Toyoko Inn Osaka Tsutenkakumae — Hotel in Osaka

This is a new and very handy hotel, smack in the middle of Tsutenkakumae. It has everything and you know it from the moment you walk in. ||I hadn't stayed at a Toyoko Inn before and its business model is interesting. It more like moving into a giant youth hostel than a hotel. There are signs, adds, notices plastered everywhere from the walls to the elevators. Drink machines and yukata lockers, its all very help yourself. Even the dining room is on the ground floor and part of the reception area!||It's not classy, but it works and its very reasonable. No fancy overheads.||The rooms are fitted out with all the usual items, but like everything been bought separately and put into the room. In the bathroom the only amenity is a toothbrush, soap is in a dispenser. Strangely there are all the religious tomes on a shelf - Bible, Koran, Buddha etc and on the desk a guide to Adult Pay movies!||The best idea though is the bed. It IS firm, but its a bench bed with about 15inches of clearance to slide all your luggage under - wonderful idea. The room is small but not as small as others I've stayed in at higher prices. ||Rooms face either Tennoji Zoo and views of the Abeno Harukas Tower - my room, or over Shinsekai on the other. But those back rooms have all the AC unit right under their windows.||All in all a great value place, somewhat lacking in any charm, but it does the job. ||The complimentary breakfast is OK, but not outstanding, and you can walk right outside for great bite to eat.||Downside is the 4pm check-in, and because it is in a pedestrian area - you need to walk 100m or so to the street. But metro and JR are 5-10 min walk away. Also only one lift so there is a rush at checkout time.||A good, reliable choice, especially...

During our trip to Japan we stayed in three different hotels in Tokyo and one more in Kyoto and this was, by far, the worst of them having all the same average price. Whilst the other ones looked like a 4ish or even 5 stars hotels with a super good value for the money, Toyoko Inn Osaka would be no more than 2.

The look of the rooms are really old (not vintage but OLD) meaning that they have surely not changed the furniture of the rooms in more than 30 years. When I say old, I mean things like they provided a table with an Ethernet cable incorporated but then you only have one USB port to charge your devices in the whole room despite having made a reservation for two.

Service was also quite poor, whilst at the rest of the hotels during our trip to Japan we had at least a couple of bottles of water as a service in the room, we had nothing here at Toyoko Inn Osaka Tsutenkakumae.

But the worst thing was the mattress. Hard like a rock. It seemed we were sleeping on a wooden board. It was so bad I could barely sleep the only night we stayed, being that the main purpose of our stay at the hotel as we had to get up super early to get to Kansai airport.

Only positive point is the location, right next to the Tsutenkakumae and the Shinsekai Hondori street, full of restaurants and activities, but I guess there are more hotels around with better value...

First let me say, manage your expectations as this is a 2/3 star hotel.

The good: The staff is very friendly, breakfast is OK with a small variety, and offers great amenities. Their smallest room was a challenge for two ppl with 1 carryon and 2 full size luggage but it’s manageable. There is a hand held shower head, bathtub, rainfall shower and plenty of facial cleansing oil, face wash, toner and face cream. No body lotion. Also stocked with amazing shampoo, body wash and conditioner, my hair feels amazing. They also provide night gown (max size is probably size 12 CAD/USA), slippers, shoe horn, toothbrush and toothpaste, razor (no shaving cream).

The not the great: the room is not soundproof. While it’s not often, you can hear people talking or turning on the faucet. I personally didn’t love the neighbourhood at night, felt very different from Tokyo. Unlike their Tokyo location we stayed at, this place lacked cleanliness, especially in the washroom. Also the bed is VERY hard and poor pillows, so be prepared to ask the front desk for an extra set of pillows.

Overall I’d recommend if you’re on a budget, Looking just to sleep in the room, and want a an assessable and vibrant...