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Namba Oriental Hotel

2-8-17 Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan | (618) 248-8274

Upper-middle-range | Kid-Friendly
1/355
Checking prices...

Overview

Pros
  • In a lively shopping and entertainment district

  • Two subway stations within a few minutes' walk

  • Italian-inspired look in the lobby and lovely courtyard

  • Attractive, comparatively spacious rooms in two styles

  • All accommodations have AC, minibars, and LED TVs

  • Higher-category options have bigger bathrooms and more tech toys

  • On-site Japanese restaurant and launderette

  • Free Wi-Fi throughout

Cons
  • Arcade setting means no car access

  • Decor is starting to look a bit worn

  • Bathrooms are well-outfitted but sometimes cramped

  • Breakfast costs extra unless guests book directly

  • No business or fitness facilities

  • Complaints of cigarette smell permeating public areas

Bottom Line

Built in 1996, this upper-middle-range hotel is virtually hidden inside a busy shopping arcade. Its location in Osaka's vibrant Namba district is popular with tourists, and a pair of nearby subway stations put the rest of the city in easy reach. Moreover, its 258 rooms -- some in a calming Western style, some with a modern Japanese look -- are comfortable and comparatively spacious. All include air-conditioning, minibars, tea/coffeemakers, and LED TVs, while upgraded ones add features like stereo systems and high-tech heated couches. On the downside, some guests have lamented the smell of cigarette smoke. Others complain of high rates, and -- apart from a Japanese restaurant and flower-filled courtyard  -- there are few features to compensate. With its chic interiors and traditional Japanese bath, the newer three-pearl Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier offers more for less.

Map

2-8-17 Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
Amenities
  • Air Conditioner
  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio
  • Basic Television
  • Business Center
  • Cabanas
  • Cable
  • Concierge
  • Cribs
  • Dry Cleaning
  • Gameroom / Arcade
  • Internet
  • Kids Allowed
  • Laundry
  • Poolside Drink Service
  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite
  • Smoking Rooms Available
  • Airport Transportation

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.

Full Review

Scene

An arcade hotel that’s popular with leisure travelers

Located in a long, covered commercial arcade (known as a "shotengai"), this nine-story hotel is entered via revolving street-level doors. Once inside the marble-lined foyer, guests ascend to the third floor, where a spacious lobby decorated with still more marble awaits. The abundance of that heavily veined material, combined with low-slung couches, elegant arched windows, and wrought-iron accents (including ornate gates and wall sconces) creates an Italianate look, which continues on into the sunny central courtyard with its stone fountain and overflowing terra-cotta planters. Both spaces provide gathering spots for the vacationers who stay here. Many of them are Asians traveling as families or tour groups; however, given multiple complaints regarding the cigarette smell in common areas, there must be a large number of smokers booking in as well.

Location

Near public transit in Osaka’s bustling Namba District

As its name suggests, this arcade hotel is in Namba, a buzzing district that qualifies as Osaka’s retail and entertainment capital; so there are lots of shops, restaurants, cafes and clubs that can be visited on foot -- some of them mere steps away. There's even a multi-screen cinema opposite the property. Two nearby subway stations (Namba and Nippombashi) offer easy access to popular tourist sites elsewhere in the city; and, as an added benefit, the former provides direct connections to Kansai International Airport. Travelers should be aware, though, that the hotel’s location in a pedestrian zone means you can’t drive up to the entrance, which may prove challenging for guests with mobility issues or those with loads of luggage.- Four-minute walk to Nippombashi subway station

  • Five-minute walk to Kuromon market
  • Five-minute walk to Namba subway station
  • Eight-minute walk to Dotonbori Bridge
  • Nine-minute walk to Shinsaibashi shopping arcade
  • Nine minutes to Tsutenkaku Tower by public transit
  • 14 minutes to Osaka Station by public transit
  • 17 minutes to Shitteno-ji Temple by public transit
  • 29 minutes to Osaka Castle by public transit
  • 47 minutes to Kansai International Airport by public transit
  • 59 minutes to Osaka International Airport (Itami) by public transit

Rooms

Spacious, well-equipped options in different styles and sizes 

Starting at 248-square feet, rooms here are spacious by Japanese standards. They’re well-equipped, too, with all offering air-conditioning, air purifiers, coffee/tea-making equipment, minibars, 32-inch LED TVs with mostly Japanese channels, free Wi-Fi, and cool though sometimes cramped bathrooms with electronic toilets and comprehensive toiletry kits. Pricier choices add extra space and even more amenities: Premier Triples, for instance, cover at least 474-square feet and come with bonuses such as heated “healing stone” spa couches, blu-ray players, stereo systems, and big marble bathrooms with separate tubs and walk-in showers (as opposed to the standard tub/shower combo). The accommodations, some of which feature balconies or patios overlooking the courtyard, also differ in terms of decor because the hotel’s interior designers seem to have taken a United Nations approach. Whereas the lobby and courtyard have an Italian ambiance, some rooms -- with their pale fabrics, blond-wood furnishings, and almost clinically clean lines -- appear to take their cue from Scandinavia, while others adhere to a modern Japanese aesthetic (most obviously in the low platform beds, floor cushions and delicate floral motifs). Fastidious guests should note that a few signs of wear and tear are evident throughout.   

Features

A restaurant and relaxing courtyard lead the limited amenities list.

Despite its rather large room count, the Namba Oriental has relatively few on-site perks. There are no fitness facilities here, no meeting rooms, nor business-center services. But it does have a contemporary restaurant specializing in Japanese fare. The space doubles as the breakfast room where an East/West buffet (free to guests who book through the hotel website) is served each morning; and, like the food, the varying table heights satisfy the tastes of different cultures. The hotel also boasts a central courtyard with a burbling fountain as its focal point. Although the term “urban oasis” is a bit of a cliche, this secret garden actually feels like one and provides a welcome escape from the streets below. Other amenities include a 24-hour reception desk, coin-operated laundry machines, and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi.