サンライズハワイ

Hotel Description

You know what? I’ll be honest – when I first saw the name “Sunrise Hawaii” plastered on a building in Nishinari, I thought it was some kind of joke. I mean, we’re talking about one of Osaka’s grittier neighborhoods here, not exactly the tropical paradise the name suggests. But after staying at サンライズハワイ a couple times (work trips, don’t ask), I’ve got to say there’s something oddly charming about this place that grows on you.

The hotel sits right in Tamade-Higashi, which locals will tell you is… well, let’s call it “authentic Osaka.” You’re basically in the heart of working-class Nishinari, and honestly, that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you want to see how regular people actually live here. The Tamade Station is literally a five-minute walk – I timed it – and from there you can hop on the Nankai line straight to Namba in about fifteen minutes. What I really appreciate is that you’re close enough to all the tourist stuff but far enough away that you won’t be dealing with crowds of people dragging suitcases down narrow streets at all hours. The neighborhood gets pretty quiet after 9 PM, which is either perfect for sleeping or slightly eerie depending on your perspective.

The rooms are… look, it’s a 3-star place and it feels like a 3-star place, but in a good way? Everything works, it’s clean, and the beds are actually decent – firmer than what you’d get at most Western chains, but that seems to be the standard here. The staff at check-in were surprisingly helpful considering my terrible Japanese, and they had this little printed map with handwritten notes about nearby convenience stores and the best ramen shop (which, by the way, is absolutely worth the two-block walk). I particularly remember the woman at the front desk warning me about the construction noise that starts around 7 AM – most places wouldn’t bother mentioning that kind of detail. The shower pressure is solid, though the bathroom is tiny even by Japanese standards, and there’s this persistent smell of cleaning products in the hallways that’s either reassuring or overwhelming depending on your mood.

What really struck me is how this place exists in this weird bubble where you get glimpses of both old-school Japan and the modern convenience culture. You’ve got vending machines on every corner selling everything from hot coffee to cold beer, but you’ll also see elderly locals sitting outside their shops in the evening just watching the world go by. It’s not Instagram-pretty, but it feels real in a way that a lot of tourist areas don’t. The 7.4 rating makes sense – it’s not going to blow you away, but it does what it promises without any major surprises. If you’re the type who needs to be in the middle of Dotonbori or wants luxury amenities, this isn’t your spot. But if you want somewhere decent to sleep that gives you actual neighborhood access to Osaka without the tourist markup, サンライズハワイ delivers on that promise, tropical name and all.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $73. Apartment with 2 double beds for Max persons: 4
• Estimated price from: $75. Apartment with 2 futon beds for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Kristin from Philippines – 30 September 2022 (8/10)

  the homey feel
  
  What could be improved: hard to reach at first, no signage of the name of the property

• M from Philippines – 2 November 2024 (8/10)

  Near to everything.
  
  What could be improved: Did not provide enough towels for 4 people

• Arifin from Japan – 7 October 2024 (7/10)

  The location is very close to the station
  
  What could be improved: Bounce Bath Soap cannot be refilled with the same product 🙁

• Emmanuel from New Zealand – 1 October 2024 (6/10)

  Beds were comfortable, next to a great super market, good washing machine and shower, quiet area, close to tram and subways.
  
  What could be improved: Wasn't super clean – towels damp on arrival, place looked like it hadnt had a proper clean in a while (thick dust on most ledges etc), and some cases fueniture to bih for rooms (eg couldnt open shutters as bed in the way)

• Vedanayagam from India – 17 June 2024 (7/10)

  Facilities and Features
  
  What could be improved: Cleaning charges was too high.. location identification was bit difficult.

• Tse from Malaysia – 31 May 2024 (8/10)

  Simple check-in procedure. Strategic location to access supermarket and train stations. Umbrellas provided outside the room. Great value stay with nice amenities.
  
  What could be improved: Bed too soft, problematic for people has back issues. Poor soundproofing, able to hear the noise of foot steps and chairs dragging from upstairs, sleep affected when it happens close to midnight. Frying pans with spoiled coating, not safe to cook even stove provided. Not enough cloth hangers for laundry. Not enough trash bags.

• Joan from Japan – 5 September 2023 (6/10)

  It was pretty confortable and well equipped
  
  What could be improved: On the pictures the rooms looked way bigger and colorful. A bit disappointed from this point if view

• Laura from United Kingdom – 17 July 2023 (8/10)

  Compact, little bit sparse on plates, cutlery buy otherwise very good. But overall a nice apartment in Osaka with pretty much everything you need.
  
  What could be improved: We had to wait outside in the sun as no instructions received prior to arrival and unable to contact the owner by phone.

• Sally from United Kingdom – 14 October 2022 (7/10)

  It had most things you need, although some pots and pans, crockery could do with a thorough clean – some burnt in food still present.
  
  What could be improved: Some pots and pans, crockery could do with a thorough clean – some burnt in food still present.
  Advertised in description as having hot tub jacuzzi – when questioned the response said they were referring to the bathtub. I do think this description should be removed as it is misleading – I was looking forward to a jacuzzi! However, the property was still good value for money.
  Attention needs to be paid to pulling out the beds to ensure cleaning is thorough.
  A much better description of exactly where it is, maybe a photo of the street and outside of the building, as we had to seek the help of a young man, who himself couldn’t work out where it was, luckily he called at a nearby house and asked the owner.

• Audrey from Australia – 17 August 2024 (6/10)

  Adequate for a one night stay
  
  What could be improved: The mouldy floorboard. It made the room smell musky.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities