The Moxy Osaka Umeda opened in September 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This 288-room lifestyle hotel, jointly owned by Sekisui House and Far East Organisation, was the third Moxy-branded hotel to open in Japan, and part of a broader Marriott expansion ahead of an anticipated surge in tourists for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (that ended well!).

I was arriving late into Osaka, and looking for a cheap place to stay ahead of my visit to the Waldorf Astoria the next day. The Moxy was just a five-minute walk to the Waldorf, and the price seemed right.

Booking the Moxy Osaka Umeda

I paid a total of 16,335 JPY (S$131) for a one-night stay here. Redemption rates for this hotel range between 20,000 and 28,000 points per night, so I figured it was better to pay cash. 

Moxy Osaka Umeda: Arrival and Check-in

The Moxy Osaka Umeda is a five-minute walk from Fukushima station, or a 10-12 minute walk to Osaka station (one stop via JR from Fukushima). There are plenty of izakayas within walking distance, and you can easily reach popular attractions such as Universal Studios Japan, Osaka Castle and the Namba/Dotonbori shopping areas. 

Moxy brands itself as for the young at heart, and was supposed to be Marriott’s answer to Starwood’s Aloft brand, back before the two companies merged. The lobby, as you’d expect from a Moxy, is very much made for Instagram.

However, it also turned out to be a very pleasant co-working space during the day, with comfortable chairs and a communal table with built-in power outlets.

On the other side of the lobby was a games area, featuring an analog Atari Pong machine with physical pieces.

Moxy hotels don’t have front desks, so you’re supposed to check-in at the bar.

As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum member, I received a US$10 F&B credit, awarded in the form of JPY 1,500. I ended up using this on breakfast, though there was also the option of spending it on a burger or wrap.

I also received a welcome drink coupon, with the following selections (Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador elite members enjoy a free flow of soft drinks all day).

I used it for a Get Moxy, which was a highball-style cocktail.

Moxy Osaka Umeda: Room

I was assigned to room 1402 on the top floor of the hotel. It was pretty cute how the housekeeping leaves messages on the doors to welcome newly-arriving guests. 

My booking was for a regular 20 sqm Standard Room, but looking at the photos, I believe they upgraded me to a 25 sqm Superior Room instead. It’s definitely compact, but for the price and city, you can’t really complain. 

Like the other Moxys I’ve stayed at, there was a long line of pegs jutting out from the wall, which is actually an incredibly useful design feature — think backpacks, towels, hats, clothes you want to wear again. There was even a foldable table and chair, though if you want to do serious work you’d best head to the lobby.

The room felt cozy and inviting, though it’d definitely be a struggle to open more than one suitcase at a time as the queen-sized bed took up most of the space. There was also a chair in the most random of places (yes, make your own cuck jokes). In terms of sleep quality, the noise and light isolation was superb. With the blinds down and the curtains drawn, I didn’t even realise the 5 a.m sunrise, and believe me, I’m a very light-sensitive sleeper.

By the bedside was a Nespresso machine, safe and a telephone (button-operated, despite the retro rotary dial look). There was also a set of master switches and USB charging ports.

The 55-inch flat screen TV had Netflix and screen casting capabilities, and if you look to the right, you’ll spot a piece of Godzilla pop art — apt, given his love/hate relationship with Osaka. 

At first I thought the room had two air purifiers, but it turned out the black thing is a fridge, one of the smallest and slimmest I’d ever seen. 

The hotel’s Wi-Fi network clocked in at 24 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up, which was suitable for most tasks.

The bathroom was a tight squeeze, and you’re probably going to have to use it one at a time. Despite the confines, it still managed to pack in an electric bidet, single vanity, and wet area with a separate tub and shower. 

Two aluminium bottles of water were provided, together with disposable amenities, a hairdryer, and wall-mounted bulk dispensers.

Moxy Osaka Umeda: Gym

The hotel’s 24-hour gym is located on the second floor, next to the laundry room. It’s a fairly small facility, but was adequately equipped with Technogym cardio equipment, squat racks, free weights and a punching bag. The regular exercise bike was replaced with an actual bicycle, in signature Moxy pink.

Moxy Osaka Umeda: Breakfast

Breakfast is not complimentary for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members at Moxy hotels, but the JPY 1,500 credit I received helped reduce the cost to just JPY 500.

Hot options included pancakes, sausages, meatballs, scrambled eggs and potato wedges.

Separately, there was also a make-your-own Ochazuke station, with dashi broth and various toppings — though I wish they had included some grilled salmon as well.

A small assortment of breads and pastries was available (I particularly liked the mini-croissants).

Inside the fridge was a salad bar and assorted cold cuts.

Rounding out the buffet was some bananas and cut fruits, cereals, juices and a Nespresso coffee machine.

As for the quality, look. For JPY 500 I’m not going to complain. However, I don’t think I’d have been very happy if I paid the full price of JPY 2,000 — you’d get a much better breakfast elsewhere in Osaka at that price. 

Conclusion

The Moxy Osaka Umeda offers everything fans of the brand have come to expect: a design-led budget stay with a social lean, rather than a conventional hotel experience.

The compact rooms are functional, but you definitely don’t want to spend all day cooped up inside one of them. Instead, what stands out most is the stuff outside. The lobby serves as a great coworking and social area, perfect for laptop work or relaxing with a drink. Moreover, the hotel’s proximity to Fukushima and Osaka station makes it a practical base for getting around the city.

If you’re arriving late, leaving early, or simply looking for a crash pad between more expensive stays, this hotel fits the brief well.