庭之宿 新大阪日本庭園の家 -Residence inn Niwanoyado-

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw the name “庭之宿 新大阪日本庭園の家” I thought, here we go, another tourist trap trying too hard with the traditional Japanese angle. But you know what? This little gem in Nishiawaji actually delivers on that promise, and I mean really delivers.

The whole place feels like someone’s thoughtfully designed home rather than a hotel – which makes sense since it’s technically a residence inn. Walking in, there’s this immediate sense of calm that hits you, probably because of the actual Japanese garden they’ve managed to squeeze into the property (and honestly, in this part of Osaka where space is at a premium, that’s pretty impressive). The garden isn’t huge, but it’s meticulously maintained, and if you’re lucky enough to get a room overlooking it, you’ll understand why they named the place after it. I stayed there in late spring and the morning light filtering through the maple leaves while I had my coffee was… well, it’s one of those moments that makes you remember why you travel.

What really sets this place apart is the location – you’re in Higashiyodogawa-ku, which tourists often skip, but locals know it’s perfectly positioned. You’re close enough to Shin-Osaka Station that you can actually walk there with luggage (about 10 minutes if you don’t mind the slight uphill), but far enough away that you won’t hear the constant rumble of shinkansen trains. The neighborhood has this lived-in feeling – there’s a fantastic little ramen shop about two blocks down that stays open late, and a convenience store right around the corner that somehow always has the best selection of onigiri. The staff seems genuinely surprised when foreign guests know about these spots, which tells you something about how authentic the area still is.

Now, it’s a 3-star place with an 8.3 rating, so set your expectations accordingly – this isn’t luxury, but it’s thoughtful. The rooms are clean and well-designed, though smaller than what Americans might expect (but honestly, that’s Japan). What impressed me most was the attention to detail: proper blackout curtains, actually comfortable bedding, and bathroom amenities that don’t feel like afterthoughts. The check-in process is smooth, and the staff’s English is functional – not perfect, but you won’t struggle to communicate. There’s something refreshing about staying somewhere that feels more like a well-run guesthouse than a corporate hotel chain. If you’re the type of traveler who appreciates authentic local experiences over marble lobbies and concierge services, this place will probably win you over like it did me.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $254. Holiday Home with 2 futon beds, 7 futon beds, 4 bunk beds and 1 large double bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Iris from Australia – 17 October 2024 (9/10)

  The house is very spacious with a lot of facilities. Sauna is excellent and kitchen utensils is very sufficient for our family. The host communicate with us really well. We especially love sleeping on the tatami, such an experience for the kids and my dad. Because the house is in the midst of a quiet neighborhood, if you have a loud big party, this is not for you. If you enjoy some quiet moment in shin Osaka, this is great for your journey
  
  What could be improved: Would be lovely if there are some hooks in the bathrooms to hang clothes and towels.

• Yiu from Hong Kong – 20 July 2023 (8/10)

  Over all the housing, it is really relaxing and the facilities are great for a few night's staycation! There is even a karaoke room.
  Would definitely come back another time.
  
  What could be improved: There are some bugs running around, it is expected but unnerving because it comes out of nowhere.

• Tram from Japan – 19 November 2024 (7/10)

  Nice property, multiple bedrooms, karaoke and sauna.
  3 min walk to nearest convenience store, 5 min walk to nearest station.
  Old house but that’s a part of authentic experience.
  
  What could be improved: There was a roach in 1F bathroom.
  4 out of 5 bikes had flat tires and the air pump didn’t work, and 1 of them had loose handle bar that could lead to injury when making turns.
  There was an instruction on how to turn the hot water on but didn’t indicate where the switch was so we had to look for it all over the house.
  Decibel meter was set at 70db for alarm to go off, but any conversation or clapping hands would easily get to that, so I find it so hard to believe that we can even use the vacuum cleaner or hair dryer on site that was available to use.
  Small garden had lit up bamboos but 2 of them were fallen down and not fixed.
  Kitchen is equipped with utensils but missing a few things-strainer bowls, bowls, towel hanger/towel. Not suitable for actual cooking.

• Yamada from Japan – 6 November 2023 (9/10)

  部屋数も多くて、和室が広くて、皆んなでゆっくり話せました。
  
  What could be improved: 住宅街で、チェックインが遅かったので娘たちが、車を入れる時に、近所のおじさんに　ぶつけるなよ　と言われたそうです。

• すい from Japan – 18 October 2023 (8/10)

  家族で気兼ねなく過ごせました。
  また調理器具の充実や、カラオケルーム、サウナルーム完備でとても楽しい時間を過ごせました。
  
  What could be improved: なかなかのサイズのGが出て、Gが苦手な私達夫婦は震えました。
  古い建物なので致し方ないとは思うのですが、そこだけが残念でした。
  あと、クシ（使い捨て）とフライ返しを置いて欲しいです。

• Eric from Taiwan – 17 September 2023 (9/10)

  空間很大而且還有卡拉OK
  而且衛浴設備都很好
  很多空間可以使用
  還有腳踏車可以騎去附近超市（ライフ）
  
  What could be improved: 雖然分貝器有點令人在意
  但沒有超過規定的分貝所以沒有響
  位置離車站（新大阪）稍遠提行李不太方便
  不過到東淀川算近

• Utim_utim from Japan – 6 February 2023 (8/10)

  大人4人・子供7人の大人数で泊まれるところを探していて、一般的なホテルでは3部屋ぐらいに別れての宿泊となるが、こちらは全員で一緒に宿泊できるので、楽しく過ごせました。仲の良い複数家族での旅行などでは最適解だと思います。
  
  What could be improved: 立地上仕方がないが騒音問題などで近隣住宅街に対して気を使わないといけないので注意が必要。
  常識的な範囲内で利用出来る方に向いているが、大騒ぎする/したい方はオーナーにも近隣にも迷惑がかかるので利用は控えた方が良いです。

• Yui from Japan – 4 September 2022 (8/10)

  広くて、家族、姉家族と楽しく過ごせました。
  
  What could be improved: 大きな声を出したらなる音の説明がどこにもないからどうして鳴ったのかいつとまるのか分からなかった。あと、ブザーの音が長すぎて小さな子が怖がって大変だった。数字もなんになるとブザーがなるのかわからなくて説明文がほしかった。

• Jin from Japan – 13 November 2022 (5/10)

  What could be improved: 喋れないのがもう来れないと思いました
  他は最高でした

• Koutarou from Japan – 31 March 2024 (9/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities