Located in the heart of Namba, First Cabin Midosuji Namba provides an affordable and convenient one-night stay for solo travelers.
What’s the hotel like?
First Cabin Midosuji Namba is a contemporary, no-fuss place to rest your head, offering small luxuries for a comfortable stay. It prides itself on being neither a capsule hotel nor a business hotel, but something in between.
What facilities does the hotel have?
Guests can make use of a variety of facilities, including a public bath, sauna, fitness gym (for an extra charge), shared showers and toilets, a cloakroom, coin laundry, a café/lounge space, a smoking area, a call booth, and a vending machine.
Additionally, many amenities are provided, including towels, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and other small personal items.
Is there anywhere to hang out in the hotel?
The main hangout area is the café/lounge space near the reception. It has a few tables and chairs, perfect for eating a late-night pot noodle or getting some last-minute work done. There’s also a small section near the entrance on the 4th floor with some seats where you can relax. Apart from that, there is a smoking booth and a calling booth, but we wouldn’t really consider those as hangout spots.
What are the rooms like?
The cabins at First Cabin are inspired by first-class airplane cabins, offering a compact yet premium experience.
How big are the rooms?
There are several types of cabins to choose from. The most popular are the First Class Cabin, which measures 4.40 m2. Note that there are separate cabins for men and women, so be sure to book the correct one.
For more privacy, consider the Premium Class Cabin, which is 9.95 m2. There are also larger options, such as the Twin Premium Class Cabin 15.21 m2, and the Triple Premium Class Cabin at 19.28 m2. Premium Class Cabins for 4 to 6 people range from 27.20 m2 to 35.57 m2.
Are the rooms comfortable?
On this particular visit, we stayed in the First Class Cabin. Inside the cabin is a small table, bed, wall TV, and mirror. There is just enough room to place your suitcase on the floor.
The room itself is fairly comfortable — however, your quality of sleep largely depends how noisy your neighbors are. One of the rules while staying in the cabin is to be quiet at all times. This means you will have to listen to the TV with earphones, or make a call in the common area. Even with this silence, you can still constantly hear the sound of shuffling footsteps and other noises from outside.
On another note, while the cabin feels relatively safe, there’s no way to lock it. The privacy shutter simply closes with a magnet, so if you’re concerned about security, it might be a bit unsettling. That said, there is a small drawer under the bed where you can lock valuables away, and there’s an emergency button located beside your bed.
What’s the view like?
The rooms have no view, as there are no windows.
Should I order the breakfast?
For breakfast, this First Cabin has a reasonable selection of bread for just a couple hundred of yen. They also have a coffee machine and some soft drinks. However, we personally recommend visiting a nearby café, like Tully’s Coffee. Their breakfast set offers better value, and is more satisfying.
How is the location?
The location is the main selling point. Being only a 7-minute walk to Osaka’s main hub, Dōtonbori, you are right in the heart of the hustle and bustle. Namba is also known for its nightlife, meaning you can find a solid selection of bars, clubs, and karaoke places. It can get quite noisy at night, so we would say the area is better suited for younger people.
The area is also super accessible, having great transport links.
How is the access to trains and subway?
The closest station to First Cabin Midosuji Namba is:
- Namba Station (1-minute walk): It is directly connected to Namba Station by an elevator. Namba Station is one of the most convenient stations, as it serves the Osaka Metro, Nankai Line, Kintetsu Line, and Hanshin Line.
How do I get there from Kansai International Airport?
- From Kansai International Airport: The fastest way to get from the airport to First Class Midosuji Namba is to take the Nankai-Kuko Line Airport Express (bound for Nankai-Namba) to Nankai-Namba Station. The journey costs ¥970 and takes just over 40 minutes. From Nankai-Namba, it’s a 6-minute walk.
Looking for other transport options? Read our guide to Getting From Kansai International Airport to Osaka.
What’s the surrounding neighborhood like?
The neighborhood is quite busy, especially since it’s so close to Namba Station. It’s very convenient, with a shopping street right across the road and Namba Marui shopping center just down the street.
Are there many good places to eat nearby?
There are plenty of restaurants nearby including sushi, yakiniku, yakitori, Italian and Chinese options — just to name a few. For even more choices, you can take the short walk to Dōtonbori and discover why Osaka is known as “Japan’s kitchen”.
For more inspiration on what to eat, check out our Gourmet Guide to Osaka: 10 Foods to Try.
What points of interest are within walking distance of the hostel?
As mentioned, this First Cabin is in a prime location, meaning you are close to some of the city’s top attractions. These include:
- Namba Parks Shopping Complex (6-minute walk)
- Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum (6-minute walk)
- Hozen-ji Temple (6-minute walk)
- Glico Sign Dōtonbori (7-minute walk)
Who should stay here?
First Cabin is ideal for solo travelers who simply need a place to rest their head. Since you are allowed not to talk in the cabins, we recommend that those in groups book one of the private rooms. That said, the private rooms are not the most affordable, so groups may want to consider more luxurious options for the price. Also, keep in mind that individuals under the age of 12 cannot stay here.
What sustainability measures do they have?
There are no clear sustainability measures. However, there is a notice outside the shower saying that the electricity turns off after 30 minutes, suggesting sustainability efforts.
Tips and tricks for the best stay
For a more comfortable stay, we recommend taking advantage of all the free amenities available at the reception. Some useful items include slippers and eye masks.
Next to the amenities bar, you’ll also find some tourist leaflets to inspire you on what to see in the area. There’s even a ramen map on the wall, highlighting some of the best spots in the area.
If you start feeling peckish at night and don’t want to go to the convenience store, simply head to the café and check out the snacks they offer.