Where to stay in Osaka: Best areas and locations for Malaysians

Osaka is one of the largest cities in Japan, so figuring out which area to stay in Osaka based on your itinerary can mean saving considerably on travel time. There’s not really one best place to stay in Osaka - it’ll all depend on your plans, preferences and how much money you have in your pocket.

So - if you’re pondering where to stay in Osaka this guide has you covered. We’ve got some great ideas of where to stay in Osaka for first timers, where to stay in Osaka with family, and where to stay in Osaka on a budget - so you can plan your perfect trip. We’ll also share more about the Wise card, a handy way for you to save while spending abroad.

What types of accommodation are there in Osaka?

Osaka has plenty of hotels and hostels, to meet all price points. There are also holiday rentals, serviced apartments and more family based B&B style accommodation options.

You’ll come across some Ryokan - traditional Japanese-style inns - but not as many as you will in a very historic city like nearby Kyoto. The good news compared to Kyoto, though, is that Osaka tends to have more budget friendly options, and less competition for rooms at peak times.

To get a feel for the accommodation options on the market in Osaka take a look at a site like Booking.com¹. You can browse, filter and compare reviews to help you narrow down your options. And once you’ve decided on the right type of accommodation you can get started picking the best area to stay in Osaka for your party.

Is Airbnb legal in Japan?

Yes. AirBnB is legal in Japan². There are rules, as you’d expect, which mean the hosts need specific licenses or registration documents, depending on the property type. They’ll also need to copy your passport if you’re not a local resident.

AirBnB³ can be a pretty good place to look for accommodation in Osaka, with over 12,000 properties listed, including over 4,000 which are family friendly. This can make it easier to figure out where to stay in Osaka with kids, and give you some unique and quirky options to consider, too.

Where to stay in Osaka for first timers?

Osaka is not a small city, and there is a lot to do if you’re heading there for the first time. If you’re trying to pack in the sightseeing, you may benefit from accommodation close to the Midosuji subway line, which offers good city connections to get around hassle free.

We’ve picked out a couple of strong options here - and you may also want to consider Kita, which we look at later, as another strong all rounder for Osaka newbies.

Minami

Minami is a good choice for your first visit to Oaska as you’ve got easy access to the Midosuji subway line for getting around all the city attractions, as well as being in close proximity to mainline stations for visits to Kyoto and other cities.

Minami is Osaka’s downtown area, which means you’ll find a lively atmosphere, good eating and drinking options and many hotels to choose from depending on our budget and your preferences.

Honmachi/Hommachi

Honmachi - which you’ll also see written as Hommachi - offers many of the benefits of Minami but tends to be quieter and a bit cheaper. If you like to walk, you can easily get to Minami and other popular areas on foot, or hop on the subway if you’ve got a lot of ground to cover in a short visit.

Hommachi is more of an office district than a classic tourist area, but there are bars and restaurants, and if you want to enjoy some fresh air and green space, you can head to Utsubo-koen Park for a walk.

Where to stay in Osaka with family?

The best place to stay in Osaka with family can vary a lot depending on your party. Generally you’re likely to be best off prioritising places which have easy access to get around the city, with local attractions to keep everyone busy on days when the weather isn’t great or you don’t feel like navigating the subway.

We’ve suggested a couple of popular Osaka family destinations here for you to check out. If you don’t fancy any of these, the Osaka Castle area, which we feature under budget locations is also a great family pick if you don’t mind a slightly longer commute to some of the key tourist draws of the city.

Kita

Kita is a great place to stay in Osaka with family thanks to its excellent transport links, wide streets which make navigating with kids and strollers much easier, and specific family friendly attractions nearby. Check out Kids Plaza Osaka - an innovative science and educational museum with opportunity for play, hands-on learning and lots of activities to suit all ages.

Kita has a pretty broad range of accommodation options at all price points, which should mean you can find something to suit your needs.

Nishinari

Nishinari isn’t as central as many of the places we’ve looked at so far, but this means you’re out of the crowds and can get a more local experience. There are traditional ryokans alongside many hotels in this area, which can be on the cheaper side. Eating and drinking can be a more authentic affair, as well, and you’re just 25 minutes or so by subway into the more tourist focused areas of town like Kita or Hommachi.

As well as places to eat your fill, Nishinari has izakayas to drink with the locals, good shopping, karaoke and arts venues which put on traditional theatre shows if you want a little culture.

Where to stay in Osaka on a budget?

Compared to nearby Kyoto, Osaka is already a budget choice. However, you can find cheaper areas even within the city if you really want to make your ringgit go further. Broadly speaking here, your choice will be to look at one of the slightly less fashionable areas, or pick somewhere a bit further out of the city center. Both are completely feasible - which is best will mainly depend on your planned itinerary while you’re in the area.

Tennoji

Tennoji is in the south of the city, and has lots of budget friendly accommodation options while still being on the subway for easy travels around the city. The neighbourhood isn’t one of the most famous or fashionable, but there are still plenty of places to eat and drink, often with lower costs than in the trendier parts of the city.

Osaka Castle Area

Osaka Castle is a destination in itself, set in beautiful parkland ideal for exploring on foot. It’s not a central area - which is why accommodation here tends to be among the cheapest you’ll find in the city. However, you can get into Kita in 10 to 15 minutes by taxi, and there are still handy subway links. If getting some open space and a cheap room is your priority it’s well worth checking out the hotels in this area to see if there’s a bargain.

Save even more on your travels when paying in foreign currency with the Wise card

Check out Wise and the Wise card for a great - low cost - way to spend while you’re away from home. Top up in MYR from your bank or with a card, and manage your money in JPY with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees.

You can use your Wise card to spend in 150+ countries around the world, in over 40+ currencies. Start spending with your free virtual card, or order a physical Wise card for a one time fee. This grants you some free ATM withdrawals of up to 1,000 MYR each month as you travel, to save time waiting at a money changer.

Choose to convert your MYR to JPY in advance at your desired rate, or leave it to Wise’s auto conversion and spend in MYR directly. All Wise currency exchanges use the rate you see on Google, so you’ll know you’re getting a great deal without the hassle.

Spend in JPY for less as you eat and shop your way around Osaka with a Wise card. You’ll get the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees for currency conversion, to spend and withdraw as you go with no foreign transaction fee to worry about.

🚀 Get started with Wise

1. Booking.com
2. AirBnB Help
3. AirBnB Osaka