Osaka: Yamatoya Honten (Ryokan)

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Address: 2-17-4, shimanouchi, Chuo-ku , Osaka , Japan

Lonely Planet review

On the Dotombori riverside, this old-school place is typical of ryokan in this price range: it caters to a lot of older Japanese travellers who like a traditional place to stay. There are a variety of rooms available, including Western-style rooms. It's a stone's throw from the mayhem of Minami.

Dotombori is a forest of neon, colourful characters and thousands of little bars and restaurants. Yamatoya Honten sits amid this scene like an elderly relative at a sweet sixteen party. It's fairly spacious and has a wide variety of rooms, all of which can be smoked in, which is likely to put off nonsmokers and anyone who doesn't like that ciggie aroma. In keeping with the old-school feeling of the place, there is a mahjong room, a game centre and a men's-only sauna. Meals are served (Japanese fare). Employees don't speak English.