Osaka is a powerful, dynamic and intensely lively city. So where to stay in Osaka?

Since Osaka has received international attention in tourism, there is much information out there, and selecting the best hotel is overwhelming indeed.

My ship docked at Osaka Port during Japan Cherry Blossom Cruise. I also visited Osaka many times for my photo/video assignment job for Expedia. I know about Osaka very well. Let me tell you the best areas and hotels to stay in Osaka.

Osaka is one of the most powerful economic giants in Asia. The city accommodates more than 19 million population. Osaka is one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world. This is why it is not easy to find the very best hotel in Osaka. There is too much information out there.

You can save money and time by learning the best places to stay in Osaka. To help you decide the best accommodation, I have listed the 4 best areas to stay in Osaka for hotels.

The 4 areas are highly convenient for Osaka’s best sightseeing based on my personal experience.

Relevant content:
Osaka Transport: Explore Shinsaibashi and Umeda before Japan Cruise

 

Osaka Hotel

Osaka is called tenka no daidokoro, meaning historically as the nation’s economic and trading centre before the advent of modern Japan. Today, Osaka has grown as one of the most powerful economic giants in Asia.

Osaka has vast accommodation choices, including one of the best hotels in the world. Most of the city’s hotels can be found in Umeda, Shinsaibashi and Namba areas. 

Old and new as well as tradition and modern coexist. This is contradictory but that’s Japan and here in Osaka. Different layers of the city are mixed together in a perfect manner. Explore Osaka, be inspired and get started your Japan Cruise from the Port of Osaka!

Where to stay in Osaka?

Umeda is the best place to stay in Osaka. Other best places to stay in Osaka is Shinsaibashi, Namba and Tempozan.

• Umeda is the major transport hub of Osaka. It is convenient to access to anywhere from Umeda. You can also have many choices for food so easily and can expect great shopping experiences.
• Shinsaibashi is the best place for shopping and food. Go to Midosuji where you will enjoy shipping at posh luxury brand shops. Find Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade, just one street east from Midosuji.
• Namba is very close to the famous Dotonbori. You can easily walk Shinsaibashi and Namba within a 30-minute walk.
• Tempozan has a cruise ship terminal where you will set sail for Japan Cruises. Tempozan Harbour Village is a part of Osaka’s waterfront projects. It is easy to access to the central Osaka within 20 minutes.

Umeda, Shinsaibashi and Namba from Kanai International Airport

Things to do in Osaka

• Osaka Castle
• Ueda Sky Building
• Dotonbori
• Kuromon Ichiba
• Shinsekai
• Yodobashi
• Midosuji for shopping in Shinsaibashi
• Tsutenkaku and Shinsekai
• Keitakuen Garden
• Shitennoji Temple

 

Top 4 Best Places to Stay in Osaka

Cost on Japanese Yen (JPY) on December 2018
Click Currency Converter for accommodation prices

1. Umeda

Umeda is a major commercial and business district in Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan. Umeda area is especially recommended for Kyoto, Kobe and Hiroshima visitors due to its super convenient transport system.

It takes 30 minutes to Kyoto and 15 minutes to Kobe by train. Umeda is a business, commercial and entertainment district. Umeda, Dojima and Nakanoshima form a spectacular skyscraper district. Enjoy all the wonder and excitement what Umeda can offer!

Why stay in Umeda

• Extremely convenient to access entire Osaka as well as other cities, including Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima and even Tokyo.
• You will never be disappointed choices and qualities of food in Umeda.
• Shopping, shopping and shopping!
• Yodobashi – one of my camera gear and a computer mouse were broken in Dubai. I could not find anything I really wanted to replace there but in Osaka, it is so easy and quick to find at Yodoyabashi.

Where is Umeda Exactly?

Umeda is located in the middle of Osaka, about 53 km northeast from Kansai International Airport and about 23 km northeast from Osaka Port.

Main stations in Umeda:

JR Osaka station – the most convenient lines in Umeda to go anywhere around Japan

Umeda Metro station – mainly for a use commuting among Umeda, Namba and Shinsaibashi

Hankyu Umeda station – convenient for connecting Umeda, Kobe and Kyoto, cheaper train tickets than JR line

Hanshin Umeda station – connecting Umeda and Kobe

Umeda Map: Hankyu Line Umeda Station and JR Line Osaka Station

Note: JR Osaka station and Hankyo Line Umeda Station are both located in Umeda. Although they are different station names as Osama and Umeda, they are both located in Umeda. 

Recommended Hotels in Umeda

Luxury Hotels in Umeda

Hotel Granvia Osaka

Price: ¥22,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 10km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Hotel Granvia Osaka is located directly above JR Osaka Station. And yet, its price is reasonably moderate in comparison to other luxury hotels in the Umeda area. Granvia is one of my favourites to stay in Osaka.

Transportation is super-convenient for Kyoto and Kobe visitors. Hundreds of gourmet dining options, restaurants and shops everywhere around. The location, luxury hotel service, spectacular city views and reasonable price, it is a great choice to have Granvia in Osaka. Free WiFi is equipped and no parking available.

Ritz-Carlton Osaka

Price: ¥41,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 10km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Located a 3-minute walk from JR Osaka Station, this 5-star hotel is the only hotel, which can compete against InterContinental Osaka as the BEST hotel in Osaka. Ritz-Carlton Osaka offers 6 dining options, a free-use fitness centre, indoor pool and a luxurious spa. Spacious rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Osaka have 22 floors for the views of a skyscraper. Private bathrooms are beautifully decorated with marble double sinks and bathrobes. Airport limousine buses are available at a surcharge. Free WiFi and parking cost ¥2,100 JPY per day.

InterContinental Osaka

Price: ¥45,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 10km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

InterContinental Osaka is literary the best hotel in Osaka. Located in a 5-minute walk from JR Osaka Train Station, this 5-star hotel boasts 5 dining options, a 24-hour fitness centre and an indoor swimming pool. Rooms are spacious and beautifully decorated in modern design. A highlight of InterContinental is Pierre restaurant, which is serving exquisite contemporary French dishes with marvellous city views from the 20th floor. It is awesome! Free WiFi and no parking but public parking is not available.

Mid-Range Hotels in Umeda 

Hotel Monterey Osaka

Price: ¥19,500 JPY- for one room, Distance: 10km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Located in a 5-minute walk from JR Osaka Station, beautifully furnished European-style city hotel, Hotel Monterey Osaka features French and Japanese cuisine and a 24-hour front desk. It is a truly great choice to have Monterey at this price, service and location. Monterey is one of my favourite hotels in Osaka and is much nicer than general business hotels. Rooms are comfortable, elegant and clean. Free WiFi is equipped and parking costs ¥2,000 JPY per day.

Crown Plaza ANA Osaka

Price: ¥17,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 10km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Located within a 3-minute away by walk from Oebashi Train Station, Crown Plaza ANA Osaka provide you with a proper luxury hotel service with this reasonable mid-range hotel price. Osaka Station is a 10-minute ride on the hotel’s free shuttle. Osaka Castle and Dotonbori Shopping Street are a 15-minute taxi ride. Free WiFi is equipped and parking costs ¥2,000 JPY per day.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier

Price: ¥14,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 10km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Located in a 1.1km away from JR Osaka station, the Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier is the best mid-budget hotel value in Umeda. Located on scenic Nakanoshima Island, within relatively easy walking distance of both Umeda. Higobashi, Osaka Underground Yotsubashi Line is the nearest station and is 5 minutes away by walk. One of my favourite feature of this hotels is a clean and spacious Japanese hot spring, onsen, on top of the building. Enjoy a little luxury and relaxation time in the middle of Osaka and with this reasonable price! Free WiFi is equipped and parking costs ¥1,500 JPY per day.

Budget Hotels in Umeda

Daiwa Royal Hotel D-CITY Osaka Shin Umeda

Price: ¥11,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 10km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Located less than 10 minutes walking distance from JR Osaka station, Daiwa Royal Hotel D-CITY Osaka Shin Umeda offers a great price. Built in 2018, a private bathroom with a bath tab is featured in all rooms. Free WiFi is equipped and no parking available.

ibis Osaka Umeda

Price: ¥9,200 JPY- for one room and from two nights, Distance: 10km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Located in less than 10 minutes walk from JR Osaka station, ibis Osaka Umeda is super convenient for Osaka visitors. Osaka Umeda is clean and new, featuring a 24-hour front desk and a restaurant. Free WiFi is equipped and no parking available.

The Rise Osaka Kitashinchi

Price: ¥9,400 JPY- for one room, Distance: 10km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Located 800 m away from JR Osaka station, The Rise Osaka Kitashinchi features a 24-hour front desk and 3 restaurants. All rooms feature Airweave mattresses and modern design. The hotel was refurbished in 2018, clean and new. A drinks vending machine, ice machine and coin-operated launderette are situated within the hotel. Free WiFi is equipped and no parking available.

 

2. Shinsaibashi

Shinsaibashi and Namba are popular places for overseas tourists. It only takes less than 30 minutes to walk from Shinsaibashi Midosuji Metro Station to Namba Metro Station.

It is an exciting, energetic and adventurous town in Osaka.

In between the stations, there is Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade and Dotombori along with Midosuji Street, where hi-end brand ships lined up.

Kuromon-ichiba is the place I highly recommend to learn about local food. You can also taste how it is in the shops. Kuromon-ichiba is literary the kitchen of Osaka.

Shinsaibashi and Namba

Why Stay in Shinsaibashi?

• Hi-end restaurants and luxury brand shops on Midosuji Street
• Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
• Lively and delicious local food in Daimaru Shinsaibashi
• Dotonbori
• Osaka Castle

Where is Shinsaibashi Exactly?

Namba is located in the middle of Osaka, about 49 km northeast from Kansai International Airport and about 27 km northeast from Osaka Port.

Recommended Hotels in Shinsaibashi

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

Price: ¥18,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 9km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Directly connected to JR Namba Train Station, Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka has one of the best-rated locations in Osaka. It is connected to Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT), which provides direct limousine buses to both Kansai International Airport, 50 minutes away, and Itami Airport, 35 minutes away. A 10-minute walk from Dotonbori Shopping Street and Universal Studios Japan can in within a 25-minute train ride. Featuring British-style interiors, Monterey offers an art museum, 4 dining options and panoramic city views in the higher floor. Free WiFi and parking cost ¥1,500 JPY per day.

Hotel Nikko Osaka

Price: ¥22,600 JPY- for one room, Distance: 9km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

For only Hotel Nikko Osaka, get off No. 7 limousine bus at Shinsaibashi from Kansai International Airport (KIX). With directly connected to Shinsaibashi Subway Station, Hotel Nikko Osaka offers the best location for shipping, restaurant and sightseeing in Namba and Shinsaibashi areas. It faces the famous tree-lined Midosuji Avenue and is close to Dotombori within 10 minutes by walk. Osaka Castle is 10 minutes on the subway. Namba Station is a 15-minute walk away. An airport limousine bus service is available to Kansai International Airport for an extra fee from Shinsaibashi. Guest left reviews about the lounge on the 31st floor features spectacular views of Osaka city while a traditional and healthy Japanese-style breakfast buffet is served. Free WiFi and parking cost ¥1,400 JPY per day.

3. Namba

Namba is lively and local and yet the town knows how to entertain the tourists day and night. There are literary 5 train lines including Nankai Electric Rail Wai, JR Line, Kintetsu Namba-Nara Line, Osaka Metro and Hanshin Railway. If you plan to visit Nara and Koyasan, Namba is the place you should stay.

Why Stay in Namba?

• Easy to access to Nara, Japan’s oldest ancient capital
• Easy to access to Koyasan, Japan’s spiritual home
• Reasonable local restaurants, many choices of hotels.
• Namba Parks
• Dotonbori and Glico Man
• Kuromon Ichiba
• Shinsekai

Where is Namba Exactly?

Namba is located in the middle of Osaka, about 49 km northeast from Kansai International Airport and about 27 km northeast from Osaka Port.

Recommended Hotels in Namba

Apa Hotel Nambaeki Higashi

Price: ¥13,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 9km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Situated in an 8-minute walk from the popular shopping and dining location, for Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade, APA Hotel Namba-Eki Higashi opened in April 2017. Namba Station for Nankai Line and Midosuji Subway Line are just a 4-minute walk from this hotel. It is located within a 9-minute walk away from Glico Man Sign of Dotonbori, while Tsutenkaku is 11 minutes via bus and walk. Osaka Castle is an 18-minute drive north and JR Osaka Station is a 10-minute train ride. Free WiFi and parking cost ¥2,000 JPY per day.

Holiday Inn Osaka Namba

Price: ¥15,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 9km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Holiday Inn Osaka Namba offers a perfect location for famous Dotonbori downtown area. It is literary in the middle of Dotonbori! The hotel is a 7-minute away from Namba underground station by walk. Located in a 3-minute walk from Shinsaibashi shopping area, and a 10-minute drive from Tsutenkaku Tower and Tennoji Zoo, the hotel is best suited to active Osaka visitors. Holiday Inn Osaka Namba is the best for shopping, food and sightseeing of Osaka. Free WiFi and parking cost ¥1,500 JPY per day.

Swissotel Nankai Osaka

Price: ¥28,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 9km to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Swissôtel Nankai Osaka offers luxurious 5-star service, located just next to Namba station, the heart of Osaka’s central shopping and entertainment district. It is literary difficult to find greens in Osaka due to high economic growth and the concentration of population into the city. Architects started planting greens on the roof. Namba Parks Shopping Center belongs to this green project. Book a room on the south side and higher floor. Have spectacular city views from your room. You will see Namba Parks just in front and admire spectacular city views at day and night. Why do I know about this? This is because I did photo/videograph the landscape for Expedia from the hotel. Located in less than a 5-minute walk from Namba Parks Shopping Centre and Takashimaya Department Store, Dotonbori Shopping Street is a 10-minute walk, and Namba Station is a direct 20-minute subway ride from Shin-Osaka Shinkansen (Bullet Train) Station. Free WiFi and parking cost ¥3,240 JPY per day.

4. Tempozan

Tempozan is a commercial and entertainment district and has a range of tourist attractions including a Giant Ferris Wheel, Kaiyukan, aquarium, and the Saint Maria Pilate Boat to explore Osaka Bay. You can find fancy restaurants, cafes and shops around. And yet the accommodation rate is much lower than Umeda, Shinsaibashi and Namba areas.

Why Stay in Tempozan?

• Hotel rate is much reasonable than in Umeda, Shinsaibashi and Namba
• Easy to access to Tempozan Cruise Terminal where you set sail for Japan Cruises
• Full of choices for food. Restaurants, bars and cafes are around
• Kaiyukan
• Easy to access from Kansai International Airport
• Where is Tempozan Exactly?

Where is Tempozan Exactly?

Tempozan is located in the middle of Osaka Bay area, about 46 km northeast from Kansai International Airport. Tempozan Cruise Terminal is located.

Recommended Hotels in Tempozan

Hotel Seagull Tempozan Osaka

Price: ¥9,800 JPY- for one room, Distance: 500m to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

Located within a few minutes away to Osakako station of Osaka Metro Chuo Line by walk, Hotel Seagull Tempozan Osaka is perfect to get onboard at Tempozan Passenger Terminal. A price is also attractive as a standard hotel for two people. Located in Tempozan Harbor Village, fancy restaurants and shops can be easily found around. Visit Kaiyukan, an aquarium, and ride a Giant Ferris Wheel just in front of the hotel. Free WiFi and parking cost ¥1,620 JPY per day.

Guest House Rice Chiko

Price: ¥7,000 JPY- for one room, Distance: 500m to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

This guesthouse has got my attention because there are a lot of positive feedbacks. With an incredibly reasonable price, and yet still the location is perfect for getting the ship from Tempozan Passenger Terminal. If you are looking for a low price accommodation with a reasonably clean room and an excellent location, book this guesthouse. The location is super-convenient, just 5 minutes to the Terminal and Nanko station of Osama Metro Chuo Line by walk. Free WiFi and parking costs ¥1,800 JPY per day.

Universal Bay Condominium

Price: ¥18,000 JPY- for one room and from two nights, Distance: 500m to Tempozan Passenger Terminal

If you are looking for a clean, spacious and comfortable accommodation, Universal Bay Condominium is the best for you. A kitchen and washing machines are equipped in a communal area. A fancy tatami room and a balcony make you taste a touch of Japan. Close to Kaiyukan, an aquarium, Universal Studio Japan. Free WiFi and free parking are included.

Train Ticket to travel throughout Japan

Japan Rail Pass

If you plan to arrive sometime early before your cruise and travel Japan, ‘Japan Rail Pass’ will save your money and time. Japan Rail Pass, generally called as JR Pass, is a train pass offered by 6 Japanese rail companies. With the ticket, you can travel throughout Japan by both local and express trains with much reasonable price. The Pass is specially created for overseas visitors. Get this privilege! The regulations and an eligibility to purchase the Pass are detailed at my blog post. Find the deal at Discover Japan with JR Pass and Explore Hidden Gems of Japan.

The information for Osaka transportation is shown in my blog post, Best Osaka Port and Osaka City Centre Transportation Guide.

Bonus Tips: Port Osaka Visitors Information

• Tourist Visa Information 
• Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY) Go to a currency converter
• Internet: Free wi-fi access Temposan Passenger Terminal
• Osaka Weather Information
• Japan Public Holidays: Change the year you visit

How do you find Osaka transport system in this article? It is detailed information on Osaka transport?

Please leave a comment on what you experienced or are looking for in your Osaka trip. I would love to hear from you! If you have a question, please do let me know.

Or need more time to learn Osaka Transport?

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