The Best Budget-Friendly Hotels to Book in Osaka, Japan

Hostel Mitsuwaya Osaka, located in a former wholesale toy store, offers a modern stay just minutes from the buzzy Dōtonbori strip. Here, you’ll need to forget everything you know about regular bunk beds, as the shared dorms feature a knotted wood variety – each one is fully enclosed with a small curtain for optimum privacy. During warmer months, head to the rooftop to lounge on a hammock overlooking the city’s cherry blossom trees.

No visit to Osaka is complete without a stay in one of its famed capsule hotels. Hotel Cargo Shinsaibashi is the coolest of the bunch. Instead of the regular just-enough-space-to-fit-your-body capsule, these are more like decked-out, fully-enclosed bunk beds with a TV in each and a curtain for privacy. Don’t fancy sharing a bathroom? There’s a private open-air bath on the rooftop, for a little more solitude.

Bibliophiles will delight in The Dorm’s 2,000-strong collection of books; there’s everything from travel to art, architecture, fashion and Japanese manga to choose from. When you’re ready for some shut-eye, simply open the door between the bookshelves for dorm-style rooms with custom-made bunk beds. Female travellers will also appreciate the female-only bunk room that can sleep up to 60 guests.

As its name suggests, Hiyori Hotel is just next to Namba Station, which has excellent subway transport links as well as fast connections to Kansai International Airport. Despite its central location, the hotel offers a tranquil escape. Common areas are filled with greenery, rooms are neutral-hued, happy hour drinks are complimentary and there’s an Italian restaurant on-site, too, for when you need your pasta fix.

Book Guest House Rice Chikko for a pared-back stay just five minutes’ walk from Osaka Castle. A communal feel is encouraged here, with a living area and bar on the ground floor, and a projector that regularly screens movies and football games. Unfussy private rooms feature a simple bed, TV and safe, while shampoo, conditioner and soap are provided in the shared bathrooms.

Hotel Toyo is an affordable, friendly place to stay that functions somewhere between a hostel and a hotel. Guest rooms are private and minimal; each has tatami flooring and a convertible futon bed. The lobby area feels like a backpacker’s retreat, with welcoming communal spaces and vibrant murals decorating the walls. An arcade, rooftop terrace and coin laundry are all on site. The staff at Toyo are multilingual, and the hotel is only a short walking distance from the nearest transit station.

J-Ship is another modern capsule hotel with slightly more spacious bunks. This lavishly decorated hotel also features a spa, as well as a Japanese rock garden, a common area with televisions, safes for valuables and laundry facilities. The famous Namba Yasaka Shrine is less than five minutes away, and the hotel is surrounded by convenience stores and supermarkets, making it the perfect spot for those in search of affordable practicality.

In many ways, Ebisu Hotel may come off as a typical business hotel. However, it’s the location that really makes this place stand out. Ebisu is perched mere steps from Tsutenkaku Tower, the glorious symbol of a bygone era in Osaka. Adjacent to Nipponbashi and surrounded by restaurants, including some of the city’s best local street food, and only a couple of minutes from the nearest station, this friendly hotel is hard to beat. The front desk is open 24 hours, and there are both Japanese and Western-style rooms to choose from.

Though slightly more expensive than the others on this list, Bali Tower is an amazing urban retreat that offers great value considering all the comforts provided. The hotel is designed to resemble an island resort and has romantic rooms for couples, and spacious suites for families. Though somewhat gaudy – the rooms include an almost unnecessary amount of gadgets and decorations – it makes for an exciting stay. Free alcoholic beverages are served in the lobby nightly, there is an arcade and a restaurant in the building, and it’s only minutes away from Tennoji Station.