MIMARU Osaka Shinsaibashi North (Review)

Owning establishments in Japan’s 3 big touristic cities, namely Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the hotel 🏨 chain MIMARU operates several facilities arranged as apartment-hotels, aiming at tourists and other temporary visitors traveling in the archipelago.

It has 5 locations in Osaka, including MIMARU Osaka Shinsaibashi North, that concentrate in the south of the city-center, near lively stations like Shinsaibashi and Namba. Although this location is particularly convenient to visit the various districts of Osaka, it is not so much to explore outside the city or to use as a base to explore the wider area. This type of accommodation is totally suitable to those who would like to spend a couple of days just roaming about the city and / or are looking for a place offering more independence.

As a matter of fact, the apartment hotel’s concept brings more autonomy to its guests, that usually benefit from:

• A surface larger than a hotel room, especially regarding the living room / dining room areas;
• A kitchen area furnished enough to allow for cooking;
• A private bathroom and WC.

A condensed version of a Japanese apartment

The MIMARU apartments feature all these characteristics, and they are arranged in a clean Japanese design whose living spaces are separated by removable or sliding partition walls. Consequently, it is recommended that all guests staying at one of these apartments live at the same pace as phonic isolation is close to non-existent. At MIMARU Osaka Shinsaibashi North, some of the rooms display a more refined decoration on a traditional theme of Japanese culture, such as the ninja, or the "Hime" princess spirit and sakura 🌸 blossoms.

The apartments’ sizes vary from 35m² to 80m² and can host on average 4 to 8 persons. All the beds are in one room, except for the bigger apartments that have 2 bedrooms. The western-style bedding in comfortable, providing 1-person beds that are quite wide (120cm) and bunk beds, the ideal solution for children. Themed rooms have a tatami floor on which futon bedding can be spread.

The layout of MIMARU apartment hotels is particularly suitable for families, especially for the most common composition of 2 adults and 2 children. A large fridge and freezer allow to stock food for several days. There is enough tableware, guaranteed by a daily cleaning that includes tidying up the beds, hoovering and dish-washing. The only kitchen device that could be added is a toaster.

The hotel has its own laundry room, that is continuously open; and some apartments can be equipped with washing-machine depending on their category. Doing the laundry at MIMARU Osaka Shinsaibashi North costs from:

• ¥400 (~US$2.54) for a 30 minutes washing cycle (detergent included); and,
• ¥100 (~US$0.63) for a 20 minutes drying cycle.

The machines operate on ¥100 coins and it is recommended to completely dry the clothes before going back to the apartment. The humidity rate in Japan is indeed very high so hanging clothes inside for drying is quite ineffective even if the apartments are air-conditioned.

Friendly and multilingual staff

Beyond the convenience of its hotels, the MIMARU chain can boast a staff who is both very professional and friendly, providing a congenial welcome. This friendliness is all the more appreciated when the person in charge speaks our language. The management has a clear will of constituting mixed teams blending several nationalities, especially from Western countries, an attention that customers do appreciate.

All members of staff speak English or Japanese, they are helpful and provide convenient information on the area where the hotel is located, such as:

• The good restaurants in the neighborhood;
• The nearest subway or train stations;
• Where to go shopping, especially where to find workshops of crafts souvenirs.

Tea, coffee and a water fountain are always available for customers. The lobby of MIMARU Osaka Shinsaibashi North is by the way decorated with 2 beautiful samurai armors that belonged to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Sanada Yukimura, facing the front entrance.