Our Osaka hotel, The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi, was probably the most budget-friendly and family-friendly of the hotels we stayed in. This obviously resulted in some tradeoffs but we were happy with our decision to stay there.
Located in Shinsaibashi, the hotel is just outside of (but convenient to) many of Osaka’s top attractions. It is less than a 5 minute walk to two different train stations – Shinsaibashi Station and Yotsubashi Station. It is less than a 5 minute walk to Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street and less than a 10 minute walk to Dotonbori. You can basically get to anywhere in Osaka easily from The Bridge Hotel.
Aside from a great location, The Bridge Hotel offers many perks. A Coke Freestyle machine is available 24-7 for sodas and juices, and there are free alcoholic drinks (draft beer, wine, sake and cocktails) from 3:00 – 9:30 pm every day. There is also free serve-yourself ice cream from 3-7 pm and ramen from 8:30-9:30. The included breakfast was good and featured buffet items as well as a stand that offered a rotating selection of freshly made items like French toast and omelets.
The hotel also has different Japanese cultural events scheduled each day. From trying on kimonos to enjoying Japanese crafts, games and street food, the hotel offers so many different activities. Although we didn’t participate in any of the events, there was always a good crowd and these offerings make it a great hotel for younger kids.
The hotel is very reasonably priced and offers a lot of extras. The tradeoff is that the rooms are small and basic. But they were in good condition, clean, and comfortable. The tiny bathroom reminded me of a cruise ship bathroom but it was fine for a few nights.
The Bridge Hotel and all its freebies reminded me of our stay at the Drury Inn & Suites Nashville where we had a surprisingly great experience several years ago. The free food and drink offerings added a level of simplicity and convenience to our Osaka stay that was really appreciated mid-way through our trip. The rooms were nothing fancy but also nothing to complain about. Overall we found this hotel to be a great place to spend a few nights.
