Namba Oriental Hotel

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.

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

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.   

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.