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We were really looking forward to our stay in Osaka since it was Crystal’s first time in the city. We’re used to booking standard hotel rooms in Japan, but this one was different from your average hotel. When we viewed the online photos of the rooms at MIMARU Osaka Namba Station, it immediately brought to mind our favorite Japanese reality TV show called Terrace House.

It is an apartment-style hotel, alternatively known as an aparthotel, offering guests the convenience of a hotel stay with the flexibility and comfort of a fully-equipped apartment. It’s great for families or people traveling in groups.

LOCATION

The hotel is located in the Shinsaibashi, Namba, Yotsubashi district of Osaka. This location is fantastic as it’s within walking distance to many of Osaka’s main attractions. It’s surrounded by numerous restaurants, cafes, markets, convenience stores, etc. Honestly, there is so much to see and do here that it can be difficult (in a good way) to decide what to explore first.

GETTING THERE

We took the train to Namba Station and we actually got a little lost amidst the multitude of exits. Unfortunately, their website didn’t provide a specific exit number, which we think would have helped tremendously.

We relied on Google Maps with our Ninja WiFi, but amidst the towering buildings, the GPS signal was going around in circles. Luckily, we found a tourist information center that was very helpful and provided us with a physical map.

CHECK IN

Check-in was at 3PM and we were surprised to be greeted by an American who spoke English. We’re so used to having to speak Japanese everywhere we go in Japan, so that made the check-in process move smoothly. Since we arrived early, we left our luggage with the front desk while we grabbed some lunch across the street.

FAMILY APARTMENT ROOM

We booked the Family Apartment room which was about 420 square feet. When we first stepped into our room, we were delighted by the brightness and spotless cleanliness. It definitely felt like we were staying in an apartment. At the entrance was a keycard slot that activated the room's electricity. There were three clearly defined sections in the layout of the space: the interconnected Living/Kitchen area, a Bedroom, and a Shower/Bathroom.

Living/Kitchen

We spent the majority of our time in the living area since it was a comfortable spot to unwind at the dining table. Additionally, this room was furnished with the only TV in the rental. Since there was limited sink space in the bathroom, we utilized this area for our morning makeup routine.

While we refrained from any actual cooking during our stay, we did make use of the fridge and microwave. If you did want to cook, you’ll find everything you need to prepare a meal in this well-equipped kitchen, from utensils and cookware to silverware, making it convenient to cook.

Bedroom

The bedroom was equipped with a bunk bed and two comfortable single beds. Crystal eagerly claimed the top bunk, excited for the elevated sleeping spot, while our little sister and I happily settled into the cozy single beds below.

The headboard and even the bunk beds were thoughtfully designed with multiple outlets to easily charge your devices, allowing you to conveniently power up your gadgets as needed. Furthermore, the bedside setup included a user-friendly lighting control feature, enabling you to adjust the lights without having to leave the comfort of your bed.

There wasn’t an iron and ironing board in the room, so we had to grab that ourselves from the lobby. We would have called front desk to bring it up, but there were two reasons why we couldn’t. Firstly, we couldn’t figure out the phone in the room to call the front desk for assistance. Secondly, the front desk does not operate 24 hours, which meant we had to wait until they opened at 7 AM.

Shower/Bathroom

The toilet was neatly sectioned off from the shower area by a sliding door, with the wash stand strategically placed in the middle, creating a practical layout for the bathroom space. And yes, the toilet was one of those amazing Japanese style washlets. The shower area to the left was a traditional Japanese style shower room. The bathtub and shower are separate, but in the same space.

A little tip if this is your first time bathing in a modern Japanese style shower. Before getting in to the tub, you take a shower and clean your body, face and hair. For a family, everyone shares the same hot water in the tub (it’s reheatable), so it's important to clean yourself to keep the water as clean as possible. In Japan, bathtubs are for soaking and relaxing only. Washing and scrubbing belong outside the tub, before you take a bath.

There was plenty of hand and face soap, as well as, shampoo, conditioner, and body soap. There were plenty of towels for three people and we really appreciated the long wash cloth that was provided. The long wash cloths are so much more practical than the tiny ones in Western countries.

The room itself does not have any other toiletries like cotton balls, Q-tips, slippers, etc. If you need these items, the front desk will ask you upon check-in.

ONSITE AMENTITIES

Over to the left of the lobby there was a welcoming space for guests to unwind and enjoy their huge selection of 130 different type of board games. This hotel in particular is called the “Hotel Games” and offers special rooms equipped with toys and games for guests with small children.

Additionally, there is a convenient complimentary drink corner with a selection of soft drinks, tea, and coffee. The drink stations have specific operating hours, so it’s a good idea to take note of this.

We do so much walking when we are in Japan and never have the energy to go to the gym, but should you need to access one there is a fitness room on-site. There is also a coin-laundry on-site as well.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We loved the location of this hotel and the room itself was spacious and very comfortable. However, if we visit Osaka again, we may look into alternative hotel options. We have absolutely no complaints, but we personally prefer staying in a hotel with less children. We also prefer to stay in hotels that have a front desk that operates around the clock.

MIMARU OSAKA NAMBA STATION (map)
556-0005 Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, 3-6-24 Nipponbashi, Naniwaku, Japan

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