More Than Just a Room with a Tsutenkaku View | Osaka Travel

There's a district in Osaka that evokes a sense of "good old days"—Shinsekai. Filled with countless colorful retro signs and billboards, snack bars, night markets, and archery halls, it exudes a strong nostalgic atmosphere. At its heart stands Tsutenkaku Tower, a landmark building first built in 1912, offering panoramic views of Osaka. For this Osaka trip, I chose a hotel where I could see Tsutenkaku right from my bed—OMO7 Osaka by Hoshino Resorts. This hotel boasts a great location, impressive design, comfortable spaces, and engaging local exploration tours. 📍Location OMO7 Osaka is just a 5-minute walk from Shinsekai and close to both subway and JR lines. This makes it incredibly convenient for traveling to downtown shopping areas like Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori, sightseeing spots like Osaka Castle, or even Kansai International Airport. 🎨Design The hotel's design blends a modern resort feel with Osaka's local charm. The building resembles a sailing ship, with a sloping green garden in front. Walking through the corridors adorned with black and white pufferfish patterns, you enter the lobby. Here, you'll find a large OMO map, a cat wall, a library, a souvenir shop, a cafe, and two OMO Dining restaurants. Wearing the hotel-provided yukata to the public bath by the garden is another example of the hotel's modern yet local design. The golden Billiken statue in the center is considered a deity of good luck by Shinsekai locals and businesses. It's said that rubbing its feet brings good fortune. The rooms are spacious, larger than typical Japanese hotel rooms. The long windows frame Tsutenkaku and the cityscape like a work of art. Our guide told us that the hotel was originally the site of a cosmetics factory built in 1956, belonging to Osaka's oldest skincare brand. The toiletries in the rooms are exclusively provided by this brand. As Tsutenkaku lights up at night, sitting by the window and pondering the changes this place has seen over the centuries adds a touch of nostalgia. ⛱️Experiences Like other OMO hotels, this one offers unique local exploration tours. These include Shinsekai district exploration, an early morning fish market tour, a Universal Studios Japan tour, and a lecture on Osaka's Naniwa culture. With the Expo taking place in Osaka from April to October this year, the hotel has also launched an "Expo in the Hotel" exhibition and demonstrations of "flying car" prototypes. Don't miss the "PIKAPIKA NIGHT" event held every evening in the outdoor garden. It's unique to this hotel. Under retro neon lights, with a pufferfish lantern in hand, a local beer, and freshly made takoyaki, you can enjoy a "fireworks show" projected onto the hotel wall, creating a true vacation vibe. Tips PIKAPIKA Night is free for hotel guests and includes a complimentary beer and takoyaki. It runs from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm, with a 10-minute light show every 30 minutes. Pufferfish Oden + Half Pufferfish: JPY 500–800/serving Public Bath: JPY 1,000/person (approx. USD 50) The udon, Sensuji sauce, and grilled egg with fish sashimi rice bowls are particularly popular at the breakfast buffet, so grab them early.