Best Western Plus Fino Osaka Kitahama - Review

The Best Western Plus Fino Osaka Kitahama is one of BW's four hotels in Japan's third largest city. It is located in the financial district and just steps away from Kitahama station, which is conveniently served by Osaka Metro's Sakaisuji Line and Keihan Main Line.

As with other hotels in Osaka, the nightly rate can vary significantly based on demand and it can often cost double on Friday and Saturday nights compared to weekday nights. Alternatively, if paying by Best Western Rewards points, standard redemption can be a good deal at just 8,000 points on a weeknight.

A compact reception area

There are two other Best Westerns (without the "Plus") in Osaka — one is in the more touristy Shinsaibashi district, and another slightly further out in Tsukamoto across the Yodo River. There is also a SureStay Plus in Shin-Osaka which I stayed at a few years ago.

Hotel building

The hotel has about 130 rooms arranged across 14 floors in a small building. A Best Western Plus signage stands prominently outside the hotel. Once past the double sliding doors, guests will be greeted at the front desk by staff who are conversant in English. Check-in starts from 3:00 pm while check-out is at 11:00 am.

Stairs connecting the hotel restaurant

Two elevators serve the hotel's 14 floors. The restaurant is in the basement, but unlike the Best Western hotels in the US, breakfast here is not free.

Elevator

The room has a small window, which is good for some natural light even though there isn't much to see outside. The air-conditioning works well and interestingly there was an air purifier unit in the corner of the room. 

Twin room

An air purifier at the corner

Twin beds

Inward view

Coffee amenities

View from the window

The bathroom has a low ceiling and of course features a warm and comfortable Toto toilet with a bidet, as one would expect in Japan. Operating instructions are provided in both English and Japanese.

Bathroom

Toto toilet

Operating instructions for the toilet

For a basic 3-star hotel, the Best Western Plus has nothing to fault, really. There is a Family Mart and 7-11 on the street below for any basic necessities one might need. While its proximity to Kitahama station makes getting around Osaka easy (and the Keihan Main Line also goes to Kyoto), I'd personally prefer staying closer to either Umeda or Namba as a leisure traveller.

Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Osaka Kitahama
1-7-17, Imabashi, Osaka, 541-0042, Japan