Room-only stays usually mean no perks, but this hotel throws them at you, all in the name of having a good sleep.
There is a type of accommodation for all kinds of traveler, be it a gorgeous mountain retreat or a city-based hub for neighborhood exploration. For some people, accommodation means just having a comfortable place to pass the night, spending the rest of the time out and about, so they tend to go for places that offer room-only stays instead of hunting for one that has a decent breakfast menu. However, we were recently invited to a trial stay at Super Hotel Premier Osaka Hommachi Ekimae, where even with a room-only stay, alcohol, a hot spring, and amenities are all included completely free of charge.
Being located right next to Osaka’s Hommachi Station, served by the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, Yotsubashi Line, and Chuo Line, means that it is incredibly convenient for any exploring you want to do while spending time in the city. Additionally, the popular shopping district of Shinsaibashi is well within walking distance, and the area around Hommachi Station is full of places to eat and drink.
Going up to the second floor, we were met with the front desk located inside a clean lobby, and a faint aroma drifted through the air.
Check-in is possible using a QR code for the tech-savvy, but it’s just as possible to complete the procedures at the counter, where the receptionist explains various things about the hotel:
- You can choose the softness and height of your pillow.
- Lobby coffee and tea are available to drink 24 hours a day.
- You can enjoy a welcome bar starting in the evening.
- There is a hot spring.
- You can borrow nightwear developed in-house.
- Women receive five skincare amenities.
All of this for just a room-only stay? It’s truly hard to believe, so we couldn’t wait to experience it for ourselves.
First, we meandered over to the coffee and tea provisions, which you are apparently allowed to bring into your room too.
▼ The tea bags were from TEARTH, with an extensive lineup.
However, the highlight is the welcome bar opening in the evening, where various types of alcohol are set out, and you can freely make and enjoy your own cocktails.
In the case you want to avoid alcohol, soft drinks are also well-stocked, and even small snacks like nuts and dried fruits are provided. It was even mentioned that it was possible to bring in food from the outside to enjoy with your drinks.
A drink in hand while idly gazing at the cityscape and flowing lights of cars… it was utter bliss.
There is a shower in the room, but since we were told about it, we had to check out the natural hot spring, which you can check the crowdedness of from the television in your room.
▼ Photograph taken with permission.
The hot water is brought in from the source spring Naniwa Onsen, and felt like a simple hot spring, but explanations in the bathing area introduced it as having beautifying and rejuvenating effects. Being able to stretch out your legs and thoroughly warm up your body, tired from traveling, is something to be extremely grateful for. After getting out of the bath, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the amenities on offer and ReFa hairdryers.
Of course, on the way back to your room you should also stop off at the lobby for some herbal tea.
To truly make your night special, you need to select your own custom pillow from the selection of various firmnesses and heights lined up in the lobby. We went for the Mochi-Fuwa Ladies Pillow, a collaboration with custom-made pillow maker Jibun Makura, and true to its name is apparently exclusively for women.
Furthermore, the mattress and pajamas are also Super Hotel originals, which have come about as a result of their exploration of good sleep in their partnership with universities under the name Good Sleep Research Institute (Gussuri Kenkyujo).
From the aroma in the lobby, the hot spring, the water, the duvet, to the room lighting, everything is specifically designed to help guests get a good sleep. Thanks to that, we fell sound asleep right through until morning.
▼ We couldn’t wait to test out our custom pillow.
Breakfast was at the Organic Table restaurant on the second floor for an extra fee of 1,500 yen (US$9.49), although there are also breakfast (and dinner) plans available. The buffet menu had plenty of vegetables and side dishes, making for a grand display of variety. There were even popular Osaka items like takoyaki and nikusui (beef soup), which are sure to please tourists.
Perhaps because we woke up feeling completely refreshed, our appetites were strong, and we thoroughly enjoyed the meal. We highly recommend this breakfast for anyone who wants a substantial meal to start the day.
Check-out was at 11:00 a.m., and with the room key being a passcode, there was nothing special to return; the procedure was completed simply by dropping the receipt with your room number, received at check-in, into the box inside the elevator. A comfortable hotel, packed with free services, and a comparatively late check-out to some other hotels… it feels almost criminal that we didn’t find out about this hotel earlier.
If a hotel is just a place to return to sleep at the end of the day, Super Hotel Premier Osaka Hommachi Ekimae is undoubtedly a hotel that will make you want to return to sleep, even after your holiday is over.
Hotel information
Super Hotel Premier Osaka Hommachi Ekimae / スーパーホテルPremier大阪本町駅前
Address: Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi, Nishi-ku, Nishihonmachi 1-5-10
大阪府大阪市西区西本町1-5-10
Check-in: 3:00 p.m.
Check-out: 11:00 a.m.
Website
Photos ©SoraNews24
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