Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA Review

When we traveled to Osaka in February, we wanted a hotel that was close to Universal Studios Japan as well as the downtown area. We chose a property that was centrally located and near a train station. Interested and want to know more? Here’s our Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA review (spoiler — there are some things you really should know before booking your stay!).

The Location

It will be hard to beat the location of the Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA. We arrived at the JR Osaka Station and all we had to do was head up to the 3rd floor and walk three minutes from the Bridge Exit. Easy! 

It’s also within a five-minute walking distance from Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station and Umeda Station on Osaka Metro Midosuji Line. You can basically get to anywhere you want to go (you have to see Dotonbori!) from this little hub, which was exactly what we were looking for.

Being so close to a JR station, there are so many options for eating around Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA. You definitely won’t struggle for food! Not going to lie. We totally found a Taco Bell and pigged out in our room!

First Impressions

We’re going to keep this Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA review real. The first thing I noticed about the hotel was that it was noisy. It’s very, very lively there and the majority of the guests we encountered were foreigners from a variety of countries. This ended up creating an interesting dynamic overnight, but more on that in a bit. 

We did like the look of the hotel. It was absolutely massive. The lobby was big and spacious and the check-in process was relatively easy. It was well-maintained and clean. 

Our Hotel Room – 30th High Floor Standard Twin, Non-Smoking

Bedding

The bedding at Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA was okay. The fabric had a nice texture and looked okay. There was a stain on one of the beds and we couldn’t tell if it had been laundered or not. That wasn’t my favorite…

Also, they put that decorative half quilt thing on the beds and I really hate those. Along with decorative pillows, that stuff almost never gets washed and is just pretty gross without adding any real value to the room.

Design

Our hotel room at Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA was pretty standard. Nothing special, nothing terrible. It was functional and got the job done. 

The two twin beds were positioned very close to each other which maximized the space in the room, but it was impossible to snuggle or cuddle without driving the mattresses apart. 

Flooring 

We all know that I hate hotel carpets, but this one was okay. It was a low-pile commercial carpet that featured a pattern that concealed any ickiness. We took our shoes off and wore the slippers in the room. 

Soundproofing 

Here’s where things go south for me. As mentioned, the hotel seemed noisy when we arrived and the guests were very annoying. We never saw the same people twice, but everyone seemed to have the same vibe. 

It would be great if this Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA review was flawless, but this became a real issue overnight. People were yelling and talking loudly in the hallway until nearly 4:00 a.m. They were going in and out of rooms and just being completely disrespectful and obnoxious. It was disappointing.

Bathroom 

The bathroom was great! The toilet had a nice, high-quality bidet system and was in a room of its own. That’s a huge perk for me since I really hate it when the toilet is next to a bathtub. 

There was a nice shower area with a glass door. I hate touching fabric shower curtains so I liked this! The sink was in a separate space between the toilet and shower rooms. It was easy to wash our hands without disturbing each other!

Hotel Amenities

We were in Osaka to visit Universal Studios Japan, tour the city, and make a day trip to Kyoto. We didn’t really have time to use the hotel amenities. That said, there is a shopping and eating area underground which is accessible by an escalator from the lobby. We definitely dipped down there to grab McDonald’s, and Korean groceries, and even hit up a Korean restaurant.

Here are some other amenities:

• Diorama AR Guide “MUSUBI”: Use this service to find recommended sightseeing spots along the Hankyu Hanshin railways. Then, download the information to your smartphone — no app needed!
• Japanese garden: It’s a beautiful area with many trees that change with the seasons.
• Nursing room: These days are over for me, but this space can be used for breastfeeding, heating milk, and changing diapers!
• Coffee maker: Available free of charge to all hotel guests. 
• Smoking booth: Not something we use but, yes, they have these in Japan.
• Fitness room: We got our steps from walking but this is open 24 hours!
• Self-service Laundry: Available 24 hours and you can check the status of your laundry from the TV in your room!

What Makes Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA Unique?

There’s nothing that makes Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA particularly unique, but the location is fabulous. Despite the fact that I didn’t get much sleep, I was happy with how convenient it was. Being right at the JR Osaka Station makes it so easy for people to transfer from the Shinkansen at Shin-Osaka and get to their hotel in minutes. 

Overall Grade – B

There’s a lot to love about Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA. The location is great, the food options are limitless, and the property is clean. The problem was really that, from the lobby to the hotel room, everything was just super loud. We couldn’t relax and it was stressful. The property uses the French word for breathe, “respire,” in its name to suggest it’s a place where you can chill, but we felt the total opposite. If you’re looking for something lively, though, this place is perfect.