Hotel Universal Port

Open since 2005, Hotel Universal Port is a huge property with 600 rooms spread over 14 floors. It's a family-friendly hotel that caters to travelers visiting nearby Universal Studios Japan. The vast lobby area is decorated in a fun and colorful style, with chandeliers painted in bright primary colors, a children's play area, and an ocean theme. Behind the reception counter is a 49-foot-wide aquarium, while several fountains decorate public areas, and corridors are done up in blue to create an underwater look. Most guests staying here are families visiting the theme park, as this is not a convenient place to stay for other leisure travelers because of the distance from Osaka city center -- for that, try Hotel Granvia Osaka.

Located in Osaka Bay, Hotel Universal Port is walking distance away from Universal Studios Japan. A train station is just a few minutes' walk from the hotel, and there are a few restaurants and cafes located in the immediate area.

• Three-minute walk to Universal-City Station
• Five-minute walk to Universal Studios
• 15 minutes to Osaka station by train
• 20 minutes to Umeda district by train
• 30 to 35 minutes to Namba district by train 
• 35-minute drive to Kansai International Airport
• 40 minutes to Tsutenkaku Tower by train
• 40 minutes to Shinsaibashi shopping district by train
• 46 minutes to Shitteno-ji Temple by train
• 50 minutes to Osaka Castle by train
• 80 minutes to Kyoto by train
• 50 to 68 minutes to Kobe by train

Guest rooms at Hotel Universal Port are spacious by Japanese standards, with the average room size covering 377 square feet of floor space. Done up in complementary earthy tones of beige, brown, and pale orange, the room interiors usually have a contemporary look. Floors are covered in patterned carpeting, and walls are painted beige, with an accent wall covered in wood grain-patterned wallpaper. The dark furniture has clean, modern lines, and sofas are upholstered in a coordinating soft orange. Bathrooms are functional and equipped with typical Japanese-style fittings: The bath area is separate from the sink area and is made up of a wet bathroom with a separate shower and bathtub.

A range of different rooms are available, including rooms specially designed for children, like the Waku Waku Wonder Room: This has colorful decor, a play area with toys, and kid-friendly amenities in the bathrooms, like training toilet seats. All rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, coffee- and tea-making facilities, mini-fridges, safes, sofa beds, and free Wi-Fi. The bathrooms also include free toiletries, slippers, hairdryers, and pajamas.

Past guests have complained that the non-smoking rooms have a lingering odor of cigarette smoke.

Typical of an upper-middle-range hotel, Hotel Universal Port offers a few extra features. The on-site restaurant Port Dining Rico Rico serves buffet-style meals. The breakfast buffet (charged extra) includes a huge spread of 90 different dishes of both Japanese and Western cuisine (including 12 different types of bread). The lunch buffet features 50 different dishes, while dinner has 70 items to choose from. The Rex Cafe has a kid-friendly dinosaur theme and serves food, drinks, and desserts. There's also a small shop selling souvenirs. The Refresh Salon offers massage services, which can also be provided in-room. Other services available to guests include laundry, dry cleaning, and luggage storage. There's also coin-operated laundry machines, vending machines for drinks, and lockers available. The hotel has a kids' club. Guests visiting the theme park can purchase tickets at a special counter in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and paid parking is available on-site.