "HARUKA", or the Kansai-Airport Rapid Service. As a nice little bonus, if you arrive earlier than expected and need a place to rest, you can check in from 11:00 a.m. rather than the usual 2:00 p.m. for an extra fee of 3,000 JPY per room. Just let the hotel know before you arrive!

For those seeking ultimate accessibility to the airport, the SiS Star Gate Hotel Kansai Airport is right up your alley. With the airport so close, you've got two ways to get there. The first is by train (using the Nankai-Kuko Line), and the airport is only a stop away. The second is using the hotel's free shuttle bus to the airport, which you must reserve beforehand.

Within its 50 floors, the Star Gate hosts six different kinds of rooms, including Japanese-style rooms and suites. To serve the 358 rooms are the hotel's five restaurants with options such as Chinese, shabu-shabu (Japanese hotpot), and its main restaurant, Stargate, on the top floor of the building.

Want to explore more airport hotel options? We've got a comprehensive guide right here.

Osaka has a reputation for being Japan's most late-night, party-loving city and has the bars to prove it. The city's best hotel bars and lobbies showcase the dichotomy of what makes Osaka so special; these establishments artfully combine upmarket luxury and elegance with a healthy injection of fun, the outcoming being the perfect blend of both worlds and the embodiment of what makes Osaka such an unforgettable city. Here are some places to start!

A little taste of New York elegance in the heart of Osaka is what you'll get at The St. Regis Bar, the flagship bar for The St. Regis Osaka. It's a place of unashamed sophistication, an air you'll notice as soon as you stroll through the grand walnut doors from the hotel's 12th-floor lobby. From the beautiful interior design to the impressive drink menu, the St. Regis Bar is where traditions continue to flourish and refinement rings true. Explore the menu and treat yourself to some opulent champagne offerings and original cocktails that bring to life colorful tales of New York; it's the perfect melding of both cities. 

Like the hotel brand itself, W Osaka's exciting Wet Bar is youthful, light, and buzzy and the perfect place to spend the evening unwinding with a drink or striking up a conversation with some of your fellow travelers. Pull up a stool at the bar and watch the bar staff in action as they elegantly glide between the counter and impressive collection of bottles, serving up world-class cocktails and a sense of fun. If you want to kick on a little, maybe catch a live music performance, or get a bit rowdy, the Wet Bar's sister venue The Living Room is the perfect place to migrate to after.

Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel is an ideally positioned luxury hotel with one of the finest bars in the city and hospitality you'll never forget. Head up to the 19th floor, and you'll find BAR PLUS, the hotel's flagship hotel bar with some of the best views in Osaka. The bar's cocktail list is its main point of pride, with limited edition, seasonal specialties on offer, all worth a try. But if you want something a little more classic, they also boast a world-class selection of rare Japanese whiskeys best enjoyed as a tasting set.

We have plenty more bar-hopping options over here!

One of the best ways to experience Osaka and the surrounding cities is by traveling with your loved one. The city has everything from all-encompassing luxury stays to more affordable but still discrete hotels, so while it may not be the most typical honeymoon destination, it's definitely a worthy option!

South of JR Osaka Station lies Kitashinchi, an area that parallels Tokyo's ritzy neighborhood of Ginza. Here, you can find the Harmonie Embrassee, a five-star hotel that has created its interpretation of luxury. With four different room concepts (each named after a rose), the hotel's design approach was to create a relaxing space that could be both comfortable and elegant.

Privacy is also one of the primary considerations of the hotel; with only four rooms per floor – there's a slight chance you'll run into anybody else during your romantic getaway with your partner. The Ever White rooms are probably your best bet if you want something to make your stay special. These rooms come in both suite and junior suite "flavors" and are known for their jacuzzi that overlooks the cityscape of Osaka.

Making its home in the renowned shopping district of Shinsaibashi is the Cross Hotel Osaka. The hotel has six different types of lodgings — two varieties of suites and four types of standard rooms. If you're looking to stay in the Cross to celebrate a special occasion or are willing to spend more, then the hotel's Cross Suite Jr. is our recommendation. With a spacious bedroom, an expansive bathroom, and a view of Shinsaibashi from the 14th floor, you won't regret this choice.

Tempted to explore more offerings? Check out this guide.