Forestay Shinsaibashi

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about the Forestay Shinsaibashi? It’s tucked away on this quiet side street in Minamihorie, which honestly feels like discovering a little secret in the middle of all the Shinsaibashi chaos. I mean, you’re literally a five-minute walk from the main Shinsaibashi shopping strip, but the hotel sits on one of those narrow residential streets where you can actually hear yourself think.

The building itself is classic modern Japanese hotel – clean lines, lots of glass, nothing flashy but everything just works. What I really appreciated was how the staff handled check-in; there’s this efficient but genuinely warm vibe that you get at well-run Japanese hotels. The lobby’s compact but they’ve got this interesting mix of wood and metal that feels contemporary without being cold. Actually, the whole place has that sort of understated style that grows on you – like they put thought into the details without showing off about it. The rooms are on the smaller side (this is Japan, after all), but the layout is so smart you don’t feel cramped. The bed was surprisingly comfortable, and I loved that they had those heavy blackout curtains that actually block out the morning sun – crucial when you’re dealing with jet lag.

Here’s the thing about the location that most people don’t realize until they stay here: you’re perfectly positioned between two different sides of Osaka. Walk east and you hit the tourist mayhem of Dotonbori in about ten minutes. Walk west toward Nippombashi and you’re in this more local area with incredible little restaurants and bars that don’t make it into guidebooks. There’s this tiny yakitori place around the corner that I stumbled into purely by accident – the kind of spot where the chef remembers your drink order by the second night. The nearest subway station is Nippombashi, which connects you to pretty much everywhere you’d want to go, and honestly the walk there is pleasant even when it’s raining because there are covered shopping streets part of the way.

What really sold me on this place was the attention to practical stuff. The WiFi actually works well (not always a given), there’s a decent convenience store about two blocks away, and – this might sound weird but it matters – the shower has proper water pressure. I stayed during Golden Week when everything in the area was absolutely packed, but the hotel never felt chaotic or overwhelmed. The housekeeping was spot-on, and they managed to keep things quiet even though I’m pretty sure they were running at full capacity. The only minor complaint I’d have is that the air conditioning unit is a bit loud, but you get used to it after the first night.

For a 3-star place, the Forestay punches above its weight. It’s not trying to be fancy or trendy – it’s just solid, reliable, and in a spot that lets you experience both tourist Osaka and local Osaka without having to choose between them. If you’re looking for Instagram-worthy amenities, this probably isn’t your place. But if you want somewhere comfortable and well-located where you can actually relax after a day of exploring the city, it’s pretty much perfect.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $164. One-Bedroom Apartment with 2 double beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 5
• Estimated price from: $186. One-Bedroom Apartment with 2 double beds and 2 futon beds for Max persons: 5

Reviews

• Gabriella from Hungary – 16 June 2025 (9/10)

  The accomodation is close to Dotonbori, there are many restaurants nearby, and still it is quiet. There is self check-in. Although we forgot to send our datas before arrival and it was 9.00 pm, the staff answered our email in about 10 minutes and we got our opening code for the accomodation’s door. The room was well equipped and clean.
  
  What could be improved: We really missed those little plushes in the pictures from our room. 🙁 Otherwise nothing at all.

• Danielle from Australia – 20 January 2025 (9/10)

  Fantastic location and super comfortable apartment. Walked easy from the local train station with our bags. 10-15min walk to the main hub of Dotonbori but far enough away that it was nice and quiet location for sleeping. We'd happily stay in this same place again – family of 4 with 2 teenage kids.
  
  What could be improved: nothing.

• Lilly from Australia – 26 November 2024 (9/10)

  The location was excellent, very spacious rooms
  
  What could be improved: The bathroom had a sewerage smell that was a little hard to get “used to”

• John from Australia – 21 October 2024 (9/10)

  Well appointed self-contained flat. Really nice, comfortable and super close to all the good stuff in Amerikamura. We loved it.
  
  What could be improved: Wi-Fi had the wrong password so we couldn’t use it. Little bit tricky to find and get in the first time but after that, smooth sailing.

• Pak from South Korea – 26 September 2024 (8/10)

  Spacious and cozy for family and friends. Great location, walking distance to main shopping area.

• Bruce from Australia – 6 June 2024 (8/10)

  What could be improved: There was a dog in one of the apartments barking much of the time

• Jodi from United States – 31 May 2024 (8/10)

  Conveniently located, keyless entry, VERY clean.
  
  What could be improved: The towels were small and only one per person requiring frequent laundry. Beds were hard but sufficient. Lacked storage/shelving for clothes. While there was a large closet only 10 hangers and no shelves or drawers. We had to live out of our suitcases which isn’t enjoyable for a two week stay. Barking dog in nearby unit on some nights.

• Tran from United States – 5 May 2024 (9/10)

  Very neat and clean.
  
  What could be improved: Check in process was a bit rough.

• Maria from Australia – 20 April 2024 (8/10)

  The room was clean and fairly large with a nice sitting/lounge area. The area was fairly quiet.
  
  What could be improved: The property is a little far from Dotonbori, train station and other attractions.

• Stephen from United Kingdom – 17 April 2024 (9/10)

  The room size and bathroom.
  
  What could be improved: Fewer power outlets than I'd like, had to unplug the table lamp to have enough chargers.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities