In the heart of Osaka’s Nishinari ward, Hotel Beaver offers ridiculously low prices with unexpectedly amazing facilities!
Osaka has always been known for its cheap restaurants and street food stalls, but did you know accommodation in Osaka is exceptionally cheap too?
For just 60,000 yen (430 USD), I stayed at Hotel Beaver in the Nishinari ward of Osaka for an entire month (30 days and 30 nights!).
An…Interesting Town
I’m not going to sit here and lie to you about Nishinari being an amazing town, in fact, I’d say it’s not for everyone.
Think of it like the Compton of Japan, except, not quite as dangerous given the country’s incredibly low crime rates.
Nevertheless, the streets are not the cleanest and the people seem to have no problem taking naps on the streets here.
One thing I will say about Nishinari is that it is home to some of the kindest people I’ve encountered in Japan.
The best way I can describe this run-down little town is that it has a lot of heart.
The people seem to really look out for each other and the locals are especially friendly to foreigners.
My advice to you is don’t judge a book by its cover out here, because even the “shadiest” looking folks are surprisingly kind-hearted and genuine.
Private Room With All The Essentials
I was shocked that for the amount I paid, I would be given a private room all to myself.
The room consisted of a tatami mat floor, a double-layered mattress with blankets and a pillow, a television, a refrigerator, and even an air conditioner!
Again, I won’t be sugar-coating anything in this review, after all, we all know low prices come with a catch.
In this case, you should know that the place smells quite potently of tobacco smoke, but this issue has a few workarounds.
I can say that after leaving my window open every day and night, my room has been free of such odors ever since.
I’d also recommend dusting your room every second day or so because it builds up quickly here for whatever reason.
As I said, it’s not the ideal stay if you’re on holiday experiencing Japan for the first time, but if you need to save some money, I’d say it’s a solo traveler’s paradise!
Bicycle Galore
One thing I really had to get used to here was the insane amount of cyclists that wizz passed you at every corner of every street.
Unless you’re from a place like Amsterdam, you’ll likely be shocked at how deeply integrated cyclist culture is here in Nishinari.
Of course, if you’re a bicycle enthusiast yourself, you’ll find this to be quite mesmerizing and may even opt to get your own bike too!
Nevertheless, seeing endless rows of bicycles parked as far as the eye can see is truly a sight to behold, regardless of where you stand on the bicycle-lover fence.
What’s even more remarkable is how skillful these cyclists, many of whom are elderly, are in maneuvering their way through crowds.
Oftentimes, you will see them carrying an umbrella (or a cigarette) in one hand and handling their bicycle solely with the other!
The Land Of 50 Yen Vending Machines!
Without offending any of the residents, it’s safe to say Nishinari truly is the “land of the poor.”
Japanese vending machines are known to be exceptionally cheap by default, though you typically don’t see any items available for less than 100 yen.
At Nishinari, 50 yen drinks are a commonality, offering the cheapest brands of hot or cold beverages to appeal to the socioeconomic state of the locals.
Personally, these drinks were just as good for me in terms of quality as other vending machines.
I enjoyed saving a few hundred yen a day on 50 yen coffee cans, that’s just 0.35 USD!
Other 50 and 60 yen drinks include teas, cocoa, sports drinks, juices, and soft drinks!
In-House Vending Machines And Dispensers
You probably won’t use the drinks vending machine at Hotel Beaver all too often, especially when there are far cheaper ones just outside.
Regardless, it does come in handy on rainy days when you’d rather not set foot outdoors.
Additionally, Hotel Beaver offers a cup noodle machine which only costs 200 yen per cup!
I’d recommend preparing your own chopsticks though, which you can buy from a nearby convenience store.
While there was a compartment where chopsticks were supposed to be in the machine, it was empty from my experience.
Besides the noodle vending machine is a water dispenser which is completely free to use!
You can access ice-cold drinking water, hot water (great for your instant noodles), and hot green tea on demand!
Upon checking in, the receptionist will give you a whole stack of paper cups to use for the dispenser machine (feel free to ask for more when you run out!).
Public Hot Bath, Showers, And Toilets
Perhaps the highlight of staying at Hotel Beaver is the unexpectedly awesome facilities they offer!
In addition to the standard shower and smart toilets, there are also public hot baths that are open to all members of the hotel.
Considering your average public hot bath costs about 500 yen to access, these baths are a dream come true for onsen lovers!
Personally, I make it a habit to bathe in the hot tub at least every second day. It can be the perfect way to heal the body after a day of walking and lifting heavy weights at the gym!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!