This article is based on a visit made on Sunday, 20 November 2016.
Previously on Sekai Ichi, I wrapped up
my stopover in Nagoya and continued on to Osaka. My next hotel, the Remm Shin-Osaka (レム新大阪,
Remu Shin Ōsaka), was right on top of Shin-Osaka Station, the junction of the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. Since I would be doing a few day-trips on both of those high-speed lines, it proved a convenient base for doing so. The hotel entrance, shown above, lies just past the Shinkansen ticket gates; you don't even have to leave the building!
From the entrance on the 3rd floor of the station, an elevator takes you up to the hotel floors, starting with the front desk on the 12th floor. My room was on the 13th floor
(Again, what is it with me getting hotel rooms on unlucky floors?), and this thing stood in the middle of that floor's elevator lobby. It looks like a rock, but it's actually a canvas-covered seat of some sort.
Windows from the lobby let me look out southwards, onto downtown Osaka. My room, conversely, was located on the north side, which didn't have quite such a great view. Apparently, most of the single rooms are on that side.
This hotel is part of the same chain as the Remm Akihabara I stayed in previously, so much of the decor and amenities are the same. Like the other hotel, the rooms are also snug, measuring a mere 14.4 m² (155 ft²).
And as with the other Remm hotels, the bathrooms feature a ceiling-mounted "rain shower". The bathroom has a wide window open to the room and, theoretically, outside, but a shade can be pulled down over it for privacy.
The safe is mounted in the room's coat closet, as opposed to the Remm Akihabara, where it was part of the desk. Also located in this closet is a slot for you to put your keycard in, which turns on the lights. I forgot to take my card out one time and locked myself out of the room, but the concierge was able to give me a replacement card. So, tip of the hat to them!
Like I said, the north side of the building, which my room faced out upon, didn't have the best photo ops, but the sunrise the following morning did give a healthy glow to some of the buildings I looked out upon.
This is the corresponding morning view from the other side, taken the day after.
Breakfast is served at Cafe and Dining Kouji, a restaurant near the hotel entrance in Shin-Osaka Station. It is served as a sort of semi-buffet; you can choose from one of four main dishes, plus additional items from the buffet. Tickets for breakfast cost ¥1,300 for hotel guests, and are valid from 6:30 to 11:00 AM; last order time is 10:30 AM.
All things considered, my experience staying at the Remm Shin-Osaka was consistent with its sister hotel in Tokyo. The rooms are small, which is honestly standard throughout urban Japan, but I adapted to them nicely. The best part about this hotel would be its location. Since I would be using both the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines throughout my stay, it was convenient that I didn't have to walk far to reach those platforms. If you plan to do the same, or if staying closer to the more centrally-located Osaka and Umeda stations turns out to be too expensive, the Remm Shin-Osaka is an ideal alternative!
Remm Shin-Osaka
Address: Shin-Osaka Station 12F, 1-1-1 Miyahara, Yodogawa-ku, Ōsaka-shi, Ōsaka-fu 〒532-0003
Access: Remm Shin-Osaka is adjacent to Shin-Osaka Station (Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, JR Kyoto
(A), Takarazuka
(G), and OsakaMetro Midosuji
(M) lines).
Directions: From the Shinkansen Central ticket gates, turn right and right again to reach the hotel entrance.
From the East ticket gate (for regular JR lines), turn right, continue down the promenade, and turn right again when you pass the JR Central office. Turn right again after passing the Shinkansen Central ticket gates, as above, to reach the hotel entrance.
From the subway Exit 1, simply climb up the escalators and the hotel entrance will be straight ahead.
Website:
(English) (Japanese)
