Osaka is one of the most exciting cities in Japan, and also one of the largest – which can make deciding where to stay in Osaka for first time visitors, a bit daunting! Osaka has several large districts, but there are multiple names used for some areas. The best areas to stay in Osaka for first time visitors are Namba (Minami), Honmachi or Kita (Umeda). Namba and Honmachi are more central, but Kita has lots of luxury hotels, shopping and the Umeda Sky Building.
Read on for my guide to the best areas to stay in Osaka, and some Osaka hotels to consider for your trip.
After my trip to Osaka, I have a much better understanding of the layout of the city and remember how confused I was before I booked our trip. Many guides recommend staying in Minami (Namba) or Kita (Umeda), and while I think both of these options make sense, I thought where we stayed in Osaka in Honmachi was perfectly located for first time visitors.
Namba (Minami)
Namba (also known as Minami) is the best place to stay in Osaka to be near the Dotonbori, Amerikamura & Shinsaibashi, as well as shopping & nightlife.
Visiting the Dotonbori is one of the best things to do in Osaka, so it’s highly likely you’ll visit this area in Osaka. Staying in Namba will put you in the heart of the action, while still being near the Midosuji subway line. Along with the Dotonbori canal & restaurant district, you’ll be near the Kuromon Market, Midosuji shopping street, Amerikamura (Osaka’s answer to Harajuku) and Den-Den town which is an electronics district, similar to Akihabara in Tokyo.
Important tip! If you search Minami on Google Maps, it may show you Minami Ward, which is a southern ward on the outskirts of Osaka. This would not be a convenient place to stay! Search Namba on Google Maps, or double check that the area that you’re booking in is close to the Dotonbori. Minami means “south”, which explains why it is used for both the southern neighbourhood in Namba, as well as a southern ward of Osaka.
Hotels in Namba & near the Dotonbori, Osaka
Candeo Hotels Osaka Shinsaibashi – $$$ – Located less than a 5 minute walk from the trendy Amerikamura precinct and the famous Glico Sign on the Dotonbori. I stayed at a Candeo Hotel in Hiroshima, and was very happy with the quality of the room & hotel.
Candeo Hotels Osaka Namba – $$$ – Another Candeo Hotel in Namba, this one is still close to the Dotonbori, but is a 10 minute walk from the Glico Sign. This is still very centrally located, and a good area for first time visitors to Osaka.
Hotel Royal Classic Osaka – $$$$ – A slightly more luxurious hotel option in Namba, close to Namba train station, but less close to the heart of Dotonbori than the two Candeo Hotel options.
Honmachi (Central Osaka)
Honmachi is the best place to stay in Osaka for a super central location. We stayed in Honmachi in our first visit, which was perfect because it is in central Osaka, between Kita (Umeda) and Namba (Minami). We stayed at Hotel Lively Osaka, which is a very stylish yet affordable hotel.
We were near the Midosuij subway line, so getting around Osaka was a dream. We were walking distance from Osaka Castle, and it was quick for us to take the subway to the Dotonbori and Amerikamura.
Honmachi is a central business district, with lots of office towers. While there aren’t as many attractions directly in the neighbourhood, there are lots of affordable and mid range hotels, plenty of restaurants and convenience stores, and access to the subway.
Hotels in Honmachi (Central Osaka)
Hotel Lively Osaka – $$$ – We stayed at Hotel Lively and I absolutely loved this hotel! It is a trendy hotel, with stylish rooms and a rooftop bar with views over Osaka. Honmachi isn’t much of a destination in itself, but we were close to the Midosuji Line and found getting around Osaka very easy. I would stay here again!
W Osaka (Marriott) – $$$$ The W is Marriott’s boldest & most flamboyant luxury hotel brand. W Osaka is technically located in Shinsaibashi, near Midosuji, and is very close to the edge of Namba (Minami), and only 200 metres from Osaka’s iconic Namba shrine.
St Regis Osaka (Marriott) – $$$$$ – St Regis Osaka is an ultra luxury hotel in Central Osaka. The hotel offers the brand’s famed butler service, as well as three glamorous restaurants, La Verduta (Italian), Rue d’Or (French), Teppanyaki Wajo (Japanese) and the St Regis Bar, inspired by New York City.
Find more hotels in Honmachi, Osaka
Kita (Umeda)
Kita, also known as Umeda, is Osaka’s second downtown district. It has a range of luxury hotels and shopping, and will also put you near several train stations, including Osaka station, and the Umeda Sky Building, the trendy Nakazakicho neighbourhood and the popular Osaka Museum of Housing & Living.
I didn’t spend much time in Kita/Umeda during my 2 days in Osaka, but did spend an afternoon in Nazakakicho, to kill some time between arriving back in Osaka and flying out from Kansai airport, at the end of our trip. If you’re looking for luxury hotels in Osaka, like The Ritz Carlton, The Four Seasons, The Westin or even the ultra luxurious Waldorf Astoria Osaka, Kita is the best area to stay.
Hotels in Kita, Osaka (Umeda)
Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower $$$ – A five-star hotel, with a rooftop hot tub and downtown views from the hotel restaurant. I stayed in a Candeo Hotel in Hiroshima, and was really happy with this hotel brand.
InterContinental Osaka (IHG) $$$$ – For a classic luxury hotel stay in Osaka, look to the InterContinental Osaka. It’s well-located in Kita, only a 5 minute walk from Osaka Train Station. I’m a member of the IHG rewards program, and have found the loyalty program to be very worthwhile.
The Westin Osaka (Marriott) – $$$$ The Westin Osaka is a luxury hotel in Osaka, right by the Umeda Sky Building. The hotel has luxurious rooms, with glamorous on-site restaurant & bars, including a Japanese restaurant (Hanano) a Chinese restaurant (Imperial Palace), a Western-style restaurant (Amadeus) that is open for lunch and dinner, a lobby lounge bar which serves tea, coffee and afternoon tea, and a moody cocktail bar and lounge, called The Blue Bar, which is inspired by the main bar in the Algonquin Hotel in New York City.
The Hilton Osaka – $$$$ – The Hilton Osaka is a stylish luxury hotel, in the heart of Osaka’s shopping district. The hotel is close to JR Station, and has an indoor pool, restaurants and fitness centre.
The Ritz Carlton Osaka – $$$$ The Ritz is synonymous with luxury, making it a perfect choice for a luxury hotel stay in Osaka. The Ritz Osaka has luxurious suites, as well as a number of high end on-site restaurants, including the Michelin-starred La Baie (French), Hanagatami, a Japanese restaurant which offers traditional kaiseki cuisine as well as sushi, teppanyaki and tempura, Xiang Tao, a Chinese restaurant offering Cantonese and regional Chinese cuisine, an all-day Italian restaurant, a moody cocktail bar and an elegant lounge, which serves coffee and afternoon tea.
The Four Seasons Osaka – $$$$ The Four Seasons Osaka is an elegant luxury hotel, with ryokan-inspired rooms and suites, private traditional baths and high end dining. There are two signature restaurants at the Four Seasons Osaka, Sushi L’Abysse and Jiang Nan Chun, a Cantonese restaurant on the 37th floor, offering beautiful city views.
Sushi L’Abysse Osaka Yannick Alleno is a premium sushi restaurant, and the third restaurant from the two-Michelin starred L’Abysse Paris, in a collaboration between Yannick Alleno’s French haute cuisine and celebrated sushi chef Yasuda Itaru.
Waldorf Astoria Osaka – $$$$$ For an absolute splurge, be among the first to stay at the ultra luxury hotel, Waldorf Astoria Osaka, which is accepting reservations from April 2025.
Where not to stay in Osaka
Osaka is a huge city, so there are a few areas I’d recommend not staying in if you’re visiting for the first time. Tennoji, Osaka Bay Area and Shin-Osaka are not the most ideal area for first time visitors.
Osaka Bay Area
Osaka Bay Area is home to the Osaka Aquarium, but not much else. I wouldn’t recommend staying in Osaka Bay Area, unless you’re on a super short trip to Osaka designed around visiting the aquarium. There is a subway line connecting the area to other parts of Osaka, but it isn’t as convenient as other areas of Osaka, and you’ll spend more time on public transport. This area also doesn’t have the energy or character of other areas of Osaka.
ShinOsaka
Staying near Shin-Osaka station isn’t an ideal place to stay in Osaka for first time visitors, because it is not close to Osaka’s other sights and attractions. You’ll be close to the shinkansen station in Osaka, but for sightseeing around Osaka you’d be better to stay in Namba, Kita or Honmachi.
Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived & worked in New York City and now live in Melbourne, Australia.
I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.
My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!
The Wanderbug is reader supported. This site may contain links to affiliate websites, which means when you buy through links on this site I may receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!