Originally Posted by
ang2383
I am looking to stay here sometime in 2015. Does anyone have any updates regarding this hotel?
Also, do you think it will be convenient to get to/from this hotel if I plan to visit Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium, Den Den Town, Amerikamura, Shinsaibashi Shopping Area, Dotonbori ? Do you think these places can be easily reached if I were to stay at HR Kyoto instead?
The so so reviews of this hotel is making me have second thoughts. I plan to visit Universal Studios Japan so I am thinking it might be more convenient to stay here for a night or two, but if it's do-able from HR Kyoto, I might do that instead. Does anyone know? I also read from a really old post in this thread that this hotel used to offer discounted Universal Studios tickets at 20%. Is this still the case?
Thanks in advance! I appreciate it! =)
The hotel location is not that bad unless you want nightlife in downtown Osaka, miss the last shuttle, or even worse, the last train, and you're really out of luck. Public spaces are still in very nice condition, rooms could use new carpets and drapes, but the bathrooms are quite nice.
Access to the Aquarium would be very convenient. There is only one shuttle per day each way to/from USJ, and train is not that convenient. If you cost is not a factor, such as if you have a JR pass, it might even be faster to get to USJ by train from HR Kyoto than HR Osaka.
Rates at both HR Kyoto and HR Osaka can fluctuate a lot, if you get a good rate at Kyoto, and have that JR pass, I would not hesitate to base their for everything if you don't want to change hotels. A lot of Japanese visitors whose main interest is Kyoto but want to spend just 1 day at USJ would feel fine about travelling from Kyoto. I would have to double-check to be sure but I'm pretty sure it would involve just one change at Nishiku-jo by taking the Haruka train.
Don't know what you have read about Den Den Town, but it is not longer a good place to buy general electrical goods. There are still a few places for high-end audio, but most of the shops are now for used video games, 'adult' video, pirated DVDs, and that sort of thing. Yodobashi Camera is your best bet, especially with the HR Osaka shuttle. There's also a Yodobashi Camera at Kyoto Station.
Hope you're aware that Osaka Castle is a ferro-concrete postwar reproduction. Still some impressive original stone walls, and interesting enough, but seldom considered to be the top of the list over the temples in Kyoto or the Daibutsu in Nara. Again, if you have a JR pass, Himeji Castle is the real thing and a National Treasure. Hikone Castle as well. Himeji is much bigger and closer to Osaka.
Places like Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi (actually pretty much the same place) would be easier from HR Osaka, but again, if you have a JR pass, not all that bad timewise from Kyoto.