Moxy Osaka Honmachi

Moxy Osaka Honmachi is the Osaka outpost of Marriott's Moxy brand, which aims at younger, budget-conscious travellers who would rather spend money on going out than on a large room. It sits in the Honmachi business district in central Chuo-ku, roughly midway between Umeda in the north and Namba in the south, so both halves of the city are easy to reach.

The bar is the centre of everything. Bar Moxy doubles as the front desk, so you collect your room key from the same counter that serves drinks, and the Moxy Cafe & Bar serves breakfast from 6:30 to 10:30, lunch from 11:30 to 14:00 and food from 14:00 to 21:00, with the bar itself open 24 hours. A grab-and-go deli is also open around the clock, useful after a late night out. The lounge areas are designed for socialising, working on a laptop or simply waiting for friends.

Rooms are compact but well thought out, with platform beds, walk-in showers, motion-activated LED lighting and 50-inch televisions. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out is at 12:00, later than at many Japanese hotels, which helps after a late night. There is a complimentary fitness centre, though you need to bring your own shoes and clothing. The whole property is smoke-free, guests must be at least 18 to check in, and a dedicated pet-friendly plan allows up to two pets of up to 15 kilograms per room.

The hotel has no car park of its own, so drivers must use coin-operated car parks nearby, and it charges a disposal fee if oversized rubbish is left behind, a policy worth knowing if you have been shopping for large items. Prices are at the lower end of the international-brand range, which makes it good value for couples, friends and solo travellers who want a lively base without hostel-style dormitories. It is less suited to families with young children, given the age rule for check-in and the bar-led atmosphere.

Nearby stations include Honmachi and Sakaisuji-Honmachi on the Osaka Metro, which connect quickly to Umeda, Shinsaibashi and Namba, and Osaka-Uehommachi on the Kintetsu line, handy for Nara. Osaka Castle, the Kitahama riverside cafes and the Shinsaibashi shopping streets are all reachable by a short subway ride or a long walk.