Cityroute Hotel

Hotel Description

I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to the Cityroute Hotel in Utsubohonmachi, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes these unassuming spots end up surprising you, and this one actually grew on me during my stay.

The thing about this location is that it sits right in this interesting pocket of Nishi-ku where you’ve got the business district energy but without all the chaos of, say, Umeda or Namba. Utsubohonmachi itself is one of those neighborhoods that feels more like where actual Osakans live and work rather than where tourists usually end up – which honestly made my stay feel more authentic. There’s this great little convenience store literally around the corner (I mean, there always is in Japan, but this one had surprisingly good coffee), and I found myself walking to Utsubo Park most mornings. The park’s maybe a 5-minute stroll, and it’s where you’ll see office workers grabbing lunch and locals walking their dogs – just real Osaka life happening.

The hotel itself has that clean, no-nonsense vibe that Japanese business hotels do so well. My room was compact but thoughtfully laid out, with one of those tiny but perfectly functional bathrooms that somehow fit everything you need. The bed was firm – which I actually prefer – and the air conditioning worked great, which matters more than you’d think during Osaka’s humid summers. What struck me most was how quiet it stayed at night despite being in the city. I mean, you’ll hear the occasional taxi, but nothing like the constant hum you get in the busier districts. The staff at check-in spoke decent English and were genuinely helpful when I asked about getting to Dotonbori (about 15 minutes by subway, by the way). The lobby’s pretty minimal – just a few chairs and that slightly sterile but clean aesthetic – but honestly, I wasn’t planning to hang out there anyway. One small thing that bugged me was the elevator being a bit slow, but that’s pretty typical for buildings this size in Japan. The Wi-Fi was solid throughout my room, which is always a relief when you’re trying to navigate a new city or upload photos. Overall, it’s the kind of place that doesn’t try to wow you with fancy amenities but just does the basics really well – clean, comfortable, reasonably priced, and in a spot that gives you a genuine feel for the city rather than keeping you in some tourist bubble.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $96. Double Room – Non-Smoking with 1 double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $118. Twin Room – Non-Smoking with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $118. Hollywood Twin Room – Non-Smoking with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $60. Standard Single Room – Non Smoking with 1 single bed for Max persons: 1
• Estimated price from: $74. Economy Single Room with 1 single bed for Max persons: 1

Reviews

• Ethan from Australia – 19 April 2025 (8/10)

  Close to stations to get around the city
  
  What could be improved: Air conditioning wasn’t the best, slept with window open for a breeze and all of the city sounds

• Janet from Canada – 28 February 2025 (9/10)

  Excellent location and the hotel is very professionally run.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Tingfu from New Zealand – 19 February 2025 (9/10)

  Very close to train station and bus stop,walking distance

• Rudy from Indonesia – 20 January 2025 (8/10)

  What could be improved: only a few staff can speak english

• Shuai from China – 10 January 2025 (9/10)

  7-11 downstairs: really convenient; within 5 mins walk from 2 different subway stations; comprehensive pharmacy nearby, better than downtown stores; facility in room is sufficient; clean room; friendly staff; housekeeping daily.
  
  What could be improved: very good for the price. nothing to complain.

• Jack from Australia – 8 January 2025 (9/10)

  The room and bedding was very comfortable
  
  What could be improved: The air conditioning didn’t work properly

• Malcolm from New Zealand – 17 December 2024 (9/10)

  Room very comfortable, bathroom small but functional. Had a lift to 9th floor I was on. Staff always smiled and helpful. Spoke broken English but ok to find out what you needed to. Seven 11 next door.
  
  What could be improved: Location perhaps but this reflects on price I think.

• Naoyuki from Hong Kong – 17 December 2024 (8/10)

  no breakfast provied
  
  What could be improved: wish check out time prospone to 12:00 noon

• John from United Kingdom – 12 November 2024 (8/10)

  Cityroute was comfortable, clean and served us well. It was close enough to the metro and some good places to visit. There were some great cafes, restaurants and bars in easy walking.
  
  What could be improved: Staff spoke no English (but I should have tried Japanese); no view from window, but not a problem.

• Josip from Australia – 6 November 2024 (9/10)

  Very clean, easy to reach, plenty of food places nearby and not far from popular attractions!
  
  What could be improved: Not much soundproofing, loud people talking in the hallway can wake you up.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities