Vessel Inn

As my first trip back to Japan after the pandemic, I was extremely hardworking in doing all the necessary research and detailed planning to ensure I got the most out of my trip. With many more hotel choices, it took me quite a while to select the hotel to stay in Osaka

One of my main criteria when choosing our hotel in Osaka is for it to be walking distance to all the buzz of Osaka, as well as being very close to the train station where I will be taking the Kintetsu Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train very early in the morning when we leave Osaka. To top up all difficulty, I wanted to keep the price within an acceptable budget of SGD 200 per night, and Vessel Inn came up to be the best choice

The exterior of the hotel resembles an extremely small apartment block, which is between a couple of other buildings and shophouses. Rated as a 4.5-star hotel on Google, the hotel makes up for what it lacks from the exterior outlook with everything else you get from your stay with them. As part of the Vessel Hotel group, their mission is to make sure their hotels fulfil 5 conditions: a convenient location, a nourishing breakfast, a wide array of amenities, a sincere smile and restful sleep

The first storey of the hotel is where the restaurant is located, which is open for breakfast as well as in the evening for drinks. There are also many lockers for customers who wish to put their items either before or after checkout. The reception lobby is located on the 2nd floor with a small but cosy space with a small area equipped with free amenities like toothbrush, hairtie, coffee and tea, showercaps and more. There is also a money exchange machine for those who need cash. The staff might not be at the counter all the time, but there is a service bell, and their response is very quick. The check-in process is quite fast, and the service is polite, friendly and efficient. There is also a key drop box for quick checkout

The corridors are well-maintained with a dark colour tone, but it is well lit with ample ambient and wall lighting

When I first entered the room, it felt pretty small with no proper wardrobe except for a small metal rail for hanging coats and some clothes. As I proceeded further into the room, it was small and cosy but not claustrophobic. There was even sufficient space for me to open 2 28-inch luggage with some shifting of the furniture. I managed to slot the open luggage under the long table as I shifted the small table nearer to the window. The bed was a good-sized single with a very flat pillow. The room was noisy if you open the window, but relatively ok once the windows are closed. The size of the bathroom is quite standard, as with many Japanese hotels. Equipped with a bidet toilet, bathtub and full bottles of shower foam, shampoo and handwash, the size is sufficient for Asians but might be tight for taller and bigger-sized customers

Breakfast is available from 6 am on the first floor till 10 am, and the peak is around 9 am, so it is better to avoid the peak timing since there are limited seating spaces. I was expecting a simple breakfast offering, but was pleasantly surprised by the huge variety of dishes available. The overall breakfast space is kept tidy and has a chill cafe vibe with different sections for different categories of food. The first 2 sections are Japanese delights, followed by western dishes and usual delights like bread, bakes and a beverage machine

A closer look at the offerings, the Japanese sections included dishes like pan-fried fish, Japanese-style spaghetti, meatballs, raw egg, natto, teriyaki chicken, tonkatsu, hamburger steak, onokomiyaki, miso soup, pickled vegetables, Japanese curry and raw fish to make your own sashimi bowl. The next sections are the salad area with new selections every 2 days. The toppings are also premium items like smoked salmon, ham and shrimps, as well as in-house-made egg mayonnaise and tuna mayonnaise. What really surprised me was the availability of bagels, toast, pancakes, as well as sponge cakes, which I would not expect from a traditional Japanese hotel

Here are some photos of my daily breakfast, which is absolutely delicious and freshly made daily. I have to stop myself from getting too much food, and you should definitely go for breakfast earlier to avoid the crowd at 9 am. To fully enjoy all the items, you will need a full hour to try every single item available. Personally, I loved the fresh sashimi and miso soup, which gave me power for the entire day, and I had a bowl every single morning. Something I always ate was the salad and the egg mayonnaise

Overall, the hotel exceeded my expectations, and I highly recommend anyone who wishes to explore Osaka to stay here. The dotonburi area is 2 minutes walk away, the train station is 5 to 10 minutes away, and there is an extremely delicious ramen just a stone’s throw from the entrance. I absolutely loved the breakfast, and it was the highlight for me, even though the room was small and the pillows were too soft for me. I would forgo those small complaints for the breakfast and location

Address: 2 Chome-2-18 Dotonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan

Rates from SGD 131