Well-maintained, colorful hostel with affordable rates
Vibrant Nishinari location near restaurants and bars
Subway and tram stations are a two-minute walk
Clean Japanese- and Western-style guest rooms
Communal kitchen and living area with TV and video games
Rooftop deck, ping-pong table, public computers, coin-op laundry
Free access to public baths at nearby hotel
Free Wi-Fi throughout
A bit far from many of Osaka's top sights
Some of the furniture in rooms shows wear and tear
All units share bathrooms; some lack air-conditioning
Limited facilities, no parking or on-site dining
No elevator
The two-pearl Hotel Toyo is a clean, affordable hostel for those who prefer private rooms to dormitory-style lodging. While its Nishinari location is a bit far from Dotonbori nightlife, Universal Studios and other major attractions, it’s close to public transportation and within a short stroll of shopping, dining, and Tsutenkaku Tower. There’s no on-site food service, but guests are offered a communal kitchen and lounge, plus coin-op laundry and a rooftop deck. The 100 basic guest rooms have beds with regular mattresses or futons and tatami mats, and they come equipped with small TVs (some are old tube-style) and free Wi-Fi, but they show wear and tear, and they'd don't all have AC. All units share bathrooms and shower rooms. Budget travelers who want to stay in a more central location near Dotonbori might consider the Fuku Hostel, but it doesn’t have free access to public baths.
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Scene
Colorful and funky hostel with lively communal space for international budget travelers
The Hotel Toyo features has a fun and funky look, with several colorful wall murals and whiteboards for travelers to scrawl their own graffiti. When guests aren’t out on the town for sightseeing or nightlife, they mix and mingle in the communal kitchen and lounge. There's a sofa and bean bag chairs to relax on, plus public computers and a TV for video games and movies. A rooftop deck and game room with ping-pong table are other gathering spots. The guest list here skews young, to backpackers and other international budget travelers who'd rather spring for private rooms than settle for dorms.
Location
Nishinari location a two-minute walk from tram and metro
The Hotel Toyo is in a vibrant area at the north end of the Nishinari ward, within a short walk of shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and bars. The Shin-imamiya-ekimae tram station and Dōbutsuen-mae subway station are both within two minutes on foot, and Shin-Imamiya Station is about a seven-minute walk. The Shinsekai nightlife district and Spa World are even closer at about a four-minute stroll. It's only a few minutes farther on foot to the 103-meter Tsutenkaku Tower and The Tennoji Zoo at the southwest corner of Tennoji Park. Both Keitakuen Garden and the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts are in the park, and they're roughly a 10-minute walk from the Toyo. The Dotonbori dining, nightlife, and entertainment district is 10 minutes away by metro, and other city attractions like Universal Studios Japan, the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, and Osaka Castle are 30 to 35 minutes by train. Reaching Osaka International Airport is a 25-minute taxi ride, and 40 minutes by subway or Itami-Airport Limousine Bus. Kansai International Airport is 40 minutes from the Hotel Toyo by car, and about the same using public transit.
Rooms
Basic Japanese- or Western-style rooms with TVs and free Wi-Fi, but some lack AC
The 100 guest rooms at the Toyo have a simple, spare look, with beige curtains, white walls, and minimal furnishings. Units are either Western-style, with beds that have regular mattresses, or Japanese-style, which have futons and tatami mats. A hint of color or pattern comes from accent walls covered in wallpaper or washed in bright hues like lime green, but it doesn't add much visual energy. All rooms come with Japanese bathroom slippers, small TVs (some are older tube models), and free Wi-Fi, and some add mini-fridges and fans, but some lack AC. Same-floor communal washrooms are shared by all guests, and there are hairdryers and minimal free toiletries. Shower rooms are open 24 hours a day, but they’re only on the first floor. Rooms are all non-smoking, but there are public smoking areas outside on each floor.
Features
No breakfast or restaurant, but communal kitchen, lounge, and rooftop deck
As a hostel, the Hotel Toyo offers limited facilities, with no breakfast service (other than free instant coffee), on-site restaurant, or leisure facilities. There's a communal kitchen with electric burners, plus a wood table, full-size refrigerator, sink, toaster, microwave, cookware, and tableware. The lounge is a comfortable space with a sofa, bean bag chairs, public computers, board games, and a TV with DVDs and a video game console. Another common space to hang out is on the rooftop deck, and other features include a ping-pong table, coin-op laundry, and vending machines (offer juice, beer, sake). All guest get free access to a public bath at a nearby hotel. The front desk is open 24 hours a day, with English-speaking staff who offer tourist assistance. Bikes are available to rent, there are umbrellas to borrow, and Wi-Fi throughout is free, but there isn't any on-site parking. Travelers with limited mobility should be aware that there's no elevator.
