Osaka Garden Palace

Hotel Description

You know what caught me off guard about the Osaka Garden Palace? It’s tucked away in this quiet residential pocket of Nishimiyahara that honestly feels like a different world from the usual Osaka hotel scene. I mean, you’re still in Yodogawa ward, so getting to the main action isn’t a hassle, but there’s something refreshing about stepping outside to tree-lined streets instead of neon and crowds.

The building itself has that slightly retro Japanese hotel vibe – think early 2000s renovation with clean lines and a marble lobby that’s impressive without being flashy. What I really appreciated was how the staff actually seemed to know the neighborhood inside and out. When I asked about getting to Osaka Station, they didn’t just point me toward the obvious Shinkansen route – they mentioned the local bus that runs right down Nishimiyahara Street, which honestly saved me about 15 minutes of walking with luggage. The rooms are what you’d expect from a solid 4-star place, nothing groundbreaking but thoughtfully laid out. The beds are firm (which I loved, but fair warning if you prefer softer), and the bathrooms have those deep Japanese tubs that make the whole trip worthwhile after a day of walking around Dotonbori.

Here’s the thing about this location that most people don’t realize – you’re actually positioned perfectly for exploring the less touristy side of Osaka. There’s this amazing little ramen shop about three blocks south that doesn’t even have English signage, and the morning market near Yodogawa Park is where actual locals do their shopping. Sure, it’s not as flashy as staying in Namba or Umeda, but that’s sort of the point. The neighborhood gets genuinely quiet after 9 PM, which was perfect for me since I’m usually exhausted from sightseeing anyway. Parking is actually available (not a given in Osaka), though spaces fill up during cherry blossom season – learned that one the hard way. The 7.9 rating makes sense to me; it’s not going to blow your mind, but it delivers exactly what it promises without any unpleasant surprises. The breakfast buffet is decent, nothing spectacular, but they do this really good miso soup that hits the spot before heading out for the day. Honestly, if you’re the type who wants to experience Osaka more like a temporary resident than a tourist, this place gives you that base without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $122. Twin Room -Non-Smoking with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Naail from United Kingdom – 2 June 2025 (9/10)

  Clean rooms, lovely decor
  
  What could be improved: Wifi was a little patchy

• Attila from Romania – 30 May 2025 (9/10)

  There is a free bus for the guests to and from Shin-Osaka station.

• Kuanhung from Taiwan – 10 May 2025 (8/10)

  Great
  
  What could be improved: Good value

• Noah from Sweden – 1 May 2025 (9/10)

  Fairly big rooms for Japanese standards. Same goes for the bathroom. Comfy beds. The shuttle bus to Shin-Osaka station is also very nice though the station is quite close so walking ain't an issue either.

• Raelene from New Zealand – 11 April 2025 (8/10)

  Staff were good but communication problems as English not great. Breakfast was good and rooms clean. Great to have the coach for the station.

• Silveruk from Japan – 15 March 2025 (8/10)

  The hotel is located a bit distant from the Shinkansen station, but there is a shuttle bus service that runs between the station and the hotel, which is a 3-minute drive. The entrance hall has a vast open space, making the visitors comfortable. I did not use them, but the hotel has wonderful restaurants inside.
  
  What could be improved: The facilities are a bit old relative to those in the modern hotels, but quite hygienic.

• Renton from Australia – 27 January 2025 (8/10)

  Shuttle bus service and location to train station
  There was enough room in the room to spread out luggage as well.
  
  What could be improved: I love the idea of origami station but found it hard to follow the instructions. Option of guidance would have been great!

• Voyager from Germany – 9 December 2024 (9/10)

  The shuttle bus to the station !!! So convenient. The room was decent size and comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: No restaurants nearby. Convenience store few blocks away. We had a crazy man screaming for hours in his room and it took time for the staff to respond to our call. Only when other guests called did someone came.

• Sten from Netherlands – 30 November 2024 (8/10)

  Nice comfortable room. Easy walk to the subway station. Nice personal with also 2 very cute and helpful girls from Sri Lanka. For me a opportunity to also practice my Sinhala language.

• Jessica from Canada – 20 October 2024 (7/10)

  I love the shuttle bus to the train station.
  
  What could be improved: You can hardly move in the bathroom is super tiny.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities