Osaka Abeno Guesthouse, Osaka

Osaka Abeno Guesthouse is a small, friendly, traditional Japanese house hostel located nearby the shopping malls in the south of Osaka; it has what it is necessary for a nice, really friendly stay -- kitchen, video games, hot shower, amenities, and family atmosphere (although there isn’t a lot of privacy since it’s small and there aren’t curtains). The lockers may be an inconvenience for some guests, since they aren't big enough for a camera, for example, and sometimes there’s a queue for the shower and toilet, but in general this is a good place to stay if you want to meet more people and stay in a home/friendly environment. There's a curfew at midnight, but you can tell in advance and the door will be open.

The Location

The hostel is located in a small street behind the main road. It is easy to identify, since there is a clear sign outside the hostel. It’s nearby the shopping malls, restaurants, and Tennoji Park, which is convenient but a bit far away from Dotombori or other main attractions as Osaka Castle. The subway station is nearby, so it’s easy to move as well.

Rooms and Bathrooms

This hostel is small; it consists of just one single dorm with three bunk beds for six people in total. The beds don’t have a curtain but are comfortable and it’s clean in general. The lockers are very small, mostly for a wallet or laptop (flat stuff), and there aren't padlocks available.

There is one restroom and one shower downstairs with amenities -- shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and face-cleaning soap. There is hot shower and a small box and hangers for personal belongings. Both toilet and shower are clean. There is a hair dryer in the tea room.

Common Spaces

The main area at the entrance consists of a small lounge and right next to it the kitchen where there is coffee and tea twenty-four/seven, plus you can buy beer and instant noodles. You can cook your own meals and use the fridge; there is a TV and video games as well (sometimes there are guests playing video games at the entrance). Then, there’s the tea room where there are maps and information available about Osaka. Laundry is available as well.

Summary

This is a small, traditional Japanese house located nearby shopping areas, but it's a bit far from main touristy attractions (although there is a metro station nearby). It’s a welcoming stay, since the hostel's friendly owner is the person who runs the place and there’s a familiar/home atmosphere in there. Small lockers and lack of curtains may be an inconvenience for some guests.