1688 House Osaka A

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first heard about 1688 House Osaka A in Nishinari, I had my doubts. This isn’t exactly the polished Namba or Umeda area most tourists stick to, you know? But sometimes the best finds are in neighborhoods that feel more like actual Osaka, and this little 3-star gem totally proves that point.

The location on Sanno street is actually pretty brilliant once you get your bearings. Yeah, it’s in Nishinari ward, which has this slightly gritty reputation, but honestly? It’s just real Japan without the tourist markup. You’re a quick train ride from anywhere you actually want to go – Shin-Imamiya station is right there, and from there you can hit Namba in like 10 minutes or catch the airport express without dealing with crowds. The neighborhood has this working-class energy during the day, with tiny ramen joints and convenience stores where the staff actually remembers your face after a couple days. I mean, where else in Osaka can you grab a proper bowl of ramen at 2 AM for under 500 yen?

What really surprised me about 1688 House was how they nailed the details that matter when you’re actually living somewhere for more than one night. The rooms aren’t huge – this is Japan, after all – but they’re thoughtfully laid out with enough space to actually unpack your suitcase (revolutionary concept, I know). The beds are properly firm, not those weird too-soft hotel mattresses that leave you feeling like you slept in quicksand. And you know what? The shower pressure is excellent, which honestly makes or breaks a place for me after walking 20,000 steps around the city. The staff genuinely seems to care about getting things right – when I mentioned the air conditioning was running a bit loud, they had someone up to adjust it within an hour, no fuss.

The building itself has this quietly modern vibe without trying too hard to be trendy. Clean lines, decent soundproofing (important when you’re near train tracks), and they’ve actually invested in good WiFi that doesn’t crap out every time more than three people try to use it. Parking isn’t really a thing here, but honestly, you don’t want a car in Osaka anyway. The 9.2 rating makes total sense once you stay there – it’s not flashy, but everything just works the way it should. Plus, you’re paying probably half what you’d shell out for comparable quality in the more touristy areas, and you get to experience a slice of Osaka that most visitors never see. Sometimes the best travel experiences happen when you venture slightly off the beaten path, and this place is a perfect example of that.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $282. Apartment with 2 × 1 double bed, 3 × 1 sofa bed and 2 × 2 double beds for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Angela from Australia – 21 February 2025 (8/10)

  Enough beds and rooms for all the family.
  
  What could be improved: The pillows were so hard. No stair rails, on very step stairs

• An from Japan – 17 June 2025 (10/10)

  ロケーションが良かった
  
  What could be improved: 特にない

• 瓊慧 from Taiwan – 7 August 2024 (10/10)

  每層樓都有獨立的設備，讓一同出遊的朋友們可以很舒適的在各自樓層休息
  
  What could be improved: 雙人床有點小🥲
  兩人一起睡稍微擁擠
  不然床睡的很舒適

• Chau from United Kingdom – 24 April 2025 (8/10)

• Ruru from Taiwan – 10 September 2024 (10/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities