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Wondering where to stay in Osaka for first time travellers? This guide breaks down the best areas and accommodations, plus tips to help you make the most of your visit to this incredible city!
First of all, I want to start by congratulating you on considering staying in Osaka during your Japan trip!
I feel like Osaka is such an underrated city, with most people flocking to Tokyo and Kyoto as their bases during their Japan trip—which I completely understand. Obviously, both of those cities are incredible in their own right, but for me, there’s just something about Osaka.
After spending nine incredible months living and working in Japan, six in Tokyo and three in Osaka, I can confidently say that Osaka is one of the most fun cities to visit in Japan.
People are warmer, the vibe is more laid-back, and there seem to be Michelin-level cheap eats in Osaka at every turn—it just feels like a happy, small, friendly town, especially if you are located in the right area.
So to help you experience the best that this lively city has to offer, here is where to stay in Osaka for first-time travellers.
Where to Stay in Osaka for First-Time Travellers: Best Areas & Tips
First of all, there’s no need to stress too much. Choosing where to stay in Osaka will not have as major an impact as it does in Tokyo.
Osaka is a much smaller city, so the distances from one place to another are shorter, making the location of your accommodation more forgiving.
However, choosing the right area for you to stay in Osaka can help you make the most of your trip and use your time more efficiently, depending on what your priorities are.
So, to get an idea of where you should stay based on your interests, here is a quick overview of the best areas to stay in Osaka for first-time travellers.
Quick Overview: Best areas to stay in Osaka for first-time travellers
| Area | Best For | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Namba | Sightseeing, food, nightlife | Dotonbori, street food, walkable |
| Umeda | Shopping, convenience | Major station hub, access to day trips |
| Shinsaibashi | Trendy, central | Shopping arcades, cool cafes, and local food spots |
Namba: The best area to stay in Osaka for sightseeing
If you’re looking for where to stay in Osaka as a first-time traveller prioritizing sightseeing, then Namba is the place for you.
Namba is a lively central area in Osaka packed with some of the top sights in the city, buzzing streets lined with street food vendors, and vibrant shopping streets.
This is the place to be if you want to be in the heart of all the action.
From Namba, you have easy access to the unmissable Namba Yasaka Shrine, the buzzing Dotonbori, the popular Nipponbashi Denden Town, and more, all within walking distance.
One thing to consider here is that by being in the center of it all, the nights might be a bit louder in this part of town. So, when looking for hotels, maybe try to see if the rooms have soundproof walls.
Where to stay in Namba, Osaka:
- Budget: Hotel WBF Namba Motomachi – Affordable rooms for under 100 USD per night. Great location, being one block away from Namba Yasaka Shrine, a short walk away from Namba Station, and Dotonbori.
- Mid-range: &Here OSAKA NAMBA – Beautiful, modern, and spacious rooms, in the heart of Namba, a few steps away from all the action.
- Luxury: 30 PIECES Namba – Stunning and spacious rooms with a minimalistic and modern design, with options for bigger groups traveling together. Two blocks away from Namba Yasaka Shrine.
Things to do in Namba, Osaka:
- Visit the unique Namba Yasaka Shrine
- Wander the retro video game shops of Nipponbashi Denden Town
- Shop Japanese kitchenware at Sennichimae Doguyasuji Street
- Get lost inside BIC Camera, a massive electronics store
- Explore the bustling Kuromon Market
Umeda: Great for convenience and day trips
Another great area to stay in Osaka is Umeda, the modern, business side of the city, up in the north.
In Umeda, you will find a variety of great shopping centers—here’s where you will find the Nintendo and Pokémon Center—bigger hotels, some of the coolest bars in Osaka, and overall a calmer vibe than in the city center.
Except during rush hour, when Osaka Station turns into a sea of people.
However, because of its proximity to the main Osaka Station, Umeda is a great place to stay if you’re planning to take day trips outside the city.
From here, you have direct access to major train lines that can take you to beautiful Kyoto, the unmissable Nara Park, or even Kobe if you’re craving a Kobe beef dinner.
Where to stay in Umeda, Osaka:
- Budget: Hotel MYSTAYS PREMIER Dojima – Clean, simple, and affordable rooms, 10 minutes walking from the main Osaka Station.
- Mid-range: Hotel Hankyu GRAN RESPIRE OSAKA – Modern hotel offering sleek bedrooms, featuring incredible city views, plus a bath in every room.
- Luxury: Canopy By Hilton Osaka Umeda – Stunning hotel featuring rooms with a colorful and modern design, offering incredible views of Umeda’s skyscrapers.
Things to do in Umeda, Osaka:
- Visit the Nintendo and Pokémon Center
- Explore the massive shopping center LUCUA Osaka
- Go cocktail bar hopping in the area, some favorite bars include: Juniper, Cratman, and Kadom
- Get lost inside Loft Umeda
- Wander the cute streets of Urban Terrace Chayamachi
- Take the metro to visit the Osaka Castle
Shinsaibashi: The best area to stay in Osaka for first-time travellers
Lastly, we have Shinsaibashi, my favorite area to stay in.
I will admit that I am a bit biased since Shinsaibaishi is where I lived for three months while working in Osaka, and I loved it!
Here you can find everything you need, from some of the best coffee shops in Osaka, locally loved little eateries, great shopping, and a laid-back local vibe away from the buzz of Dotonbori, while still being within walking distance of it.
This lively area in Osaka is the perfect mix between tourist and local, and what’s even better is that it’s right in the center of it all, between Umeda and Namba, so you can easily move to different areas of the city.
If you are looking for where to stay in Osaka for first-time travellers, Shinsaibashi is the definite winner for me, for a good mix of everything, and still having access to all areas of the city.
Where to stay in Shinsaibashi, Osaka:
- Budget: Henn na Hotel Osaka Namba – Clean, simple, affordable rooms in a super central area, just a few steps away from Shinsaibashi Shopping Street. Even though the name says Namba, the hotel is technically in Shinsaibashi.
- Mid-range: Bespoke Hotel Shinsaibashi – Beautifully designed hotel, offering snug but modern rooms in the heart of Shinsaibashi.
- Luxury: HOTEL THE LEBEN OSAKA – Minimalist and cozy rooms in a quiet area, while still close to the Shinsaibashi Shopping Street. This is where we lived for three months, and loved it!
Things to do in Shinsaibashi, Osaka:
- Explore the shops along Shinsaibashi Shopping Street
- Visit the trendy America-mura neighborhood
- Go coffee shop hopping, and don’t miss LiLo Coffee Roasters, Streamer Coffee Company, and The Roasters Coffee Shinsaibashi
- Wander around the loud and vibrant Dotonbori district
Where NOT to stay in Osaka (if you’re a first-time traveller)
Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend anything besides Umeda, Namba, or Shinsaibashi, or something barely on the outskirts of these areas, as this is where I spent all of my time during my three months living in Osaka.
While talking to locals, they also pointed out that we were in the perfect area, living in Shinsaibashi, with its central location—close to the fun and touristic parts, while still being in a calmer, more local environment.
One thing that might be tempting to do is to stay somewhere close to Osaka Castle, as it will surely be in your Osaka itinerary, but resist the urge—there is not much else to do around there.
Instead, stay in Umeda or Shinsaibashi, and take the metro to visit the Castle.
By staying in any of the three areas mentioned in this post, you have walking distance access to some of Osaka’s main attractions, and if it’s not walking distance, you will have a good train or metro station close by to get you there.
Final thoughts on where to stay in Osaka for first-time travellers
While Osaka is a smaller city, when compared to Tokyo, choosing where to stay can help you make the most of your days in this incredible city based on your priorities.
If you want to be in the heart of all the action, keeping in mind this could mean a louder area to sleep in, then Namba is the right place for you.
Would rather be somewhere quieter, with a more modern vibe and direct access to Osaka’s main train station to plan day trips? Then Umeda is the right area to stay in Osaka for you.
If you want a mix of both, being close to the main shopping street in Osaka, surrounded by local eateries, and being within walking distance to the action but far enough to sleep soundly, then my beloved Shinsaibashi is the right area for you.
So really, make sure to sit down and think about what your priority is during your stay in Osaka, and know that no matter what you choose, you can easily move around the city on foot or by metro.
I hope this guide on where to stay in Osaka for first-time travellers helps you make the best choice for your upcoming trip to this super fun city.
Which area do you think is the winner for you? Let us know in the comments.