Akimi building

Hotel Description

I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to the Akimi building in Ikutamacho, I wasn’t expecting much from what looked like a pretty standard mid-rise in Tennoji. But you know what? Sometimes the most unassuming places end up surprising you, and this little 3-star spot really delivers on the basics in a way that just works.

The thing about staying here is that you’re planted right in the heart of real Osaka life, not some touristy bubble. Ikutamacho is one of those neighborhoods where you’ll see salarymen grabbing convenience store coffee at 6 AM and elderly locals tending to tiny street-side gardens – it’s genuinely lived-in, which I actually love. You’re maybe a 7-minute walk from Tennoji Station (I timed it), and honestly, that connection alone makes this place worth considering since you can hop on the JR lines to pretty much anywhere. The morning rush gets a bit intense around the station, but by the time you walk back to the hotel in the evening, everything settles into this quiet residential rhythm.

What really won me over was how the staff seemed to anticipate the little things that matter when you’re jet-lagged and trying to figure out a new city. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward – no long speeches about amenities I’d never use – and they had this simple neighborhood map with hand-drawn notes about which konbini stays open latest and where to find the best takoyaki nearby (spoiler: it’s not where you’d expect). The rooms are compact but thoughtfully laid out, with enough space to actually open your suitcase without playing furniture Tetris. The bed was firmer than what you’d get at a Western chain, but in that good way that doesn’t leave you feeling like you sank into quicksand. Sound-wise, it’s surprisingly quiet considering you’re in the middle of the city – I mean, you’ll hear the occasional motorcycle or late-night conversation drifting up from the street, but nothing that kept me awake. The bathroom setup is classic Japanese efficiency: everything you need in a space that somehow feels bigger than it actually is. I particularly appreciated that the shower had decent water pressure and got hot immediately, which isn’t always a given even in pricier places. The whole building has this clean, no-nonsense vibe that feels more like staying in a well-maintained apartment building than a hotel, and I mean that as a compliment. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in for a few days without feeling like you’re camping out in a lobby that’s trying too hard to impress you.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $110. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 2 double beds, 1 futon bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 10
• Estimated price from: $110. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed, 3 × 1 sofa bed and 2 double beds for Max persons: 9

Reviews

• Jeni from Philippines – 31 May 2025 (9/10)

  We like this place so much. Our stay was comfortable and feels like we were at home. We stayed in the fourth floor and good thing they have the lift. They provided complete cleaning stuff. The place is quiet and looks safe. They are super responsive to my queries. If we will be given a chance to travel to Japan again, we will book here again! 🙂
  
  What could be improved: Maybe the least that we do not like is the occasional pungent smell in the toilet though its clean and they have the exhaust fan.
  
  About the noise from the main road area, we do not mind it.
  
  We just like to suggest to add more mini table for the small stuff.

• Fiona from Singapore – 24 March 2025 (9/10)

  Everything was great. Amenities and toiletries were great. Thank you so much. Our family enjoyed the stay so much. 👍🏻👍🏻 Walking distance to dontonbori as well!

• Kimberly from Philippines – 17 March 2025 (9/10)

  The location was perfect for our friends who participated in the Osaka marathon. It was near a train station making it easier to get around. The host sent a PDF of house rules and how to self-check-in. Keys were in a locked box and the building had a door code. It had the appliances we needed- laundry, refrigerator, microwave, electric kettle, and basic cookware. Shower area had shampoo, conditioner, and body wash – love the smell of the body wash! We tried looking for it in supermarkets but couldn't find the brand:(
  
  What could be improved: Floors weren't spotless and the under bed needed some tending to. We found an empty soju bottle, a hair tie, and dirt under the beds. The building was also facing the highway, you could hear motorcycles revving and people talking loudly, but it was a weekend so maybe they were out partying.

• Livingston from Australia – 23 January 2025 (9/10)

  Really enjoyed our time here. Close to Dontombori and a train station

• Lizette from Australia – 18 January 2025 (8/10)

  very comfortable and location was good
  
  What could be improved: space was minimal

• Christian from Australia – 13 January 2025 (9/10)

  Everything is good.

• Helen from Australia – 21 December 2024 (9/10)

  I e clean accomodation and a good location

• Sinead from Australia – 6 December 2024 (9/10)

  Very spacious apartment. Rooms were huge and beds were comfortable.
  Loved the location. An easy walk to Dontonbori and stations.
  
  What could be improved: It was very loud at night with sirens and loud cars waking us up constantly.

• Ayden from United Kingdom – 27 November 2024 (9/10)

  The room was huge, beds were really comfy and there was a big living room. Spotlessly clean and I’d stay there again.

• Shiela from Philippines – 9 November 2024 (9/10)

  Clean, everything is as described. Everything works fine. It is enough for our group of 8 plus a baby.
  
  What could be improved: The sofa bed cushions were hard. There were no closet space for the 2 bedrooms. The motorcycles on the road are noisy at night when everybody is sleeping.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities