These areas in Osaka have their strengths and weaknesses. Choosing where to stay largely depends on your budget and needs.

Osaka, Japan

Tried and tested: Best places to stay in Osaka, Japan

Umeda is the area I highly recommend if you are doing day trips out of Osaka, such as to Kyoto, or will be heading to another city like Hiroshima by train. This is where the Osaka Station is located, the major station that intercity trains must pass through.

Although Umeda is a commercial district filled with salarymen, it is also a place for shopping and the arts. Offering a different vibe from Namba, it reminds me of the fast-paced Tokyo.

Shin-Imamiya — technically a train station — may sound foreign to some, but this is where you’ll find the historic district, Shinsekai, and the iconic tower, Tsutenkaku. This area is best known for its kushikatsu, or deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables.

Despite being a tourist hotspot, Shin-Imamiya is one of Osaka’s cheapest places to stay. Specifically, it’s the notorious Nishinari Ward located to the south of it.

Namba, where you’ll find the lively entertainment district Dotonbori and the iconic Glico Sign, is my favourite place to stay.

It is conveniently connected to the two Osaka airports — via the airport limousine bus to Itami Airport and the Nankai-Limited Express to Kansai International Airport.

My go-to is Cross Hotel Osaka, which is right next to the Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street. However, the demand can be high during peak periods, which may drive up prices or result in a lack of rooms.

Another option is Mercure Tokyu Stay Osaka Namba, which is relatively new. It’s slightly further away from the hustle and bustle, so it may be friendlier to our wallets.

You’ll appreciate a direct and hassle-free route like this when you have a piece of luggage (or more) filled with your Japanese loot.

The best part? You can shop all you want, head back to your accommodation to unload or rest, and continue shopping! But of course, this depends on the exact location of your accommodation.

This can be a stressful experience when you’re lost in the maze-like Osaka Station. Even now, I’m not confident in navigating it properly.

As it is further up north, Umeda is closer to Itami Airport, which is also connected via the airport limousine bus. If you’re coming from the Kansai International Airport, you can get direct access via the Kansai Airport limousine bus or the Japan Rail (JR) train.

My top choice here is Hotel Granvia Osaka, which sits on top of Osaka Station. But likewise, the convenience it offers may cause prices to shoot up during peak periods.

Fret not though, as there are several decent hotels nearby, including Hotel New Hankyu Osaka. It is possibly the most value-for-money accommodation in the vicinity.

(I’m hungry already just writing and thinking about it.)

Nishinari Ward has a bad rep as it is where two designated yakuza groups, the Sakaume-gumi and the Azuma-gumi, are based, and where most day labourers and homeless people in Osaka reside.

But after staying there for a month, it was not as bad or dangerous as it seemed. It is also a great place to understand and observe the local culture, away from all the dazzling city lights.

If you’re fearful, you can choose accommodations that are nearer to the main street or train stations like Hotel Pivot. This is where I stayed during my first Japan trip, although it has been refurbished and rebranded.

During my one-month stay, I repeatedly went to Tennoji. The area has several malls, offering more food and shopping options. Most importantly, it has the stores I frequent!

But since it wasn’t as popular among tourists, it gave me a more local neighbourhood vibe which I love. So yeah, if I’m returning to Osaka, I’ll probably set my base there!

Although I love exploring Japan, Tokyo, the capital, is surprisingly not my most visited city. It’s intriguing how Osaka was the first Japanese city I stepped foot in and is, at the time of writing, the Japanese city I visited the most.

Based on my trips, I shortlisted three areas in Osaka that are best for tourists. Each area has its strengths and weaknesses. Choosing where to stay largely depends on your budget and needs.

I even stayed there for a month in April 2024!

How I spent less than S$2,600 for a 30-day Japan trip

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission (paid by the featured businesses at no cost to you) if you purchase through these links.

Cross Hotel Osaka

A relatively new hotel in the vicinity that was rather cheap (about S$68/person/night without breakfast) given its brand and location near Dotombori.I had the highest expectations for this hotel among the three I stayed during this trip. But I didn’t like or wasn’t used to how the toilet was separated from the bathroom.The hotel had a strict requirement for guests to put the room cleaning tag on the door by 11am. We placed the tag at 10+am but apparently, the staff did their checks before the stipulated time and our room wasn’t cleaned. It wasn’t a big deal except the trash kept accumulating.Although you have to cross the street to get to the shopping area, it was still a pretty good deal and I hope the price remains like this 🙊#japan #日本 #osaka #大阪 #hotel #ホテル #japanhotel #日本ホテル #osakahotel #大阪ホテル #travel #旅行

Read my review

Mercure Tokyu Stay Osaka Namba

Hotel Granvia Osaka

The Triple Room was more cramped than what the photo shows. Nonetheless, it was a pretty comfortable stay.The hotel was relatively cheap (about S$100/night/person with breakfast) for its convenient location near Osaka Station. I’d recommend staying in this area if you’re doing day trips out of Osaka to nearby places like Nara and Kyoto.The design was dated but it was a very Japanese hotel with electronic bidet and heated toilet seat (Yes, I love it!).As for the breakfast buffet, there was a wide variety (Japanese and Western) to choose from. The dishes changed slightly for the two mornings I was there, but I obviously went for the same/similar foods.Other than having to find your way out of Osaka Station and take a 5-minute walk to get to the hotel, there’s nothing much to dislike. Honestly, Osaka Station is sooo confusing; I still haven’t figured it out despite having been to Osaka multiple times.If I’m travelling on budget and don’t mind walking a bit more, I’d stay here again.#japan #日本 #osaka #大阪 #hotel #ホテル #japanhotel #日本ホテル #osakahotel #大阪ホテル #travel #旅行

Tried and tested: Best places to stay in Osaka, Japan

Buy to unlock full guide