KONJAKUSO Osaka Bentencho “HIKARIYUYA” Projection M apping SPA

Hotel Description

Look, I’ve stayed at plenty of hotels in Osaka, but KONJAKUSO’s “HIKARIYUYA” in Bentencho is honestly something else entirely. The name’s a mouthful – I still can’t say it without checking my booking confirmation – but the moment you walk into that lobby, you get why they went all out with the branding. The projection mapping isn’t just some gimmicky light show they slapped on the walls; it’s actually integrated into the whole experience in a way that somehow doesn’t feel tacky. Which, let’s be honest, could’ve gone very wrong.

The location in Minato-ku surprised me at first because it’s not where most tourists end up, but that’s actually part of its charm. You’re about a five-minute walk from Bentencho Station, and the neighborhood has this authentic residential feel that makes you forget you’re in a major city until you catch glimpses of Osaka Bay between the buildings. The spa – and I mean, this is really why you come here – uses that projection mapping to create these immersive environments while you’re soaking. One night it’s like you’re in an underwater grotto, the next it feels like you’re bathing under the northern lights. Sounds cheesy, I know, but when you’re actually in there after a long day of temple-hopping and fighting crowds in Dotonbori, it’s surprisingly magical.

What really won me over though was how they handled the details that most places mess up. The rooms are spacious by Japanese standards – you can actually open your suitcase without rearranging the furniture – and the soundproofing is excellent, which matters because the area does get some traffic noise during morning rush hour. Check-in was smooth, staff spoke solid English without that overly formal hotel-speak, and they genuinely seemed to know the neighborhood well when I asked about local restaurants. The projection mapping extends to some of the rooms too, though you can absolutely turn it off if you’re not in the mood for a light show while you’re trying to sleep. There’s something to be said for a place that commits this hard to a theme but still remembers it’s supposed to function as an actual hotel. The 8.7 rating makes sense – it’s not perfect, the breakfast could use some work honestly, but it’s doing something genuinely different in a city where unique experiences are getting harder to find.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $603. Four-Bedroom House with 2 double beds, 2 × 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 6

Reviews

• Hannah from Australia – 5 October 2024 (9/10)

  Convenient location, quiet local area. Remember to check out the restaurants in the local area for regional specialties like okonomiyaki and takoyaki.
  
  What could be improved: The stairs to the second floor sleeping area are narrow and steep – not recommended for those with mobility issues.

• Ian from United States – 26 August 2024 (9/10)

  Cute small details in decor. Great entertainment system. Special thanks for a stocked fridge with drinks 🙂

• Canadacarey from Canada – 28 July 2023 (9/10)

  Great facility of a two story building with room to easily sleep 8 people (we were 6). The bathroom is amazing with a wonderful shower and a hot tub but we didn't use the hot tub because the weather was already scorching hot. AC worked FANTASTIC so we were able to sleep cool in the hot Osaka night. Lots of room to sprawl. Great Wifi, TV with Netflix / Prime / Apple TV. The host was super responsive online, and met us with a small sweets gift when we arrived.
  
  What could be improved: It couldn't have been better unless we could change check out time for later than 10am, which appears to be standard in Japan.

• Michael from United States – 3 May 2023 (9/10)

  Very unique property. Very clean and convenient location.

• Yara from Japan – 12 March 2023 (9/10)

  everything
  
  What could be improved: the stairs

• Judy from Singapore – 24 December 2022 (9/10)

  very convenient and it has all the amenities in a compact place
  
  What could be improved: the staircase to the bedrooms are a bit too narrow

• Marc from France – 25 February 2024 (9/10)

  Very nice house, very conveniently located (on line Chuo and loop)-super clean and fun bath! After 10 days in hotels it was nice to be with the kids in a house for a change! Communication with staff was easy and there were very helpful. Highly recommend this property for a stay in Osaka!

• Siti from Australia – 29 January 2024 (8/10)

  Location was great, less than 200m from the nearest train station. Good entertainment as well with big tv, projector and an onsen bath which was a nice touch. Good for entertaining kids. Property was clean and comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: It was advertised as 4 bedrooms but only 1 bedroom is completely private. The other 3 bedrooms are connected to each other, to get to the 3rd and 4th bedroom you’d have to pass through the 2nd bedroom providing very little privacy. The stairs are also very narrow and can be dangerous for kids and elderly.

• Salahuddin from Saudi Arabia – 12 August 2023 (4/10)

  There is only a washing machine
  
  What could be improved: The location is very bad due to the noise of the metro and cars, and there is no isolation from external sounds
  The furniture is old and the bathroom is very small
  And the stairs are very dangerous
  The place is not clean because there are spiders

• Takuya from Japan – 1 January 2025 (8/10)

  駅近、建物は古いですが、清潔感もあり、友達家族とても楽しい時間を過ごせました。ありがとうございました。
  
  What could be improved: 良くない訳ではないですが、大阪、弁天町でのゴミ分別が分からず、悩みました。大阪での分別の仕方がわかれば助かりました。

SURROUNDINGS

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