10mins train to Namba, 4 mins walk to stn, 2 floors japanese style , 2-8 people

Hotel Description

Honestly, when I first saw the listing name for this place – “10mins train to Namba, 4 mins walk to stn, 2 floors japanese style, 2-8 people” – I thought, well, that’s refreshingly honest if not exactly poetic. But you know what? That no-nonsense approach actually tells you everything you need to know about this gem tucked away in Sumiyoshi-ku.

The location is seriously perfect if you want that authentic Osaka residential vibe without being stuck in the middle of nowhere. You’re on a quiet street in Kamisumiyoshi – I mean, you can actually hear birds in the morning instead of just traffic, which is saying something for Osaka. The walk to Sumiyoshi-Higashieki station really is about four minutes (I timed it), and then it’s a straight shot on the Nankai Main Line to all the action in Namba. What the listing doesn’t mention is that you’ll pass this tiny shrine on your way to the station that locals visit every morning – there’s something oddly comforting about that little routine. The neighborhood has that lived-in feel with corner convenience stores, a small supermarket, and actually decent ramen joints that don’t see many tourists.

The house itself spreads across two floors in proper Japanese style, with tatami mats that smell faintly of that sweet grass scent and sliding doors that took me about a day to stop slamming accidentally. The whole setup can sleep anywhere from 2-8 people depending on how you arrange the futon, which gives you flexibility if your travel group is the indecisive type. I loved the morning light filtering through the shoji screens – it’s got that soft, diffused quality that makes even your terrible bedhead look contemplative. The kitchen is compact but functional (you’ll want to grab groceries from that Lawson around the corner), and there’s enough space to spread out without tripping over each other constantly. The only minor thing is that the floors can be a bit creaky upstairs, so if you’re sharing with light sleepers, maybe don’t do your midnight snack runs in your heaviest shoes. What really struck me was how the 9.2 rating actually undersells the experience – it’s not fancy or Instagram-perfect, but it’s genuinely comfortable in that way that makes you want to stay an extra day just to hang out in the space. You’re getting real Japanese residential living without the tourist markup, plus you’ll have locals nodding hello to you by day three like you actually belong there.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $76. Four-Bedroom House with 1 large double bed, 2 × 2 futon beds and 1 futon bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Brooke from United States – 12 May 2025 (10/10)

  Nice, quiet house only a short walk to the train. We spent a week here and loved every minute. The house was comfortable with everything we needed, including lots of things travelers commonly forget. Felt like being at home! The house was exceptionally clean and we loved having the option of traditional Japanese and western all in one. We would definitely stay here again and will recommend it highly to everyone!

• Sichen from China – 29 April 2025 (9/10)

  Very clean and authentic modern Japanese style. Location is convenient.
  
  What could be improved: It would be good to have some folks and knives.

• Stephen from Australia – 27 March 2025 (8/10)

  Having a kitchen to cook small meals
  
  What could be improved: Washing machine was good but a lack of a dryer made it difficult to dry clothes in winter

• Alexandre from France – 25 March 2025 (10/10)

  We loved the traditional type, we were 4 and had 1 room each to sleep. A 7/11 right next to the house and train at 5 mins.

• Fuad from Malaysia – 20 January 2025 (10/10)

  Host is kind, even gave early check in so we returned the favor by cleaning the house. Will contact the host again if i in osaka again!
  
  What could be improved: None!

• Raysa from United States – 10 January 2025 (10/10)

  Very close to train station, clean, partly traditional and partly westernized, owner is very communicable and easy to reach, easy to find, quiet and safe neighborhood , my kids love staying here, bed comfortable, plenty of space, owner proved a lot of stuff to make your stay comfortable and easy.
  
  What could be improved: No dryer, it’s hard to hang clothes during winter, but she proved location of nearby coin laundry, stairs was a little steep but typical of Japan house I guess

• Diwen from Australia – 2 January 2024 (10/10)

  The apartment is located in a quiet local suburb, close to many amenities including 7/11, Family Mart, pharmacy shop and a big supermarket. It is about 30 mins away from Namba by local train. The owner is super friendly and checked in with us throughout the whole stay. There are 4 bedrooms with air-conditioners in every bedroom. The kitchen is well equipped if you would like to cook meals yourself. The bonus is that there's a big supermarket 5 mins away and we sourced lots of yummy local ingredients at very reasonable cost. I would not hesitate to recommend this to all family travellers.
  
  What could be improved: Google map guided us to the wrong location. However, the owner is very responsive on emails and offered to pick us up from the local train station. Take East exit if you are catching the local train.

• James from New Zealand – 26 December 2023 (10/10)

  A very comfortable Japanese family home with a mix of modern and traditional features. Each room had an air-conditioner which allowed for cosy ambient temperatures throughout our 8 nights in mid December that dropped to 2 degrees celsius on some nights. The property is very clean and is located in a quiet residential area, very close to the train station but far enough not to hear the sound of the trains. The owner is a very kind and friendly person and also very quick to respond to messages in English and provided us with detailed and easy to understand information which was helpful. There are a number of convenience stores and a large supermarket also. Getting to the accommodation from Kansai airport was also fairly straightforward. We thoroughly enjoyed staying here as kids got to sleep on tatami mats and futon (while parents slept in normal beds). I definitely recommend this accommodation especially for families who want to experience living in a Japanese home.

• Liz from Australia – 10 October 2023 (10/10)

  This property is located in such a lovely area. We loved the home. It’s layout fit 3 ladies perfectly. The shower room is spacious. Shower flow in perfect for soothing the joints after a busy days. Train station is just a short walk. As is the family marts. Safe quiet area too.
  The home is super super clean. Provides all you need for cooking. The washing machine and hanging space was ideal for our needs.
  
  The support for this property is fabulous. Reply’s are super fast. Nothing has been a problem. Directions spot on. And the information book on the dinning table was really helpful. Don’t miss the 12 minute walk to local park and shrines. It’s so nice to be in a community where people live rather than a tourist area.
  
  What could be improved: Beds are firm. I’m an old softy. All beds I have found in Japan to be firm. I just put the duvet under me and slept well

• Luke from United Kingdom – 7 August 2023 (9/10)

  Our host was incredibly hospitable, collecting us from the train station, and giving us excellent advice for family friendly activities. The house was beautiful and felt very traditional in Japanese style. The kids loved sleeping on the futon beds!
  
  What could be improved: We loved everything, but after tiring days out, the kids struggled with the train connections to get back home.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities