DISTORTION9 — Hotel in Osaka

We paid ¥102,060 (about $1,130AUD) for two nights, and were bitterly disappointed given the price. We figured we would treat ourselves during our trip to Osaka, based on the lovely photos online - but soon found out that we'd wasted our money. The view outside the window is of the empty lot next door, which is full of dumped rubbish. The place is a converted shipping container, with cheap furnishing and incredibly poor insulation, so you are at the mercy of the outside temperature and the outside noise. There are 3 split-system AC units in the place, and we had all three going at once for many hours, and were still cold. They were working fine and blowing out hot air, but the container could just not hold the warm air and was filling with cold air from outside (even though all windows and doors were closed). I had a very bad sleep due to all the noise - the place is on a main road, so you can hear every single car and motorbike that drives past as if there were no walls at all. The beds are cheap, and there are no bedside tables so you will need to put all your things on the floor. One positive thing was the projector with Netflix provided, but without a comfortable lounge, we couldn't enjoy this as much as we would have liked. The "lounge" is just cheap seating and not comfortable to lay down on and relax. Another positive is the outdoor bath, but this might be the only thing I enjoyed about the place. All in all, I would say this is probably the equivalent of 2-3 star accommodation (3-star at absolute maximum), and we have certainly had a much more comfortable stay in 3-star hotels in Japan. We regret not just staying in a nice local hotel, which would have been much nicer and certainly much more...

What a great and beautifully executed concept. Distortion 9 is a perfect match for the cosmopolitan, edgy urban character of Osaka. The location is very convenient: 2 blocks away from Namba City/Namba Station, making it very convenient to reach almost anywhere by public transportation.||||Although it's listed as a hotel, it's really an Airbnb. There are 2 units, we stayed in the first level. Entry is via an electronic keypad (we were able to drop off luggage before checkin & also got early access). The place is immaculate and beautifully designed. The bathing area and sauna are a central part of the design. The living area is spacious and comfortably furnished. There is a large window overlooking an empty lot, so we kept the shades open without worrying about privacy. The sauna and outside tubs are just fantastic. It was great to come back to have some spa time after a long day in the bustling city. The bedrooms are quite compact without any closets. Since we just a couple, we used the second bedroom as a dressing room and closet. I could see it getting a little snug with four people. We appreciated having a washer and dryer.||||It is situated off a a major street, with the bedroom windows facing the busy street. I was worried that would be a major problem. Some street noise enters through the ventilation fan, but at night the street noise virtually disappeared (I'm quite sensitive). The host also provides ear plugs, just in case...||||Overall a great memorable stay in Osaka. It's not a traditional hotel, but a very appealing alternative right in the center...

The highlight of this well-equipped container hotel was undoubtedly the sauna and the cold plunge. The sauna experience was thoughtfully designed, allowing for seamless and enjoyable löyly/cold-plunge sessions. The sauna, outdoor area, and bathroom are all conveniently connected, which enhances the experience significantly.

It might not seem like much, but being able to shower immediately after ending a sauna session—without having to awkwardly walk across your living space to reach the bathroom—makes all the difference. This small yet essential design detail ensured the experience was both relaxing and enjoyable from start to finish. I could truly feel the host's passion & love for Finnish-style saunas.

Additionally, the host’s hospitality, the host’s hospitality stood out. They kindly allowed me to check in much earlier than the standard 3 PM time, which I greatly appreciated. As a welcoming gesture, I was greeted with a basket full of Japanese snacks to enjoy to my heart’s content. Highly...