Wondering where to stay in Osaka on your next trip to Japan? I’ve got you covered! Find the best areas and hotels in Osaka in the guide below.
When travelling along the Golden Route, Osaka can be a great base for a few days. Located not too far from Kyoto, Osaka is a more modern alternative and often a lot cheaper for accommodation. Plus, if you like good food and fantastic nightlife, Osaka will not disappoint!
Being the third-largest city in Japan, Osaka has quite a few areas and hotels to choose from. So if you’re visiting for the first time and aren’t quite sure where to start looking, I’ve got your back!
After having visited and stayed in Osaka multiple times, I’ve got a pretty good idea of what to recommend (and what to avoid in the future!). Keep reading to find out where to stay in Osaka!
As I travel to Osaka often, I’ll keep updating this guide after every trip to include new hotels I enjoyed. I haven’t included any long-term vacation rentals I’ve stayed at (like Airbnbs) in this guide, as I wouldn’t recommend them for first-time visitors.
In This Travel Guide
When travelling along the Golden Route, Osaka can be a great base for a few days. Located not too far from Kyoto, Osaka is a more modern alternative and often a lot cheaper for accommodation. Plus, if you like good food and fantastic nightlife, Osaka will not disappoint!
Being the third-largest city in Japan, Osaka has quite a few areas and hotels to choose from. So if you’re visiting for the first time and aren’t quite sure where to start looking, I’ve got your back!
After having visited and stayed in Osaka multiple times, I’ve got a pretty good idea of what to recommend (and what to avoid in the future!). Keep reading to find out where to stay in Osaka!
As I travel to Osaka often, I’ll keep updating this guide after every trip to include new hotels I enjoyed. I haven’t included any long-term vacation rentals I’ve stayed at (like Airbnbs) in this guide, as I wouldn’t recommend them for first-time visitors.
In This Travel Guide
- In a Rush? Best Places to Stay in Osaka
- 1. Namba (Minami)
- 2. Umeda (Kita)
- 3. Honmachi (Central Osaka)
- 4. Osaka Bay Area
- Should You Stay in Kyoto or Osaka?
- Conclusion – Where To Stay In Osaka
In a Rush? Best Places to Stay in Osaka
If you don’t have enough time to read the full guide, check our breakdown of the best areas and hotels in Osaka below, including our top pick!
The Navigatio’s top Pick
The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi
Located in a quiet neighbourhood, only 7 minutes from Dotonbori and 2 minutes from Shinsaibashi Station, The Bridge Hotel is my favourite hotel in Osaka. The rooms are pretty spacious, for Japanese standards, and the beds are very comfortable.
The hotel also hosts a daily Free Ramen Event where you can pick up a free bowl of ramen (including sake, beer or sodas). They also offer free bike rentals and host other free cultural experiences, such as kimono try-ons, origami workshops and more.
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Best For Hotel Book Now First-Time Visitors (Namba/Shinsaibashi) The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi Check Availability Nightlife & Food Lovers (Namba) Karaksa Hotel Osaka Namba Check Availability Comfort & Spa & Views (Umeda) Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower Check Availability Budget Travellers (Honmachi) Super Hotel Premier Osaka Honmachi Check Availability
Namba (Minami district) is the best place to stay in Osaka when visiting for the first time. It’s close to Dotonbori, the heart of Osaka’s nightlife, and is well-connected to other parts of the city. Staying near Namba, in an area like Shinsaibashi, is a great way to get the best of Namba but in a quieter neighbourhood.
Umeda (Kita district) is a better option for those who want to use Osaka as a base for day trips. While this area has less “wow” factor compared to Namba, it’s near one of the main train stations that’ll easily take you to nearby places such as Nara, Kyoto or Kobe.
Staying near Shin-Osaka may seem good for day trips, as it’s the Shinkansen station. However, it’s more of a commuters’ hub, so I’d normally advise against it. If you want to get on the Shinkansen, it’s easy enough to get to Shin-Osaka by metro from other areas in Osaka.
Budget travellers will be happy to hear that Honmachi (Central Osaka), Tennoji and Nishinari have great and affordable options. And, of course, as Osaka is home to Universal Studios Japan, visitors or families will have a great time staying in the Osaka Bay Area.
All that being said, public transport in Osaka is very reliable. It’s very easy to go from one area to the next. While each area in Osaka has its own pros and cons, it’s best to pick a hotel that fits your budget and offers the highest comfort.
Best Area to Stay in Osaka (Map)
Below is an overview of my recommended areas in Osaka.
Green = Namba & Shinsaibashi
Blue = Umeda
Pink = Honmachi
Yellow = Tennoji
Black = Osaka Bay Area
1. Namba (Minami)
Best for first-time visitors, foodies and the best nightlife
Why Stay in Namba?
Namba is by far the best place to stay in Osaka. This is the heart of Osaka, home to Dotonbori and the best of the city’s nightlife.
Countless restaurants, bars, shops and street food vendors will be on your doorstep. You’ll also be within walking distance to other popular areas such as Americamura, Den Den Town and Shinsaibashi.
As Namba is also home to a big transport hub, it’s very easy to loop around Osaka. While Umeda is often seen as the best place to stay for day trips, Namba has quicker connections to Wakayama Prefecture (perfect for visiting Koyasan), Mie Prefecture and Nara.
Downside: Since Namba is the entertainment hub of Osaka, it can get pretty busy and loud. However, the hotels I listed below are in quieter streets/neighbourhoods, so this shouldn’t be an issue.
Where to Stay in Namba?
Here are my top hotel picks in Namba Osaka:
The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi
- How far from the nearest train station?: 3-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station
- Highlights: Daily free ramen and drinks (including alcoholic beverages). Cultural events, including kimono try-ons and DIY workshops. Free bicycle rentals. Located on a quiet street.
- Laundry?: Yes (additional charge)
- Luggage storage?: Yes.
The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi is my top pick for places to stay in Osaka. I loved staying here myself! While this hotel technically isn’t in Namba, but in Shinsaibashi, it’s only a short walk from Dotonbori and sits on a quiet street away from the busy crowds of Namba.
With comfortable and modern rooms, The Bridge Hotel makes for a great base whilst in Osaka. Located only a few minutes from the nearest station, it’s easy to make your way around the city or go on day trips.
What I liked most about The Bridge Hotel is the extras you get while staying here. Every day, you can enjoy free drinks (including alcoholic drinks) and ice cream in the breakfast area. And even better, for one hour every day, you can also grab a free bowl of ramen here!
The hotel also hosts special cultural events, like free kimono try-ons, craft workshops and seasonal activities. There is even the option to use their free bike rental services. All in all, it’s a great place!
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IAM Hotel (4*)
- How far from the nearest train station?: 4-minute walk from Kintetsu-Nippombashi Station, 8-minute walk from Namba Station
- Highlights: Spacious rooms with a mix of traditional and modern features. Tatami mats and Western beds.
- Laundry?: Yes (additional charge)
- Luggage storage?: Yes.
If you want to stay close to where the action is happening but avoid the huge crowds, the IAM Hotel could be the perfect match. The location is really what sells this hotel, as it’s only a short 5-minute walk from Dotonbori and the Glico Man Sign and close to Namba Station.
The rooms are spacious, featuring a minimalist yet modern Japanese interior. The hotel also has family rooms with two large double beds, along with your usual double and twin rooms.
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Karaksa Hotel Osaka Namba (4*)
- How far from the nearest train station?: 5-minute walk from Namba Subway Station, 10-minute walk from JR Namba Station
- Highlights: Connecting rooms available (perfect for families), free snacks and drinks available on the ground floor
- Laundry?: Yes (additional charge)
- Luggage storage?: Yes.
Another hotel in an incredible location, Karaksa Hotel Osaka Namba sits just a short 5-minute walk from Dotonbori. You can get to the nearest subway station within five minutes, and JR Namba Station can be reached within 10.
While it’s a busy area, the hotel itself is surprisingly quiet. The minimal design has some lovely wooden features that give the space a warm feeling. Top it off with some comfortable and thick mattresses, and you’ve got yourself a perfect hotel in Osaka.
Another big plus of this hotel is that you can book connecting rooms, making it a great choice for families staying in Osaka.
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2. Umeda (Kita)
Best for using Osaka as a base for day trips
Why Stay in Umeda?
Umeda is located in the northern part of Osaka and is home to one of the city’s main train stations. If you decide to stay here, you won’t have to drag your luggage too far after arriving in the city. Being so close to the main station also helps if you want to use Osaka as your base for day trips throughout the Kansai Region.
From Osaka, you can very easily get to places like Nara, Kyoto, Kobe, Arima Onsen, Himeji or Okayama (Kurashiki). To avoid having to move your luggage daily, booking a hotel in Umeda gives you the perfect opportunity to explore Kansai. Umeda is also the start of our one-day Osaka itinerary, so you can easily see the main sights of the city in a day before venturing out.
Umeda is known as the shopping and business district of Osaka. This area looks and feels like a modern city, but there are still many restaurants, bars and izakaya around. It’s perfect for a nice meal before heading back to your hotel in the evening.
Downside: While staying in Umeda has many advantages, it lacks the vibrant atmosphere you find in Namba. However, it’s very easy to visit Namba in the evening and head back towards Umeda on the subway.
Where to Stay in Umeda?
Here are my top picks for hotels in Umeda:
Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower (5*)
- How far from the nearest train station?: 5-minute walk from Yodoyabashi Station.
- Highlights: Sky Spa (open-air public bath) with unbeatable views of Osaka. Sauna, fitness room and an on-site restaurant. Large, comfortable rooms with city views.
- Laundry?: Yes (additional charge). Dry cleaning is also available.
- Luggage storage?: Yes.
Candeo Hotels is a chain I’ve stayed with many times in many different cities across Japan, and they never disappoint. What makes Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower stand out is its incredible views, including the view from the open-air sky spa on the 31st floor (for which the hotel holds the Guinness World Record for highest outdoor infinity public bath!).
The hotel offers a large selection of different types of rooms, all very reasonably sized (some are very large!) and with very comfortable Western beds. Some of the more expensive rooms even have a private open-air bath.
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Hilton Osaka Hotel (5*)
- How far from the nearest train station?: 2-minute walk from Osaka Station
- Highlights: On-site swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and restaurant
- Laundry?: Yes (additional charge)
- Luggage storage?: Yes.
If location is important to you, you can’t go wrong with the Hilton Osaka. Only a 2-minute walk to Osaka Station, this hotel sits pretty much directly next to the main station in the city. It’s perfect if you’re planning on doing day trips.
When booking with Hilton, you also know what you’re going to get: comfortable, modern rooms with great service. Even though the rooms are very modern, Hilton has implemented some small traditional Japanese elements.
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Hotel Wing Select Osaka Umeda (3*)
- How far from the nearest train station?: 6-minute walk from Nakazakichō Station, 10-minute walk fromUmeda Station
- Highlights: More budget-friendly, while getting great value for your money
- Laundry?: Yes (additional charge)
- Luggage storage?: Yes.
Hotel Wing Select Osaka Umeda is a more budget-friendly option in Umeda. This funky hotel is very much “The Great Gatsby” inspired, as you can immediately tell from the fabulously decorated rooms, restaurant and bar.
The size of the rooms is pretty decent, especially for the price. They’re definitely on the small side, but bigger than budget hotel chains like APA. The hotel also has a laundry room with both washing machines and tumble dryers, making it a perfect hotel to stay in if you’re travelling through Japan for a few weeks.
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3. Honmachi (Central Osaka)
Best for visiting Osaka on a budget
Why Stay in Honmachi?
While Japan isn’t the cheapest country to visit, it’s still possible to save some money here and there. As hotels are often one of the biggest costs of travelling, you could easily save some money here. However, you still want to make sure you stay somewhere comfortable!
Located between Kita and Minami, Honmachi lies in Central Osaka. There isn’t much to see or do, but that means that accommodation is very affordable. Yet, there are quite a few good restaurants around. You can walk to Osaka Castle from Honmachi, or take the subway to visit any other part of the city with ease.
Downside: There isn’t much to do or see in Honmachi, but you can easily take the subway to visit Osaka’s highlights.
Where to Stay in Honmachi?
Here are my top picks for accommodation in Honmachi:
Super Hotel Premier Osaka Honmachi Ekimae (3*)
- How far from the nearest train station?: 5-minute walk from Honmachi Station
- Highlights: On-site onsen
- Laundry?: Yes (additional charge)
- Luggage storage?: Yes.
The rooms in Super Hotel Premier Osaka Homachi Ekimae give you everything you need for a few days. Comfortable beds in a modern room. Rooms are on the small side, but as this is one of the more affordable hotels on this list, it’s understandable.
The biggest selling point for this hotel is its on-site onsen. If you’re staying here, you can use it for free! Plus, it’s located pretty much next to the train station for very easy access to the rest of Osaka.
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Osaka View Hotel Honmachi (4*)
- How far from the nearest train station?: 2-minute walk from Osaka Metro Honmachi Station
- Highlights: Some rooms have a tatami feature
- Laundry?: Yes (additional charge)
- Luggage storage?: Yes.
The rooms in the Osaka View Hotel Honmachi are beautiful! Some of them come with a tatami seating area and have fantastic views over Osaka. The hotel is located close to the station, giving you easy access to other parts of the city.
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4. Osaka Bay Area
Best for families and visitors of Universal Studios.
Why Stay in the Osaka Bay Area?
Osaka Bay is home to Osaka Universal Studios Japan (USJ), the Osaka Aquarium, and the Tempozan Ferris wheel. If you’re planning on visiting USJ, I don’t think you HAVE to stay in this area as it’s relatively easy to get to on public transport. However, if you’re visiting USJ for more than one day, it could be a good option. It’s also a good option for families.
Osaka Bay Area feels a bit American, with many different types of Western fast food to enjoy. On top of that, it’s much quieter than staying in areas like Umeda or Namba.
Downside: It takes 20–30 minutes on the subway to get to central Osaka from the Osaka Bay Area. If you’re planning to see Osaka or take day trips from Osaka, you may want to stay somewhere else.
Where to Stay in the Osaka Bay Area?
Here are my top hotel picks in the Osaka Bay Area:
The Park Front Hotel at Universal Studios (4*)
- How far from the nearest train station?: 2-minute walk from Universal City Station
- Highlights: Located next to Universal Studios Japan, many rooms for larger groups available (perfect for families)
- Laundry?: Yes (additional charge. Dry cleaning is also available.
- Luggage storage?: Yes.
You can’t stay closer to Universal Studios Japan than this hotel. It sits next to Universal City Station and the entrance of the park. If you’re planning to visit USJ for a couple of days, this is your best pick.
Most of the rooms have lovely city views, and multiple larger rooms can accommodate up to six people. On-site, you can also find a laundry room, a cafe, a pancake shop, and a pizza restaurant.
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Art Hotel Osaka Bay Tower (4*)
- How far from the nearest train station?: 3-minute walk from Bentencho Station.
- Highlights: On the Osaka Loop Line, free USJ shuttle bus and access to Solaniwa Onsen.
- Laundry?: Yes (additional charge). Dry cleaning is also available.
- Luggage storage?: Yes.
Located pretty much next to Bentencho Station, ART HOTEL Osaka Bay Tower is a great option if you still want to explore Osaka as well as visit the Bay Area. Bentencho Station sits on the Osaka Loop Line, which connects all major parts of the city.
The hotel offers clean, modern rooms, many of which come with a beautiful view of Osaka. You can also use the free shuttle to and from Universal Studios Japan offered by the hotel.
It’s also worth mentioning that you can buy a room with access to Solaniwa Onsen, which is an on-site spa hosting various onsen baths, saunas and an open-air bath. If you’d like to try onsen, this could be a great opportunity.
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Should You Stay in Kyoto or Osaka?
Both Osaka and Kyoto are popular cities along the Golden Route. As they are not too far from each other, we’re often asked whether you should stay in either Kyoto or Osaka. We’ve got a full in-depth guide comparing the two cities as a base.
To quickly give you an overview: both cities make for a great base. Choosing which one you’d like to stay in (or both) is a very personal choice.
Osaka is a more modern city, accommodation here is often cheaper compared to Kyoto, and it makes for a great base for day trips to other places like Koyasan, Nara and Himeji. It also has much better nightlife than Kyoto. On the downside, there is less to see in Osaka, and it won’t give you that traditional atmosphere Kyoto will.
Kyoto, on the other hand, has a lot more to see and do. As the ancient capital of Japan, it also has a beautiful traditional atmosphere, and it’s a great place to try staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). Accommodation in Kyoto is often more expensive because of this, and the city gets very quiet at night.
We have a separate guide on where to stay in Kyoto with our favourite areas and hotels if you want to compare the options.
Conclusion – Where To Stay In Osaka
Hopefully, this guide has given you a better idea of where to stay in Osaka. I’d like to emphasise that you don’t have to find the perfect hotel. Just pick a hotel that fits your budget and gives you the comfort you need while travelling. Most areas in Osaka are well-connected through the Osaka Loop Line, so travelling around is fairly easy!
To quickly sum up this guide, the best area in Osaka for accommodation is Namba and its surroundings. If you’d rather use Osaka as a base for travelling around the Kansai Region, Umeda would be the best spot.
For budget travellers, Honmachi (Central Osaka), Tennoji and Nishinari are cheaper options. There isn’t too much to see in these areas, but as Osaka’s subway system works perfectly, that shouldn’t be a big issue. Lastly, the Osaka Bay Area can be a good option for those who are visiting USJ for multiple days.
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