Second time here and the main reason I came back was the unbeatable location, seamless transfer to and from airport train (Nankai Namba station is at the 3rd floor, hotel is at the 6th floor). Advantageous for those with lots of luggage (we had 3 prams and 4 large suitcases) who don't want to spend too much on private transfer vehicles. Also, the Midosuji Line is right smack under the same building, making it easy to take this train all the way to Shin-Osaka Station if one is using the Shinkansen. But the pros don't stop there. The lobby looks dated but don't get intimidated, the rooms are modern, clean, and surprisingly spacious for the price range in this part of Osaka. The breakfast buffet is amazing, a good mix of Western and Japanese food. The selection varies a little only though, so one might get too tired of the same food. Nevertheless, it was always enjoyable. Staff are very attentive and nearly all of them speak impeccable English, which is very helpful. I had to coordinate with my previous hotel for an item we lost, and the staff (Mr. Thongsy) assisted us in calling the previous hotel, as he could speak Nihongo and English well. The item was delivered and they kept it for us, hence the staff were very trustworthy and dependable. It was such a breeze also to request for extra items (towels, toiletries, etc). Definitely my go-to hotel when in Osaka.

Breakfast choices might be too repetitive for those on longer stay (we stayed 6 nights but interrupted by a stay in Kyoto).

The location is the best feature about this hotel. You take an elevator down and you are LITERALLY at all of the shopping. Of course you are literally on top of the Osaka Namba train station so it makes it super easy to get around. The rooms are decent for sure: There is a nespresso coffee maker, water bottles in the little fridge, plenty of outlets and the shower has great water pressure. I wish the towels were softer and larger, however. The hotel buffet breakfast is fairly decent, but definitely not the best we had in Japan. Note: They do have gluten free rolls for breakfast if you ASK them - they're not put out, but that's a great item for folks who are gluten free. We found that most of the items on the buffet were lukewarm at best, but we've read that this might be more of a Japan thing. The concierge staff at the hotel is GREAT - USE THEM for ideas on where to eat. Pro tip: Go to the basement of the Takashimaya department store which is right down that elevator. They have a TON of food options you can grab and go and eat in your room, or eat outside in the large patio/park area outside of the hotel (not sure what to call it). Note that you are on the hook for finding trash cans in Japan - it's a challenge! There are also small 'shops' in that basement area with incredible pastry treats! This is a do not miss! We had a LOT of luggage (because of all the shopping) and we needed to head to Kyoto. There are several ways to do this. We decided to take a taxi to Shin Osaka, and catch the Shinkansen to Kyoto. Yes it's more expensive this way and overall probably takes longer, but the Shinkansen has great options to manage lots of luggage. Of course you can do the cheaper option of taking a local train to Kyoto from Osaka Namba (and also transferring if my memory serves me correctly), but we chose the other route and it worked out great.

There were only two towels in the bathroom at one time, and they were small and not very soft.

Everything! 1. Location, Location, Location. The hotel is located right above Namba station, where you can get a direct train from KIX airport (40 mins). We followed their instructions and had NO issue finding it at all, so don’t listen to others who complained about getting lost, just read the instructions carefully and you’ll be fine. The hotel is next to Takashimaya, then opposite is Ebisu Bashi-Suji which takes you all the way to Dotonbori, and the next shopping / dining alley (with Starbucks at the entrance) will take you directly to the Fish Market. 2. The staff were super friendly, from check in to breakfast. Nam (the tall Asian man with glasses) from the breakfast staff was very attentive, caring and naturally friendly although they were all flat out during our stay. Seeing the breakfast staff run around like crazy there made us appreciate how lucky we are :) 3. Their pool and gym are great, we got to use them daily during our 10 day stay. 4. Our room was big compared to most hotels in Japan (I’ve been to Japan 4 times for holiday). Nice city view too.

I believe the variety of the breakfast buffet could be improved at no extra costs to the hotel. Having the same food for 10 days were a bit boring, so we ended up just having the healthy food (salad, their sesame sauce was so delicious!), boiled eggs, porridge, and fruits.

The staff were all extremely friendly, it made a lasting impression and really shaped our experience. The bar on the top floor had exceptional views and incredible drinks. The breakfast buffet in the same location was decadent and such a treat each morning. The rooms were very comfortable, plush beds and decent size. I also enjoyed a swim at the gym and thought the architecture was an interesting surprise. Overall we felt pampered and well looked after.

We found the hotel impossible to find! Google maps was struggling to get directions, as there are more than 25 exits from Namba station. It took me a while to realize that the hotel is actually above the station. After a day or so of staying at the hotel I understood that there were signs pointing to the hotels location, but it’s easy to miss especially if your Google maps is telling you to take a different exit.

The hotel is perfectly situated for transport between Kansai and the city. So convenient the Rapiit train and not expensive. If you want to shop and eat, the hotel is perfect too. And the concierge can tell you about the best places to eat. To explore, a variety of public transport is right at the doorstep of the hotel.

Non-Availability of vegetarian food

Great Location - It is situated right on top of Nankai/ Samba station, especially when you need to get to and from Kansai airport, it is the last/ first stop. They have dedicated airport trains (however, the Suica card is only valid for Nankai metro , you need to get a separate ticket for Nankai Rapid transit to the airport) we made the mistake and got delayed. Additionally, it is right next to Dotonbori and all the fun districts of Osaka Breakfast - Decent, good options, could have improved on quality a bit. but they had a varied menu each day we were there and the staff were polite In-room dining - Decent options and friendly service from the staff, they accomodated all our requests Housekeeping - Great job, kept the rooms, clean and tidy. Bathrooms were excellent. Staff - Front reception staff was very helpful and gave us very good tips (in terms of places to visit) Metro access is right at the plaza itself to various locations is very convenient

Cost is a bit on the higher side Rooms while clean and comforrtable are a bit dated and need better electronic facilities like chargepoints. You have to bring your international travel plug and adapter Getting to the hotel can be a bit daunting as the plaza it is located in is a bit confusing and the reception is the sixth floor The hotel is very much on sustainability and recycling, which means no plastic. everything is glass and creamers/ milk for your coffee or tea have to be ordered via the app.

Staff - a delight to interact with. Professional, friendly, courteous… They were efficient in responding to requests (eg more hangers/towels), are knowledgeable (F&B recommendations, nearest parks, etc…), took time to explain directions, patient with queries, helpful with confirming/making restaurant reservations… Location - just Google its location and you’ll see that it’s surrounded by everything one could possible need or want, and more…

Chinese restaurant - not good value for money and service was iffy (eg wait staff had difficulty in explaining some of the dishes)…the best dish was the stir-fried mixed veg with garlic (we had abalone, soup, Peking duck and steamed fish fillet)

Bath tubs and the near Dotonbori shopping area

Maybe a glass door prevent water from splashing out during shower will be good

The hotel is in a great location, featuring a well-designed room. However, the shower over the bath can be a bit challenging to use. The room itself is comfortable and quiet. Access to train lines is excellent, as the hotel is situated above one station and next to another. Getting to the Dotonbori area is easy, and there are many other attractions within walking distance to explore.

The staff were unhelpful, and understanding the hotel's facilities was challenging. They asked us to scan a QR code that directed us to a webpage filled with unclear options. Even accessing room service was difficult.