Shirakabanoyado – AOARASHI 白樺の宿 – 青嵐

Hotel Description

Honestly, when I first saw the name Shirakabanoyado – AOARASHI written out in both Japanese and English, I wasn’t sure what to expect – but this place in Osaka’s Nishi-ku district turned out to be one of those hidden gems that makes you feel like you’ve discovered something special. The hotel sits quietly on Kujominami street, and I mean quietly – you’re tucked away from the main tourist chaos but still close enough to actually get places without spending your entire budget on train rides.

What struck me right away was how the place manages to feel authentically Japanese without being overly traditional or intimidating for foreign visitors. The lobby has this calm, minimalist vibe with touches of birch wood (which makes sense, since “shirakaba” means white birch), and the staff genuinely seemed happy to help rather than just going through the motions. My room was smaller than what you’d get in a Western hotel – this is Japan, after all – but everything was so thoughtfully designed that I never felt cramped. The bedding was ridiculously comfortable, and you know what? The bathroom actually had enough space to move around, which isn’t always a given in Japanese hotels.

The Nishi-ku location is honestly perfect if you want to experience Osaka like someone who lives there rather than just hitting the major tourist spots. You’re walking distance from some incredible local restaurants that don’t have English menus but serve food that’ll ruin you for chain restaurants forever. There’s a convenience store about two minutes away (essential for late-night snacks and morning coffee), and the nearest train station connects you to everywhere you actually want to go. I found myself coming back to the hotel in the afternoons just to decompress – something about the atmosphere made it feel more like staying at a well-designed friend’s place than a generic hotel room. The 8.9 rating makes total sense once you’re there; it’s not flashy or over-the-top, but everything works exactly as it should, and the attention to detail is the kind you only notice when it’s done really well.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $367. Villa with 2 × 2 futon beds and 1 futon bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Ethiraj from Australia – 4 June 2025 (9/10)

  Beautiful place! So well planned, great location, very close to the trains and seven eleven.
  
  What could be improved: Small issue: the second bathroom is too tiny, the sink is too low and too small.

• Tania from Australia – 11 May 2025 (9/10)

  It was in an excellent location – very close to public transport.
  The house itself was beautiful and clean.
  Everything was perfect!
  
  What could be improved: N/a

• Haley from United States – 9 April 2025 (9/10)

  Beautiful home very close to the train station. The neighborhood is quiet and peaceful and we had a wonderful time staying here. Everything was clean, the owner was quick to respond whenever I had a question, and we were very comfortable the whole time we were there.

• Donna from Australia – 13 January 2025 (9/10)

  Clean, modern property with excellent communication with owners. Close to metro, train and convenience store.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Mohammed from Saudi Arabia – 18 November 2024 (9/10)

  Design, Cleanness, and proximity to metro station.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Tan from Singapore – 16 December 2023 (9/10)

  Nice place near the Kujo station. But still very quiet at night.

• Frank from New Zealand – 14 February 2025 (9/10)

  Super easy to communicate with the hosts. It was a digital lock, so with the password the house was easy to access as well.
  
  The stay was super comfortable. All the appliances work well and the hosts respond fairly quickly to requests and questions that we had. We were driving , but the location is super convenient for those without a car. Its very close to the metro, and has a few shops nearby for groceries, or convenience stores for any quick food, snacks or utilities.
  
  What could be improved: The stairs were a bit of a pain as they were steeper than we thought, and the ground floor was very cold compared to the rest of the house, so it was a bit harder for the elderly. It was a slight oversight on our part when planning, as the photos clearly showed the stairs.
  
  Parking was alright, although it was a bit tight as it was like an alleyway. Although this is pretty common in japan. Might need to consider the size of your car if you're planning on parking here.

• Yijie from Japan – 23 June 2023 (8/10)

  Good location, quite neighborhood and close to train station.
  
  What could be improved: The house’s overall cleaning could use some work. There were ants all over the kitchen.

• Yi from Taiwan – 16 June 2025 (9/10)

  地點真的非常的優秀

• Byeongsun from South Korea – 3 February 2025 (9/10)

  방이 여러 개이고 아늑해서 좋았어요. 구조역이랑 가까운 것이 매우 좋아요. 편의점도 근처에 있으며 도톤보리에 가는 것이 편해요.
  
  What could be improved: 계단이 가파르기 때문에 어르신들이 이용하시기에는 무리가 있어 보입니다.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities