Universal Bay Condominium

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first heard “Universal Bay Condominium,” I was expecting some generic apartment-style place that would feel like crashing at a distant relative’s spare room. But walking into this spot in Chikko actually surprised me in the best way. The building sits right in this interesting pocket of Minato-ku where you’re close enough to hear the occasional rumble from the port (which I actually found kind of soothing), but far enough that it’s not keeping you up at night. What struck me immediately was how the staff treated it like a proper hotel – none of that awkward “here’s your key, figure it out yourself” vibe you sometimes get with condo-hotels.

The rooms themselves are… well, they’re what you’d expect from a three-star place, but with way more space than most Osaka hotels give you. I mean, you can actually open your suitcase without having to climb over it to get to the bathroom, which honestly felt luxurious after some of the shoebox rooms I’ve stayed in around Namba. The kitchenette is legit useful too – not just a mini-fridge and a prayer. I grabbed groceries from the Lawson down the street and actually cooked a decent breakfast, which saved me a fortune over my week there. The view depends on which side you’re on, but even the “bad” views aren’t terrible – you’re looking at working Osaka, which has its own charm if you’re into that sort of thing.

Here’s what I really appreciated though – the location is perfect if you want to feel like you’re staying somewhere real Osakans actually live, rather than tourist central. Chikko isn’t where most visitors end up, but you’re a quick train ride to anywhere you want to go, and there’s something refreshing about walking around a neighborhood in the evening where you’re not dodging tour groups. The port area has this great walking path that hardly anyone knows about – perfect for morning coffee or evening beers from the konbini. Just heads up that the area can feel a bit quiet at night if you’re used to the constant buzz of somewhere like Dotonbori, but personally I found that relaxing. Check-in was smooth, parking is available (which is huge in Osaka), and the whole experience just felt… easy, you know? For what you pay, especially compared to hotels in the more touristy areas, you’re getting solid value and a genuine slice of local life.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $145. Three-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 double bed and 3 futon beds for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Danielle from Australia – 17 June 2025 (9/10)

  The unit is located in a great neighbourhood a short walk from some lovely restaurants and supermarket (not just the convenience store). Staff made it super easy for us to check in online and the building felt safe and secure. The condo had everything we needed.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing we loved everything about it

• Susan from United States – 15 June 2025 (9/10)

  Hosts communicated instructions prior to arrival. Fantastic location! Very clean and roomy. There was one ‘traditional’ Japanese bedroom. Separate toilet from shower is good with multiple guests.
  
  What could be improved: Would be helpful to put instructions for turning on hot water near the bathtub also. Lots of hot water is available, but took a bit to figure out how to operate the buttons.

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

  The rooms were exceptionally spacious by Japanese standards, the property was clean and very well maintained and the location was quiet but yet still convenient for a family stay.

• Jacky from Malaysia – 24 May 2025 (9/10)

  Great location and comfortable rooms

• Steven from Ecuador – 16 May 2025 (9/10)

  Excellent place. A big enough for 3 people. Very close for a metro station, and convenience stores
  
  What could be improved: It is a little far from the downtown

• Tahnee from Australia – 29 March 2025 (9/10)

  This accommodation is very close to a great family mart with exceptional staff and the Osakako train station. Note this station is not on a JR line. It is a metro station. Accomodation itself was very clean and had everything you need for your stay. In the foyer they even have toiletries. Lifts to the levels were very handy. The beds were very hard. For 6 people, 2 were on futons on the ground too. Nice drying room and use of washing machine was great. Would recommend.

• Nimi from Israel – 21 March 2025 (9/10)

  Easy check-in via tablet. No staff is present at the place, but communication is good via Booking messaging. The room is exceptionally spacious, with two separate bedrooms (each can host two people) and another room with sliding doors for tatami (can host three people of tatami mats). Overall, I would say a group of 7 can fit inside easily. The apartment is well-equipped. The location is excellent and very close to the C line station. Another benefit is the possibility of taking the ferry to the USJ instead of the metro route if you wish. There are numerous supermarkets within a few minutes walk. There are good restaurants in the area close to the C-line station. The hotel is also close to the Osaka Aquarium if you want to visit it. Overall, our trip to Osaka was quite good with this hotel.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing to say here. All was good!

• Kristine from Philippines – 19 March 2025 (9/10)

  It was a very homey condo that we would love to stay at again. Everything was clean, organized, and well thought of – utensils, plates, hair dryer, even laundry detergent, and clean towels! Our kids loved the size of it (they spent a lot of time in the tatami room) and it was easy to cook and prepare meals for the whole family.
  
  What could be improved: A mop so we can clean the floors easily; better pillows also.

• Masliza from Malaysia – 19 March 2025 (9/10)

  Well maintain. Near to train station.
  
  What could be improved: None

• Amit from Vietnam – 17 March 2025 (9/10)

  Great location, good facilities and kitchen had all the equipment for making meals for the family.
  
  What could be improved: The lifts are normal in height, but for some reason once you step out of the lift there is some sort of metal frame which is smaller than the lift frame and easy to catch your head on it (painful)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities