Marunishi

Hotel Description

You know what? I almost walked right past Marunishi the first time I was looking for it – it’s tucked into this narrow street in Tsuruhashi, and honestly, the entrance is pretty understated for a place that turned out to be such a solid find. But that’s sort of the charm of staying in this part of Osaka. You’re right in the heart of Koreatown, where the air actually smells like barbecue and kimchi most hours of the day, and you can hear the sizzle from yakiniku joints drifting up through the windows.

The thing about Marunishi is that it gets the basics really, really right. I mean, it’s a 3-star place, so you’re not expecting marble bathrooms or anything, but the rooms are clean in that meticulous Japanese way, and the beds are surprisingly comfortable – none of that rock-hard futon situation you sometimes get stuck with. The staff speaks decent English, which is honestly a relief when you’re trying to figure out the best route to Dotonbori at 11 PM. What really won me over though was the location. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Tsuruhashi Station, which connects you to both the JR loop line and the Kintetsu network, so getting around Osaka (or even day-tripping to Nara) is dead simple. But here’s the thing most people don’t realize – this neighborhood is where you want to be for food. Forget the touristy spots. There’s this Korean barbecue place called Rokkasen just around the corner that locals line up for, and about a five-minute walk toward the station, you’ll find some of the best takoyaki vendors who’ve been there for decades.

The area gets pretty lively in the evenings – you’ll hear conversations in Korean, Japanese, and broken English mixing together on the street – but it quiets down surprisingly early, around 10 PM most nights. I actually appreciated that rhythm after spending days walking around the city. One small thing though: the elevator is tiny and sort of slow, so if you’re traveling with big suitcases, just factor in a few extra minutes. The front desk can store luggage if you arrive early, which saved me when my flight got in at 7 AM and I was basically dead on my feet. For the price point and that 8.6 rating, Marunishi delivers exactly what it promises – a clean, comfortable base in one of Osaka’s most authentic neighborhoods, run by people who actually seem to care about whether you have a good stay.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $100. One-Bedroom Apartment with 2 double beds for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Anny from Spain – 16 June 2025 (9/10)

  Sato was very kind to us — she gave us some great food recommendations, welcomed us at the location, and also explained how to get the keys. The place was very clean and had all the facilities for a great stay!
  
  What could be improved: The bathroom was a bit small, but it wasn’t a real issue for us.

• Valerie from United Kingdom – 8 May 2025 (9/10)

  It was very clean, comfy and the location was great. Well worth the money. Far enough that it is quiet but close enough to travel around. It was perfect for two people. It would have been tight for four people.
  
  What could be improved: Light outside the corridor comes through the glass above the door. The mattress could have been more firm.

• Alisha from Australia – 5 May 2025 (9/10)

  It was nice to stay in a more local area rather than in Osaka and to stay in our own apartment was great!
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Damian from Poland – 18 April 2025 (9/10)

  The property was equipped with several towels, shampoo and body wash. The kitchen had basic equipment: cutlery, plates, cups, sink, fridge, microwave, kettle. You can do laundry in the washing machine, which was located outside the apartment (you can ask the owner for instructions on how to use it). The owner was very helpful and asked me during my stay if I needed anything. She even arranged for a free guided tour of selected places in Osaka. This place had fast WiFi.

• Julia from United Kingdom – 17 April 2025 (8/10)

  Very big and spacious great location for exploring Osaka as close to train station. Very clean and good facilities.
  
  What could be improved: The walls are so thin and the beds are against the walls so you have no privacy, after we arrived we were having a normal volume conversation sat next to each-other in bed discussing plans for the next day at 10pm and we got a bunch of loud aggressive knocking through the walls – so you have to literally whisper to not be heard

• Roberto from Italy – 12 March 2025 (9/10)

  The apartment is well organized whit an area to cook.
  The host is very kind and quick in answering to our questions.

• Belinda from Canada – 25 December 2024 (9/10)

  Excellent location by Tsuruhashi Station and great value for having a whole apartment. It had basic amenities provided and was very clean. The check in instructions were clear and the host was quick to respond to questions.
  
  What could be improved: Like the other reviews said, the walls are thin so it is possible to hear the neighbors, but it did not affect our sleep. The toilet stall is small, but comparable to other Japanese toilet stalls, which are also small. The cooking tools in the kitchen are basic (pot and stirrer), so enough for making ramen, but not much else. These are fairly minor comments though, considering how little we paid and the very convenient location. The trade-offs are totally worth it.

• Karl from United Kingdom – 12 December 2024 (8/10)

  Very spacious room in a quiet area.

• Srikanth from Japan – 18 November 2024 (9/10)

  Spacious living room and comfortable bedding
  
  What could be improved: Bath room is small

• Lucia from Slovakia – 21 October 2024 (9/10)

  We had amazing time staying here. Close to the train station, convenience store nearby and it had everything we could need. Definitely would stay again!
  
  What could be improved: We had no idea how to use the wasching machine and google lens translator didn't really help. But that's on us really, but maybe adding english how to tutorial would be nice!

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities