The Best Hotels to Book in Osaka for Every Traveller

One of the best parts of travelling is learning about different cultures. What better way is there to experience Japanese culture first-hand than staying at a ryokan? With tatami flooring, roll-up beds on the floor, and sliding doors, this traditional inn will give you a taste of traditional Japanese lifestyle. Located conveniently at Nipponbashi, near the city centre, each room has a private bathroom – most ryokans have shared bathrooms.

The first thing you will notice about Dotonbori Hotel are the four pillars at its entrance. Each is carved with a huge human face and a pair of feet at the base. These faces – East Asian, European, African and Indian – symbolise that all cultures are welcomed and treated the same at Dotonbori Hotel. The rooms are clean and cosy, making for a comfortable stay. The staff are all multilingual and most of them can speak English well. With the large number of services that can be provided for free at Dotonbori Hotel, including video games, bicycle rentals and more, you can be sure that all your needs will be met.

Arietta Hotel is located near Midosuji street, one of the main shopping boulevards in Osaka that runs between Kita-ku in the north and Minami in the south. However, nestled in a quiet side-street, it is out of the way of the hustle and bustle of the shopping area, allowing you to relax. This boutique hotel does not offer anything lavish or quirky with its rooms, but they do have relatively large suites for a city centre hotel in Osaka, a range of free facilities, and impeccable service.

This stylish ryokan has both Japanese and Western style rooms. Whichever one you choose, you will find influence from the other, making each room a distinct fusion of East and West. Rooms are very spacious, even by Western standards – a rare find in Japan, especially for a hotel located downtown. This ryokan is a true oasis in the middle of the bustling city, a place where you can unwind after a hectic day shopping at nearby Shinsaibashi.

The Conrad, part of the Hilton hotel group, specialises in rooms with a view. Located on the top floors of the Nakanoshima Festival West Tower with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, the hotel can lay claim to showcasing one of the best panoramas in Osaka. The Conrad’s six dining options, including a teppanyaki and sushi in the sky experience, are fitting for a city known as “Japan’s kitchen”. The hotel’s indoor pool and on-site spa are open every day.

Self-identifying as a flagship hotel (pun intended) “for those who enjoy travelling”, the Shinsaibashi district’s Flag has a wide appeal. Bring your wallet as the city’s main shopping street is just a one-minute walk away. A sleek control panel built into each room feels very Japanese, as does the inclusion of a futuristic Dyson hairdryer.

As a part-time photography studio, the Blend Inn is full of light and modern architecture. The whole self-catering property can be rented out for your personal use. Dotted houseplants and sheer coloured curtains soften the industrial feel, and who doesn’t love a spiral staircase? As with every seriously cool place to stay, there’s a funky rooftop space. Blend in, it certainly does not.

With seven guest rooms available, featuring a spa bathtub, Hotel Yu-Shu definitely has that small, special feel. All rooms are soundproofed to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep, and there’s a kitchenette and dining area where you can make your own meals. The hotel is located in Dotonburi district, a 10-minute walk from the Mittera Temple and Kuromon Market.

A boutique hotel with a retro design inspired by an old movie theatre, all rooms at the Osaka Cinnamon include a bathtub. Disabled-access rooms are available and the reception is open all hours – great for those arriving on a late flight. With an excellent city-centre location, Dotonbori’s top class restaurants and Shinsaibashi’s luxury stores are less than a 15-minute walk away.

Stay up late to enjoy the “midnight soba” (a Japanese dish of buckwheat noodles) dinner, served until 11pm, then order a boxed breakfast delivery to your room if you fancy a lie-in the next morning. Feel the elements at the hotel’s large communal outdoor bath – or the indoor one if you get chilly. Rooms have a cosy feel with touches of natural wood and pretty modern lanterns.

Cargo is an upmarket capsule hotel, a Japanese concept of compact, functional sleeping spaces. On the larger side than traditional sleeping pods, rooms are cleverly hidden behind curtains and separated into male and female-only areas. Cosy down in your pyjamas and slippers after unwinding in the hotel’s open-air bath. The headphones provided in your room means you can enjoy on-demand TV without disturbing other guests.