Claiton Shin Osaka Hotel, Osaka

We struggled to find the hotel, despite ample assistance from many eager to help Osakans. The google maps printout didn't quite cut it. Upon finally locating the hotel the first impression was slightly below average. Mainly the very smoky lobby area and then seeing our room and the tiny bathroom, even by japanese standards, which proved quite difficult to use. The rooms and furniture etc are quite dated. Also cleanliness wasn't great although perhaps partly due to the age of the rooms. On the plus side the price was extremely good and with breakfast included, which was reasonable. I wouldn't recommend it for couples/families (well not the semi-double room we stayed in anyway). However, it's fine for solo business men (who seem to be the main clients) and also for solo travellers on a tight budget.

The staff were wonderful. They were very friendly, and helpful with our stay. For example, the use of their onsen was communicated to us as well as the surrounding area and what was good locally. When the weather threatened to rain - they were very quick to offer us umbrellas! The rooms were nice; we had a view over looking the near by train track, but you really couldn't hear the odd train swish past. The rooms were clean and made daily. Breakfast was nice and was a Japanese/Western style buffet with choices of other continental foods and cerals. I recieved calls from family and friends, and the staff were great at taking messages when we weren't in and relaying them (on an official note) when we returned, as well as being friendly when passing though the calls when we were in. A word of warning - the pillows are half beaded!! I', a person who likes to flip their pillow over for coolness - but I couldnt do this as one half of the pillow has beads in it! It hurt my ear one night... It's good though for sitting up and watching TV - thats when the beads come in handy! Aircon was fab - TV was cool. There are no English channels though which didn't bother me. Thre are families which stay there. Great value for money and great service - I will be going back!

Great place for the traveler especially if you use JR pass - only 15 minutes from Shin-Osaka. Would stay again if traveling alone or with my wife. Probably will choose something more spacious if go with our daughter again. Make sure you'll have a map to find the way from Shin-Osaka as it might be not easy first time.