Osaka, Japan: Staying there feels like home b&Tengachaya
#Osaka Sakura
Address: 1 Chome-28-39 Tengachaya, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, 557-0014 Japan
Atmosphere/Facilities: Parking lot (limited), luggage storage space on the first floor, kitchen, washing machine, microwave, refrigerator, integrated bathroom with bathtub, separate toilet, large space, comfortable bed, smart TV, few sockets, balcony
Features: Self check-in, check-out at 10 am, no room cleaning, parking lots and convenience stores nearby, supermarket at Hanazonocho subway station. Convenient transfer to Shinsaibashi Dotonbori subway station, direct access to Nihonbashi
Price: 10,000 to 25,000 yen
Rating: This is the first time I tried to rent an apartment during my trip to Osaka. The management company will send you an email three days before check-in to let you check in by yourself. The process is very simple. The check-in instructions will be sent via email on the same day, including the door code and the mailbox code for the room key at the door. Check-in is scheduled to start at 4pm, but in fact you still have to try your luck. If the cleaning staff cleans the room quickly enough, you should be able to get the room key from the mailbox around 12 noon to 2pm. Yes, it is a traditional key, not a room card. If there is no key in the mailbox, it means the room is still being cleaned. You can use the gate password to enter and place your luggage in the lobby on the first floor. Valuables must be carried with you as no one is there to keep them.
There is only one elevator, and the ashtray for smoking is on the first floor escape ladder next to the elevator. The parking lot at the entrance can only accommodate about 4 cars, and there is a paid parking lot next to it, the fee is not high. There is a FamilyMart next to it, about a 2-minute walk away.
The first thing that was new when you arrived at the floor was the feeling that resembled a Japanese apartment in anime or drama. You need to take off your shoes at the entrance before opening the door. The first thing that catches your eye is the kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave and kettle. The space on the left can be opened to accommodate a washing machine (the owner will provide detergent) and a sink. On the right is the integrated bathroom common in Japan, and on the left is a separate toilet. There is another door from the kitchen, which leads to the living space. There are two double beds that are very comfortable to lie on. The wardrobe is not big and contains two cushions and a small dining table, which can just hold two large suitcases after taking out the cushions. A small sofa and a narrow platform can be used to place Lingxing items. The TV is a smart TV. The balcony is not big and its main function is to dry clothes. The plugs are mainly one universal socket in the two queen beds.
The hair dryer was slightly damaged but did not affect its function, but the kitchen utensils were severely worn and not replaced regularly.
Check-in experience: When booking, we had marked that we needed a quiet room and a high floor. As a result, we were arranged to stay on the second floor of the rock district. Because the apartment is directly opposite the tram track, the second floor is right opposite the track. In Japan, the business owners basically won't pay much attention to this as it is the cherry blossom season. They will just ask you if you don't want to stay and they will refund you and you can find another place to stay. Although there was nothing wrong with the way the client was handled, the attitude was rather negative and the accommodation needs requested in advance were not taken seriously.
Maybe it’s because it snows in winter, the double doors and floor-to-ceiling windows used to keep out the cold and keep warm unexpectedly reduce the railway noise indoors. You can still hear a little bit of the sound of the train passing by, but the sound is at least reduced by 90% compared to what you would hear directly on the balcony. That's okay.
The B&B is located between Hanazonocho Station on the Yotsubashi Line and Tenkachaya Station on the Sakaisuji Line.
Hanazonocho (Yotsubashi Line): You can transfer to the Midosuji Line heading towards Namba and Shinsaibashi. From Hanazonocho, take the train to Daikokucho and walk to the opposite platform to transfer smoothly. And it’s a round trip, so you don’t have to change lines, and it’s quite convenient to walk a long distance from the subway station.
Tenkachaya (Sakaisuji Line & Nankai Railway): This station is also the Nankai Railway Station which can go directly to Kansai Airport). It is the first stop towards Nipponbashi, Kuromon Market, etc. and it is easy to get a seat.
It's about a ten-minute walk between the two stations. There are local shopping streets near the stations, but of course they are not as lively and rich as those in Dotonbori. It is a very down-to-earth daily rental apartment where you can experience a very short-term local accommodation life in Japan. In addition, there is no daily room cleaning service here.
Overall, the space is spacious and the bed is comfortable. Although it is close to the tram tracks, the sound insulation is good. It is a comfortable accommodation space. In addition, there is no difference in the levels of housing types here, and the layout of the housing types is unified. Please note that the price difference is huge. According to inquiries, the highest price on weekdays is about 24,000 yen/night, and the lowest is about 10,000 yen/night. We booked early and it was about 15,000 yen per night on Saturdays and Sundays. Personally, I feel it’s ok.