If you are visiting Osaka, Honmachi is one of the best areas to stay—central, convenient, full of good restaurants, and surprisingly peaceful compared to Namba or Shinsaibashi.
I first visited Osaka back in 2013, staying at the Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka in Namba. Over the years, I tried a few capsule hotels around Shinsaibashi, and during my 2019 trip, I stayed at Vessel Inn Shinsaibashi and DEL style Osaka Shinsaibashi by Daiwa Roynet Hotels — conveniently located near the famous Chicken Soba Zagin 鶏soba 座銀, one of my favorite ramen spots.
(This blog contains affiliate links)
Because of the 2025 Expo, Osaka has welcomed a wave of newly opened hotels, especially around the Honmachi and Midosuji areas. On this recent trip, I chose two brand-new hotels and enjoyed experiencing this refreshed part of the city. Below, I’m sharing my honest impressions and who I think each hotel is perfect for.
This year I stayed in two newly opened hotels: Garner Hotel Osaka Honmachi Kita Semba, one of IHG’s newest brands; and THE BASEMENT HOTEL Osaka Honmachi, a youthful new concept under the Richmond Hotel Group. Both properties opened just in time for Osaka Expo traffic, and both offered very different experiences.
Here’s my complete, honest review to help you decide which hotel fits your Osaka itinerary.
⭐ Garner Hotel Osaka Honmachi Kita Semba, an IHG Hotel
Address: 3 Chome-2-7 Awajimachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 541-0047
Stay: April 2025 — 3 nights (room only)
A new IHG brand debuts in Japan
Garner is a brand-new lifestyle concept under IHG, and Osaka is the first city in Japan to launch not just one, but three Garner hotels. When booking, make sure you choose the right branch—Kita Semba and Midosuji are extremely close to each other. The one I stayed at, Kita Semba, has a 7-Eleven right on the corner, several small restaurants nearby, and even a compact drugstore located between the two Garner hotels. My friend happened to stay at another one and I think mine looks cozy.
The hotel design combines modern minimalism with hostel-like community elements. It’s clean, youthful, and open, and during my stay I noticed guests of all ages—solo travelers, business visitors, older couples, and small groups of friends. Despite the variety, it remained quiet and calm; very few small children, so the atmosphere felt relaxed rather than chaotic.
Facilities & shared spaces
For a mid-priced hotel, Garner offers several thoughtful amenities:
- 1F lounge with free coffee, tea, sparkling water
- 2F utility zone with ice machine, microwave, toaster, and laundry
- Garner Shop selling snacks, alcohol, and curated small bites
The lobby and lounge areas are bright and modern, making them pleasant spots to sit and rest in between sightseeing. These shared spaces are also where the hotel’s “hostel-like hotel” character really appears—people from different backgrounds quietly coexisting, working on laptops, or chatting with friends.
Room experience
Rooms follow the Japanese business-hotel style: compact but efficiently designed.
- The bed is extremely comfortable
- The bathroom includes a bathtub
- Storage is limited, so one suitcase usually goes under the bed
- The lighting and layout make the space feel clean and modern
While not large, the room is perfect for travelers who spend most of the day out in the city. Everything feels new, and I appreciated the reliable water pressure and comfortable mattress after walking around Osaka every day.
Location: quiet, spacious, and ideal for walking
Garner sits between Yodoyabashi and Honmachi, both major stations with easy subway connections. The sidewalks are wide, smooth, and safe—even cyclists glide by without disturbing pedestrians. Walking in this area feels unusually airy for Osaka; at times it almost resembles a “model city” display from a real estate showroom because everything is so orderly.
You can easily walk to Midosuji, Shinsaibashi, or even Namba if you enjoy long evening walks.
✨ Why Staying in Honmachi Is Perfect for Expo 2025
One of the biggest surprises this year is that Midosuji Avenue is illuminated daily from April 9 to December 31 from 17:00 to 25:00, instead of only during Christmas. This is part of Osaka’s celebration leading up to Expo 2025, and the results are magical. Check Official Website in English.
Midosuji Illumination: Osaka’s most unexpected fairy-tale walkway
The illuminated street spans 4 kilometers, shifting colors by section. Walking here feels dreamy—soft pinks, blues, golds, and purples glow above the tree-lined boulevard. Even if you’ve visited Osaka many times before, this year’s Midosuji feels completely different.
Along the way you’ll pass grandeur buildings, brand boutiques, and even luxury car showrooms such as Lamborghini and Ferrari. The contrast of illumination and high-end displays makes the walk unexpectedly cinematic.
During our stay, we walked from Honmachi to Sushiro Shinsaibashi twice (reservation can be made by using the Sushiro app), then slowly strolled back while enjoying the lights.
Kita Mido Projection Mapping
Another unique experience along the route is the light projection at Kita Mido Temple, where the patterns on the ground shift when people step on them. It’s playful, interactive, and worth stopping for a few minutes.
This illumination alone made staying in Honmachi feel “worth it,” as we could enjoy it spontaneously every night without planning a special trip.
🆕 THE BASEMENT HOTEL Osaka Honmachi
Address: 1 Chome-11-8 Nishihonmachi, Nishi Ward, Osaka, 550-0005
Stay: April 2025 — 2 nights
Brand-new hotel opened in April 2025
THE BASEMENT HOTEL opened on April 18, 2025, and I stayed during its first week of operation. It’s part of the Richmond Hotel Group, but it looks nothing like a typical Richmond property. The design is bold, colorful, and trendy, clearly targeting a younger, lifestyle-focused audience.
The public areas are stylish, but the atmosphere felt slightly unfinished—understandable for opening week but still noticeable.
Rooftop lounge & afternoon tea
The hotel heavily promotes its rooftop lounge, which includes:
- Free-flow drinks (juices, teas, sparkling water) until 10 PM
- Afternoon tea hours with desserts
- Occasional hands-on workshops and activities
However, during my stay, the staff did not explain any of these features. I only learned about the DIY activities after checking out and seeing them on the hotel’s Instagram Stories. For a new-brand launch, I expected more proactive service or clearer guest guidance.
Still, the drink bar itself is generous. I tried several types of juice and sparkling water, and everything tasted fresh.
Room experience
In contrast to Garner, the rooms here are significantly larger.
- A spacious desk perfect for remote work
- Enough floor space to open two or even three suitcases
- A bathroom with a bathtub
- Open closet structure for easy access
The interior design is modern and youthful, matching the hotel’s overall branding. It feels more like a lifestyle hotel than a business hotel.
Honmachi Station is huge — prepare to walk
Honmachi is a massive interchange with three subway lines. My walk from the red line to the green line took 10 minutes, which was unexpected.
However, once you reach the green line, Dream Island (Yumeshima / Expo site) is only about 20 minutes away, making this hotel very convenient for Expo visitors.
Checkout is entirely self-service. Staff at the counter simply pointed me to a machine and did not ask how my stay was. The experience wasn’t bad, but the service clearly hasn’t stabilized yet.
Which Hotel Should You Choose?
| Category | Garner Hotel Osaka Honmachi | THE BASEMENT HOTEL Osaka Honmachi |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | IHG (new lifestyle brand) | Richmond Hotels (youthful concept) |
| Room Size | Smaller, compact | Larger, more comfortable |
| Atmosphere | Calm, modern, mixed ages | Trendy, casual, youthful |
| Lounge | Coffee & sparkling water | Full drink bar + afternoon tea |
| Service | Standard | Minimal, still improving |
| Convenience | 7-Eleven next door, easy walks | Fast access to subway lines |
| Suitcase Space | 1 under the bed | 2–3 open on the floor |
Final Thoughts
Both hotels offer strong value for Osaka visitors, but they cater to different types of travelers.
Choose Garner Hotel if you prefer:
✔ International-brand reliability
✔ Clean, modern design
✔ A quiet, calming atmosphere
✔ Easy access to convenience stores and restaurants
Choose THE BASEMENT HOTEL if you want:
✔ Bigger rooms
✔ Stylish lounge access with free drinks
✔ A youthful, trendy aesthetic
✔ Quick subway access to Yumeshima
And above all, choose Honmachi if you want the perfect balance between convenience, calm streets, and magical nighttime walks under the Midosuji illuminations.
Also read my Kyoto hotel review if you plan to visit Kyoto!
Ace Hotel Kyoto Review (2025): Inside Kyoto’s Michelin Key Design Hotel
Hotel Gracery Asakusa Review | Asakusa Hotel Near Kaminarimon
4 comments
It’s hard to choose between the two. They both have comfy beds, and the rooms look clean. But it’s hard to beat the free drinks (juices, tea, sparkling water) at The Basement Hotel.
Yes I know! They have different vibes!
I stayed at The Basement Hotel and completely agree! Great review!
It was a beautiful lounge to enjoy!