Apartment Hotel 11 Namba Minami 2 is an aparthotel in the Naniwa district, by Daikokucho metro station, which is about two minutes from the entrance. It is a new building, opened in autumn, and therefore with clean floors and fresh finishing. It has 137 rooms, a lift, non-smoking floors, a fire alarm and electronic locks. The hotel has few detailed lists of services: it is a “check in and go for a walk” format. And there is somewhere to walk from here: Namba, Shinsaibashi-suji and Dotonbori are nearby, and the Kuromon market and Tsutenkaku are within reach too. Nearby are convenient 24-hour shops and supermarkets, which matters for those who want to buy water, fruit and ready food without a restaurant. It suits couples and groups who came to Osaka for the food and the evening streets.
Naniwa: Dotonbori, Kuromon and Tsutenkaku
Osaka is famed for its food, and Naniwa is its heart. From Daikokucho station Namba, the main hub of the district, is one or two metro stops away, and from there you walk to Dotonbori with its neon signs and giant crab. Shinsaibashi-suji is a covered shopping arcade, and the Kuromon market is “Osaka’s kitchen” with seafood and street food. Tsutenkaku is a tower in the Shinsekai district, and the Namba Yasaka shrine is known for its huge lion-head stage.
- Dotonbori — neon, takoyaki and canals.
- Shinsaibashi-suji — a covered shopping arcade.
- The Kuromon market — seafood and street food.
- The Namba Yasaka shrine — a huge lion’s head.
Tip for travellers: It is better to visit the Kuromon market in the morning, before lunch. Daikokucho station is convenient, but for Kansai airport it is easier to go from Namba by express. In the evening Dotonbori is crowded, and it is better to photograph before sunset.
What the building has
There is little data on services: the building has a lift, non-smoking floors, a fire alarm, electronic locks and fire extinguishers. The list also mentions airport pick-up and drop-off. The apartment format assumes that you do much yourself. Supermarkets and 24-hour shops are nearby, so what is missing can be bought.
- A lift
- Non-smoking floors
- Electronic locks
- A fire alarm and extinguishers
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
A new building
The hotel opened recently, so everything is new. For guests who don’t like worn hotels this is a plus.
What to check
Before arrival find out how check-in works, whether there is a kitchen in the room and whether self-registration is needed. For apartments this is more important than for an ordinary hotel: often the key is issued by a code, and there may be no staffed desk. Save the address and the station name in your phone, so you don’t have to look for the building on maps at night. And check in advance the rules for handling rubbish: in Japan they are strict.
Where to eat in Namba
Breakfast is not declared in the hotel description, so in the morning go to a café in the area. Around the station you can usually find bakeries, coffee shops and noodle places.
The evening route is Dotonbori: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, ramen and kushikatsu. Osaka calls itself the city where people “ruin themselves on food”, and in Naniwa this is felt literally: around the station there are dozens of small places for five to ten people where food is cooked right in front of you. A good trick is to choose one dish per place and go round, trying a little. The Kuromon market is good for a lunch of fresh seafood. And for dinner at home the 24-hour shops and supermarkets nearby come in handy.
Pros and cons of Apartment Hotel 11 Namba Minami 2
What the hotel is valued for
- Daikokucho station two minutes’ walk away.
- Namba, Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi nearby.
- A new building with non-smoking floors.
- Shops and supermarkets close by.
- An airport transfer is listed among the services.
What to know in advance
- The list of services is modest, with no restaurant or spa.
- The area is crowded and noisy in the evening.
- Details of the rooms are better checked with the hotel.
- Breakfast is not declared.
What guests note
They more often write about the location by the metro, the cleanliness and the newness. There are not many reviews yet.
How to book Apartment Hotel 11 Namba Minami 2
Before booking, check the room type and the check-in conditions. Then mark your dates in the “Where to book” block — the booking is made in roubles.
