Toyoko Inn Osaka Umeda Higashi

Hotel Description

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from the Toyoko Inn Osaka Umeda Higashi when I first walked up to it on that narrow street in Nishitenman – it’s tucked away in this quiet residential pocket that feels worlds apart from the chaos of central Umeda, even though you’re literally a ten-minute walk from all the action. The building itself is pretty standard Toyoko Inn fare (you know, that clean, no-nonsense business hotel vibe), but what really struck me was how the location actually works in your favor. You get that authentic neighborhood feel – there’s a tiny ramen shop next door that locals hit up after work, and the morning sounds are more birds and bicycles than traffic horns.

The rooms are, well, compact in that distinctly Japanese way, but everything’s thoughtfully laid out. I mean, they’ve managed to fit a proper desk, a decent-sized bed, and storage without making you feel like you’re sleeping in a closet. The air conditioning is blissfully quiet – something you’ll appreciate during those sticky Osaka summers – and the wi-fi actually works well enough for video calls, which honestly surprised me. What I really appreciated was how clean everything felt, not just looked. The housekeeping team clearly takes pride in their work, and you can smell that fresh tatami-adjacent cleanliness the moment you walk in. Check-in was smooth too; the front desk staff spoke enough English to handle any questions, though they seemed genuinely pleased when I attempted my broken Japanese.

Here’s the thing about this spot that took me a day to figure out – you’re positioned perfectly to experience Osaka like someone who actually lives here. Sure, you could walk to Umeda Station and dive into that underground shopping maze, but you’re also steps away from Tenmangu Shrine (gorgeous at sunrise, by the way) and the old-school shopping streets where you’ll find the best takoyaki without the tourist markup. The neighborhood gets beautifully quiet after 9 PM, which means you’ll actually sleep well, but come morning there’s this gentle buzz of people heading to work that makes you feel connected to the city’s rhythm. I stayed here during cherry blossom season and honestly, while everyone was fighting crowds at Osaka Castle, I was enjoying hanami with locals at nearby Ogimachi Park – ten minutes away and barely a tourist in sight. For what you pay, especially considering how expensive Osaka can get, this place delivers exactly what you need: a clean, comfortable base that puts you in the real city rather than some sanitized tourist bubble.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $68. Double Room – Smoking with 1 double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $75. Queen Room – Smoking with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $75. Queen Room – Non-Smoking with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $57. Double Room for Single Use – Smoking with 1 double bed for Max persons: 1
• Estimated price from: $57. Double Room for Single Use – Non-Smoking with 1 double bed for Max persons: 1

Reviews

• Andrew from United Kingdom – 7 June 2025 (8/10)

  What could be improved: It is not possible to leave the window open at night because of the terrible noise the wind makes howling through the door because the door doesn't close tightly. So had to have the air-conditioning on all night.
  Draft excluder around the door frame would stop this.

• Dasol from South Korea – 27 May 2025 (8/10)

  The staff was friendly and I was comfortable for my whole stay.
  
  What could be improved: It was a bit further out from Umeda than I thought but a short walk to the station.

• Patrick from United States – 7 May 2025 (9/10)

  Although the rooms are a bit small, everything else was excellent. We really enjoyed the rooms and the breakfast was actually very good.
  
  What could be improved: The rooms are a bit small.

• Alisa from Latvia – 1 May 2025 (9/10)

  Very nice and clean room. We were surprised to find out how spacious it is. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Breakfast was very nice.
  
  What could be improved: Check-in is bit late, at 16:00. But you can arrive early and leave your luggage in the hotel lobby.

• Ugne from Lithuania – 1 May 2025 (9/10)

  A simple but comfortable stay. Not far from a subway stop. Had everything we needed for our short stay.

• Mehdi from Iran – 3 April 2025 (9/10)

  Good hotel compare the price.

• Mélanie from France – 2 April 2025 (8/10)

  Everything was great, the staff, the facilities, the room!
  
  What could be improved: The mattress was way too hard for us

• Frank from United States – 1 April 2025 (7/10)

  Clean bigger rooms. Friendly staff. But bed not comfortable. I prefer a firm mattress but it’s more of a box spring where you can feel the springs in your ribs. This can easily be changed with a layer of foam or something.

• Frank from United States – 30 March 2025 (7/10)

  Good deal, rooms are bigger than most hotels in Japan, friendly helpful staff. Very clean. But the beds are incredibly uncomfortable.

• Tiana from Australia – 18 March 2025 (8/10)

  Super clean and beautiful room ! Really comfortable stay 😌
  
  What could be improved: A little hidden to find

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities