FDS Azur

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about FDS Azur? It’s tucked away in this quiet residential corner of Nishi Ward that most tourists never see – and honestly, that’s part of its charm. The neighborhood around Honden feels authentically Osaka, with tiny ramen shops and convenience stores where locals actually shop, not the tourist traps you’ll find near Dotonbori.

The hotel itself is pretty straightforward – I mean, it’s a solid 3-star, so don’t expect marble lobbies or anything fancy. But here’s the thing: the staff actually remembers your name after the first day, and the rooms are way cleaner than you’d expect for the price point. The building’s got that efficient Japanese design where every square meter counts, so while the rooms aren’t huge, they’re thoughtfully laid out. The bathroom situation is typical Japanese-style compact, but the shower pressure is surprisingly good (trust me, after walking around Osaka all day, this matters). What really won me over was how quiet it gets at night – you’re far enough from the main drags that you can actually sleep, but close enough that a quick train ride gets you anywhere you want to go.

The area around the hotel is where it gets interesting. You’ve got Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine about a 15-minute walk south, which most people skip but shouldn’t – especially early morning when the locals come to pray and it’s almost empty. The nearest station connects you pretty easily to the main tourist areas, though you’ll want to grab a day pass because individual tickets add up fast. I actually loved walking back from dinner in Namba – it’s maybe 20 minutes through neighborhoods where you see how people actually live here, with tiny gardens squeezed between buildings and the occasional elderly person walking their impossibly small dog. The front desk staff – well, their English is limited but enthusiastic, and they’ve got this hand-drawn map of local spots that’s way better than anything on your phone. There’s this little bakery two blocks over that opens at 6 AM and sells out of their melon pan by 8 – the kind of place you only find when you’re staying somewhere real people live. Look, FDS Azur isn’t going to be the highlight of your trip, but it’s the kind of base camp that lets you experience Osaka without breaking the bank or dealing with crowds every time you want to grab a coffee. The 8.8 rating makes sense – it’s not fancy, but it does everything right.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $69. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Giulia from Italy – 16 June 2025 (9/10)

  The apartment was in a perfect location, very close to the metro Kujo. It had a lovely balcony and all the necessary amenities of a proper apartment (cooking tools, microwave, tv, fridge, freezer, etc). We loved staying there!
  
  What could be improved: Nothing to say – everything went great!

• Marcos from United States – 8 June 2025 (9/10)

  The place is amazing, has a lot of room. The bed is so comfortable and is nice that it has his own private washing machine.

• Alex from Canada – 20 May 2025 (9/10)

  Spacious, near 7/11 Lawson and FamilyMart, train station, alongside other food spots. Simple check in and checkout.
  
  What could be improved: Hard pillow

• Jeremy from Australia – 25 March 2025 (9/10)

  Location, apartments facilities and ease of booking and communicating.
  
  What could be improved: Luggage storage being away from apartment block.

• Edwar from Japan – 2 January 2025 (9/10)

  Location to public transport and local Osaka experiences

• Yoshiyuki from Japan – 26 December 2024 (9/10)

  it had everything i needed. comfortable bed and couch. internet was good. it was quiet. there was nothing to complain. thanks!

• Sir from New Zealand – 6 November 2024 (8/10)

  Good all round handy to everythig. . Very good Street mall close by. Locals very welcoming and friendly would highly recommend a stay in Osaka. Easy day trip to Kyoto

• Michael from Taiwan – 2 November 2024 (9/10)

  It was nice and clean.
  
  What could be improved: Pillows were a bit too high.

• Marta from Australia – 26 August 2024 (8/10)

  Very cute, clean place. Close to the train and shops. Easy access and clear instructions on how to use facilities.

• Nina from Croatia – 16 May 2024 (9/10)

  Nice apartment, clean, self check-in works great
  
  What could be improved: –

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities