Pack Studio Tanaka

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to Pack Studio Tanaka, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The name sounds more like a design firm than a hotel, and honestly, that’s sort of what it feels like inside. It’s tucked away in Honden, which is this quietly cool pocket of Nishi-ku that most tourists completely miss. You know what I mean? The kind of neighborhood where you stumble across tiny coffee roasters and vintage shops that don’t even have English signage.

The building itself has this minimalist thing going on – very clean lines, lots of concrete and glass. I mean, it’s definitely Japanese modern, but not in that sterile way that makes you feel like you’re staying in an art gallery. The rooms are compact (we’re talking Tokyo-style compact), but whoever designed this place actually gets how to make small spaces work. Everything has a purpose, and there’s this clever built-in storage situation that means your stuff isn’t scattered everywhere after five minutes. The bed was surprisingly comfortable too – not too soft, not too firm. Sometimes these boutique places focus so much on looking good that they forget people actually need to sleep, but they nailed it here.

What really got me was the attention to detail. The lighting changes throughout the day automatically, which sounds gimmicky but actually makes the space feel alive. And the bathroom – honestly, it’s tiny but perfectly designed with this rainfall shower that somehow fits. The whole place has this quiet hum to it, you know? Not dead silent, but peaceful. I could hear the occasional train in the distance, but it was more comforting than annoying. The area gets pretty quiet after 9 PM, which is perfect if you’re not looking for nightlife right outside your door.

The staff speaks decent English, though they’re not overly chatty – more efficient and helpful when you need something. Check-in was smooth, and they actually gave me a little hand-drawn map of the neighborhood with their favorite spots marked. That’s the kind of touch that tells you someone cares about what they’re doing. There’s a Family Mart about two blocks away, and you’re maybe a 10-minute walk to Nippombashi, where you can catch the subway to pretty much anywhere in Osaka. The walk to Dotonbori takes about 20 minutes if you’re feeling ambitious, but honestly, I liked having a quiet base to come back to after dealing with all those crowds.

The whole experience feels more like staying at a friend’s really well-designed apartment than a typical hotel. It’s got that 8.5 rating for good reason – not because it’s trying to be everything to everyone, but because it does exactly what it sets out to do really well. If you’re the type of traveler who appreciates thoughtful design and doesn’t need a concierge to hold your hand, you’ll probably love this place. Just don’t expect a huge room or a pool on the roof – that’s not what Pack Studio Tanaka is about.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $80. One-Bedroom Apartment 304 with 2 single beds for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $115. One-Bedroom Apartment 301 with 2 double beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 6

Reviews

• Emmi from Finland – 17 March 2025 (8/10)

  Location is great, and we loved having our own kitchen!
  
  What could be improved: Room was very cold. There were a lot of stairs to go up to the accommodation.

• Hannah from Canada – 29 November 2024 (9/10)

  Very comfortable apartment-style space, close to two train stations. Very kind and helpful staff, and the location made it easy to get around Osaka!
  
  What could be improved: Nothing, we had a great stay! It was a little loud in the mornings because of the warehouse downstairs, but we were out most of the day anyways so it didn’t matter to us ☺️

• Kathryn from Philippines – 25 October 2024 (9/10)

  I love that there's a near train station and 7eleven. Also the host is very accommodating. I love the vibe of the room. It's spacious

• Bo-jiang from Taiwan – 14 October 2024 (9/10)

  This is an authentic apartment with a washing machine, kitchen, utensils, and personal bath. Meanwhile, there is a lovely and lofty lounge space.
  
  What could be improved: It would be wonderful if there was a USB port.

• Jonathan from United Kingdom – 9 September 2024 (7/10)

  Large room
  
  Comfortable beds
  
  Nice asthetics
  
  Got everything that is needed
  
  Helpful fliers/magazines for Osaka at entrance
  
  What could be improved: No clothes storage space/shelves
  
  Lots of threats of charges for misdemeanors arohnd the property
  
  TV is TINY
  
  No elevator and MANY stairs at entrance (extremely difficult with luggage)

• Marc from Germany – 9 May 2024 (9/10)

  Very clean, comfortable and spacious
  
  What could be improved: If there was a workspace it would've been perfect

• Jodie from Australia – 23 March 2024 (9/10)

  Everything was lovely, I really enjoyed the water pressure after a long day of being out. It was only a short train ride or walk to get everywhere we wanted.

• Hera from Indonesia – 8 February 2024 (9/10)

  The only downside is that we have to take the stairs. But, the staff was very helpful with our luggage. Overall, it was excellent.

• Juan from Philippines – 7 December 2023 (9/10)

  Clean and spacious, staff and people are courteous when you meet them
  
  What could be improved: Maybe they can have an elevator soon 😊

• Meghan from Australia – 31 October 2023 (8/10)

  A clean and modern space with all you need for a family trip. A nice quiet area too with good local amenities. There is a train station close by, the only downside is it isn’t a JR station so you can’t use JR passes there. The nearest JR station is a 15 – 20 min walk. The staff were lovely and very helpful.
  
  What could be improved: The stairs! The stairs to the property are extremely steep – almost 3 stories straight up with one small landing and no turns. There is no lift. It was difficult to get luggage up and down (the staff did help). Watch the little ones.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities