Via Inn Shinsaibashi

Central

Smell of cigarettes even in non-smoking rooms.

I recently had a delightful stay at this hotel! The accommodations were not only comfortable but also exuded a sense of luxury. The staff was incredibly friendly and went above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience. The attention to detail in room cleanliness and decor was impressive. The hotel's central location made it convenient to explore the city. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone seeking a perfect blend of comfort, hospitality, and style. Can't wait to return!

Title: A Plea for TV Freedom I recently experienced a stay at a hotel where the TV situation left much to be desired. The limited channels and pay-per-view model were a major downside to an otherwise pleasant stay. In this digital age, guests expect more flexibility when it comes to entertainment. It's high time hotels consider providing complimentary access to a wider array of channels or streaming services. A TV that needs to be free is not just a desire but a necessity for a more satisfying guest experience. Let's embrace the era of unrestricted entertainment for a truly enjoyable stay.

Travelled in Feb 2023 as a family of 4 staying in 2 rooms. Rooms were clean and although we usually avoid bathtubs with shower screens, this was the cleanest we've experienced. Sound proofing of rooms were also excellent. Breakfast was semi-buffet with a choice of Japanese/Western for mains with a buffet spread of bread/pastries, salad, picked sides and drinks (orange juice/calpis/water/coffee/tea). It was a nice touch to change the variety slightly on a daily basis as we stayed for 4 days consecutively and did not feel sick of the breakfast. The 711 located on the ground floor was very convenient for our daily suppers. Location was conveniently located (3-5 min walk) near Shinsaibashi exit 8 (with lift access) and walkable to Dotonbori/Namba area (10-15 min). To note that there is another Via Inn branch nearby so be careful to search for the correct branch or end up lost like us!

Room size was small (expected for hotel room sizes in Japan) but ergonomically designed. You can open a medium + a small luggage fully and simultaneously but anything bigger will need to be opened separately.

A perfect location for exploring Osaka. Just couple of mins walk to the Midosuji line for onward connections from Shin-Osaka (bullet train) and to the airport. Dontonburi is walkable in 10-15 mins for all the famous street food but there are great bars & restaurants closer than that. The staff at the hotel are so friendly and helpful. Our room was clean, big enough (considering Japanese standards) and the shower was excellent. We were on the 12th floor and there was no noise inside or outside on any of our 3 nights. Breakfast was good, although we stuck mainly to the pastries. Overall it was brilliant, and a great base for us to see Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima combined with our JR pass.

Nothing major!

The location is good. In the midst of the 'American Village' as it's called. Lots of cafes and vintage and youngsters' fashion shops. Friendly staff. Operates a double lift system in that you get to reception level (3) in one lift then transfer to the second lift for rooms.

From the street, the front of the hotel is not identified in English in large letters by the name 'Via Inn'. It just says Hotel followed by Chinese characters. There IS a small ground-level sign by the elevator, just to the left, opposite the convenience store, which one might miss. We walked past it twice. An easy reference is the business opposite which has a bright green sign- Mos Burger' (photo). Also, if searching on Google be sure to enter the full name including the area, as there are two Via Inns in close proximity and you could be easily mis-directed.

A few mins walk to Shinsaibashi station and a huge department store (Daimaru)! There's also a 7/11 located at the ground floor of the same building as the hotel. The room we booked was really spacious for the two of us! Love it!

To go to the reception, you need to take an elevator to the 3rd floor which only had one. Could get busy sometimes. The elevators to the rooms are different. The aircon also shuts down every 5-10 mins which was quite annoying.

The breakfast area is very clean. One of their staff will ask you to select what type of breakfast you'd prefer - a Japanese breakfast or a more Western one. Food is served quickly. You can also get some other items available. The property was well-situated. There is a convenience store located beside the property. It is also within a 5-10 minute walking distance from the Shinsaibashi Metro Station. It's also around the corner from Ameri-mura.

A better signage would be great for those who might not have access to google maps.

Room was small but spacious enough for 2. Just minutes away from Shinsabashi metro station makes it a great location to get to all popular tourist destinations. There is also plenty of restaurants and convenience stores nearby. Stayed for 5 nights and did not regret it.

Bottled water could have been provided for days that no cleaning was selected.

It was very clean The room was big for japanese standards. Way better than other more expensive hotels we have stayed with. The location is perfect. Courtesy drip coffee was the best coffee we had in Japan

You need to get two elevators to go to the street level. The hotel is popular among Japanese business people, so it can be very busy to exit/enter at peak times

The room was a good size and the bed was comfortable. The hotel is in a perfect area. It is very close to many attractions and a 2 minute walk to subway stations. The front-desk staff are helpful and check-in and check-out was easy.

The AC was very loud and was a bit difficult to control. There was also water dripping into the toilet bowl constantly, so this also made an annoying sound.