Staying at Mimaru Osaka Namba Station with Kids
Finding an Osaka hotel for a family of 5 isn’t easy. Most rooms in Japan are spotless but small, and after a full day exploring my family usually wants space to unwind.
That’s why we loved our stay at Mimaru Osaka Namba Station. It had everything our family needed. Our apartment had separate bedrooms, a washer and dryer, a kitchen for easy breakfasts, and even a tatami room the kids staked claim to.
We stayed five nights here. It didn’t take long to feel this was our new home away from home. This easily became one of our favorite family hotels in Japan.
Here’s my honest review of Mimaru Osaka Namba Station with kids, plus what makes it one of the best places to stay in Osaka with kids.
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Jump to: Our Room Review, Booking, Family-Friendly Amenities, Location
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Why We Chose Mimaru Osaka Namba Station with Kids
When I started looking for a hotel in Osaka, I had two priorities: space and location. With three kids, convenience matters just as much as comfort. We wanted to be close to food, transport, and the action, but still have enough room to relax at the end of the day.
Mimaru kept coming up again and again in family travel forums and through personal recommendations. The brand has a reputation in Japan for being family-friendly without feeling kiddie, offering apartment-style stays that give families the breathing room most standard hotels don’t. Plus, they’re stylish. Sign me up!
The Namba Station Mimaru location turned out to be perfect for our family. We could walk to Dotonbori, Kuromon Market, and Takashimaya. There were convenience stores and restaurants everywhere you looked.
Both Namba Station and Nippombashi Station were less than a 10-minute walk, which made getting around the city and taking day trips from Osaka easy.
After long days exploring, we loved being able to grab dinner nearby or pick up snacks from the convenience store before heading back to our spacious room. It was the best of both worlds—right in the center of Osaka’s energy, yet space and peace to unwind and recharge.
There is another Mimaru Osaka Namba hotel called MIMARU Osaka Namba North. This is another standout Mimaru option, but not the same one we stayed at, and what I’ll be discussing below.
There are currently 5 Mimaru hotels in Osaka with 3 in the Shinsaibashi area, and 2 in the Namba area. Pay extra close attention to the names and addresses to make sure you’re selecting the exact hotel you want.
Booking Our Stay
For this trip, I booked us a “Two-Bedroom Japanese Apartment” at Mimaru Osaka Namba Station through Booking.com.
It’s my favorite site for booking accommodations. I can easily compare accommodation and room types, see real photos and reviews from other families, and filter for amenities like washers, kitchens, and extra beds. I especially like how there is a wide range of accommodation types, including hotels, resorts, apartments, and houses.
Mimaru’s listings show each room layout with photos and floor plans, which helped me picture how our family of five would fit. I booked several months in advance since family-sized rooms in Japan can sell out quickly, especially in the most popular spots.
Though don’t fret too much. People cancel and change reservations frequently, so something previously unavailable may turn up as an option if you keep check and re-checking.
If you’re planning your trip, I recommend checking rates early. Mimaru’s family apartments are some of the most popular in Japan for a reason. They offer the space of an apartment with the comfort and service of a hotel.
Note: Many Mimaru properties also offer free cancellation or pay-later options on Booking.com, which gives families flexibility.
Click here to book your family’s stay at Mimaru Osaka Namba Station!
Our Two-Bedroom Japanese Apartment
When we first walked into our room at Mimaru Osaka Namba Station, I immediately thought, this is how traveling with kids should feel. There were oohs and ahhs, and squeals of delight. Everyone was excited to see this room.
Our apartment had two bedrooms, two toilets, a full bathroom (shower and tub) with double sinks, a small kitchen, and a dining-living area. It had more than enough room for everyone to spread out.
The main bedroom had two single beds and a separate toilet, while the tatami, Japanese-style bedroom became the kids’ favorite hangout. It had bunk beds and two floor futons, giving them the option to sleep the traditional Japanese way.
As is customary in Asia, the beds were firmer than your average Western bed. However, they were not extra firm, and we all slept well on them. We rotated beds and found sleeping on the futons on the tatami was firmer than the mattresses on the raised bed frames.
For our toddler, some nights we pushed the single beds together and slept with her there, though the beds moved around a bit, and I worried about her slipping through the crack! It was really nice to have the tatami for this reason, as she couldn’t roll off and fall anywhere.
The living and dining area had a bench-seat couch, table, and TV, so we could sit down, play games, or eat breakfast together. The couch seats were, honestly, not comfortable, but still functional.
The kitchen came with a medium-sized fridge with freezer, a microwave, a two-burner electric stove, an electric kettle, and basic dishes and cookware.
We ate dinner in the room one night and breakfast daily. The kitchen was particularly convenient for feeding our jetlagged middle-of-the-night-waking preschooler. While there was no dishwasher, the hotel did provide dish soap, a sponge and a small drying rack.
For storage, unsurprisingly, there was not a lot. But they still managed to offer some space for our things. There was more floor space than I’ve had in other city-center hotels. We could easily push our suitcases to the sides and corners without them being in the way.
Then there was a small open wardrobe-type area with a closet rod and hangers. Also, there was a large cabinet in the tatami room that could hold full suitcases and more.
Tucked behind a sliding door (I missed it the first time), there was even a combo washer and dryer (with detergent provided). Being able to wash and dry laundry mid-trip meant we could pack lighter and save room in our suitcases for souvenirs. Additionally, the hotel has more laundry facilities downstairs off the lobby.
The bathroom setup was another win: a separate toilet, a vanity area with double sinks, and a bath-shower combo with great water pressure. Mimaru provided shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hand soap.
Our room was only on the third floor and we looked right out on the busy street. At certain times, we could hear the street noise, but with our travel sound machines, it was never a problem for sleeping.
The large windows let in a lot of natural light during the day, and the blackout shades fully blocked out the light at night.
Everything was spotless and felt modern yet cozy, with clean lines and soft lighting in that understated Japanese style I love.
Room Highlights at Mimaru Osaka Namba Station
| 🏠 Feature | ✨ What We Loved |
|---|---|
| Room Type | Two-Bedroom Japanese Apartment |
| Sleeps | Hotel allows up to 8 guests – 6 adults + 2 children; up to 6 is probably more comfortable |
| Beds | 2 single beds, bunk beds, and 2 futons |
| Bathrooms | 2 toilets + 1 bath/shower combo with double sinks |
| Laundry | In-room washer/dryer combo with detergent provided |
| Kitchen | Fridge with freezer, microwave, stove, kettle, basic cookware |
| Dining Space | Table for family meals and game time |
| Extras | Free Wi-Fi, TV, daily towel refresh, basic toiletries |
Tip: When booking through Booking.com, double-check your room type—some Mimaru apartments have standard beds, some bunk beds, and others have futons.
Click here to book your family’s stay at Mimaru Osaka Namba Station!
Mimaru Osaka Namba Station offers a variety of room types to accommodate different family sizes and family needs. There are rooms with floor beds, bunk beds, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, accessible apartments, board game-themed rooms, and more. Check out the different types to find the best to fit your family.
Family-Friendly Amenities That Made a Difference
One of the reasons our kids still talk about Mimaru Osaka Namba Station is because it made a distinct impression as “The Board Game Hotel.”
In the lobby, there were shelves and shelves of board games to borrow—everything from classics like Uno and Connect 4 to math and puzzle games to Japanese games we’d never seen before.
There were tables, chairs, and a cozy traditional raised wooden seating area with chabudai (short tables) where families could sit and play right in the lobby. You could also check out a couple of games to take up to your room.
Our mornings often started slowly here. We’d grab a convenience store breakfast and play a round (or three) of a new game before heading out to explore. The kids loved the routine, homey feel, and connection time.
The hotel also offered complimentary coffee and tea in the lobby, along with a small self-serve drink station. It’s not a full café, but perfect for a quick pick-me-up before heading out or upon returning from a long day.
Furthermore, there were games throughout the hotel to enhance your experience. There was a secret room which we, unfortunately, didn’t get a chance to check out.
In our room, there was a scavenger hunt for coins. Also, each floor had a board game in front of the elevator. On the main level, they had a elevator guessing game that added to the fun.
We appreciated the extra amenities helpful for families. The elevator was large enough for a stroller, coin laundry downstairs for extra loads, free wifi, and staff who always greeted us warmly. It all added up to a place that felt thoughtful, organized, and genuinely family-focused.
Mimaru now offers Mimaru-to-Mimaru luggage delivery services for travelers switching between Mimaru hotels to help make your trip even easier.
They also partner with Yamato to help you arrange baggage shipping to other hotels or airports. We sent our bags directly from Narita airport in Tokyo to this Mimaru Osaka hotel. It was seamless. We didn’t have to lug our bags on trains and around Tokyo, they were just waiting for us already in our room when we checked in. So convenient! The staff were extra kind in guiding me and helping me forward our luggage onward to our next spot as well.
They do not have a restaurant or coffee shop on-site, a store, pool or gym facilities. If you prefer a full-service hotel with all the amenities, then this might not be the best fit for you. But if you don’t need the extras and want more space for your family, then this is a great option.
Clean, Modern, and Designed for Families
Every part of Mimaru Osaka Namba Station felt calm, clean, and smartly designed. The hotel wasn’t flashy, but it was a thoughtful balance between Japanese minimalism and family function.
Light wood tones, dark accents, soft lighting, and thoughtful storage spaces made the room feel airy and comfortable rather than cluttered.
It’s easy to see why Mimaru has become such a favorite for families traveling to Japan. The apartments feel more like a short-term home than a hotel room.
I also loved that Mimaru properties across Japan share the same style, standard of cleanliness, and variety of room layouts. Once you’ve stayed in one, you know what to expect from the others—reliable comfort, convenient locations, and rooms that truly work for families of four, five, six, even eight.
Location Review: Namba Convenience
The location of Mimaru Osaka Namba Station couldn’t have been better for exploring the city. We were right in the heart of Namba, one of Osaka’s most lively and walkable neighborhoods.
From the hotel, we could walk to Dotonbori, Kuromon Market, and Takashimaya Department Store within minutes. The area is packed with restaurants, dessert shops, and convenience stores, so finding kid-friendly food was never an issue. Even late at night, we felt completely safe walking around with the kids.
Both Namba Station and Nippombashi Station were less than a 10-minute walk, which made it easy to get almost anywhere in Osaka and beyond. We used the metro for exploring local sights in Osaka and took day trips to places like Nara and Iga without any hassle.
Even though the hotel sits in such a central area, it felt peaceful once we stepped inside. The lobby is up on the 2nd floor rather than immediately when you walk in, so I think this setup helps.
After the excitement of Osaka’s neon streets, coming “home” to our quiet apartment each night was a welcome reset. For families visiting Osaka, this balance of energy outside and calm inside is exactly what you want.
Would We Stay Here Again?
Absolutely. Mimaru Osaka Namba Station checked every box for our family—space, comfort, convenience, and thoughtful design. It gave us room to breathe, a little taste of home, and a sense of calm in one of Japan’s busiest cities.
The kids still talk about their “Board Game Hotel” and all the fantastical creative fun they had in the bunk bed tatami room.
If you’re traveling to Osaka with kids, Kyoto, or Tokyo, Mimaru is one of the best hotel brands to look for. It’s an ideal option for families who want a comfortable and spacious stay right in the heart of the city.
Click here to book your family’s stay at Mimaru Osaka Namba Station!
You can check current rates and availability for Mimaru Osaka Namba Station on Booking.com to see which room type fits your family best.
It’s worth it!
Our stay at Mimaru Osaka Namba Station with kids reminded me how much the right hotel can shape a family trip. Having space to relax, eat, and play made our days in Osaka even more enjoyable.
If you’re planning a family visit to Osaka, put Mimaru high on your list—it’s one of the best family hotels in Osaka. It’s one of the few hotel brands that truly understands what families need.
Looking for more ideas on exploring Osaka with kids or day trips from Osaka? Check out my related posts to help you plan your next Japan adventure.
