I recently found myself in Osaka and needing a hotel for one night. Osaka has been bustling lately with the World Expo in full swing and the local Hanshin Tigers winning the Central League weeks ahead of the Japan series. That meant that hotel prices were through the roof. Luckily, I opened the Marriott app and found a relatively reasonable redemption at the Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba. 

Booking Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba

I booked the hotel on the day of check-in after quickly reviewing my normal go-to options in town, which were all charging a significant premium over their usual pricing. My go-to casual hotel in the city, Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka, for example, was over $400 a night, while Umeda-area luxury hotels like the Ritz-Carlton, Conrad, Sofina, and the new Waldorf Astoria were all well over $1,000 a night. Even basic business hotels that normally cost little more than $50 were at least $200.

The Fairfield was also overpriced, in cash, charging over $300 for a basic room. Luckily, there was award availability, so I locked in a redemption at 30,000 Bonvoy points a night. Given that I value Marriott Bonvoy points at 50¢, I value the points I spent at $150, making a point redemption effectively half the price of paying cash.

Getting to Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba

The Fairfield is located very centrally in the Namba area of Osaka. Since I was in Umeda, I took the Yotsubashi Line down to Namba Station and walked approximately 7 minutes to the hotel from there (exit via gate 32).

Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba Check-in Experience

I arrived at the hotel around 10 pm for my quick stay. The lobby was empty and I handed over my passport and was efficiently checked in. As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum member, I was given an option between two welcome gifts:

• 500 Marriott Bonvoy points deposited in my account
• A ¥500 (approximately $3.30) credit to use at the hotel’s market

While I only value 500 Marriott Bonvoy points at $2.50, there was nothing I wanted in market, so I chose the points. I was assigned room 1011. While I was traveling alone, only twin rooms were available for points when I booked. I asked at the front desk but there were no king bed rooms available. However, I was upgraded from a basic twin to a “Superior Triple Room” (two twins and a sofa bed).

I was also informed that Fairfield does not provide elite breakfast to Marriott despite Marriott’s elite breakfast benefit.

Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba: Superior Triple Room

After checking in, I headed directly to the elevators and up to the 10th floor to the room.

The room is laid out in a familiar layout for hotel rooms. You enter the room through an entryway with the bathroom and shower are to your left, while a closet area and minibar are to your right. The sink and vanity face the room creating a bit of visual separation between the room and the entryway.

As expected in Japan, the toilet was automatic with controls on the wall to your right.

The shower had a small shower stool. There were both handheld and waterfall heads with good water pressure.

Toiletries were from Nirvae Botanicals.

The closet area had a hanging area with a suitcase stand below, an empty minibar fridge, and nespresso coffee machine with three pods provided. There were two complimentary bottles of water in the room.

A selection of amenities were provided on the vanity countertop. Nirvae Botanicals hand soap was provided.

After the vanity, there were two beds and the sofa bed with a TV facing the beds. Light controls (and chargers) were between the two beds. A pair of yukata PJs were on each bed.

The thermostat would go as low as 19ºC (66ºF), which isn’t as low as I prefer but is an acceptable temperature for sleeping. However, it was not very strong and I don’t think it ever reached the desired temperature.

Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba: Alice’s Table

While I did not eat here, Alice’s Table is the hotel’s restaurant located beyond the lobby on the ground floor. Breakfast and other meals are available here.

Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba Breakfast

As noted above, this Fairfield does not honor the breakfast benefit for Marriott Bonvoy elites (generally offered to Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador members).

This seems to be based in a loophole in the benefit language. Marriott does not include Fairfield in the list of brands offering the elite breakfast benefit because complimentary breakfast is generally offered to all guests at Fairfield hotels. However, in Japan, most Fairfields do not offer breakfast (or in-house dining) at all. This hotel is an exception since it has an in-house restaurant and offers breakfast to guests (at a cost).

It certainly seems like a loophole in Marriott’s convoluted breakfast benefit, but not shocking in the world of Bonvoy (it isn’t my favorite elite breakfast benefit). Luckily, in Japan, there’s plenty of great food around so not having a Marriott breakfast is hardly a major loss.

Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba Market

There are plenty of convenience stores near the hotel. However, if you are in a pinch or choose ¥500 to spend at the market as your welcome gift, the Fairfield has a market with essentials next to reception you may find useful.

Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba Coin Laundry

The hotel offers a coin laundry room on the second floor with two washers and two dryers. Running the washer costs ¥300 while each 30 minutes of dryer usage costs ¥100.

Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba Gym

I took a quick peek at the relatively small gym on my way out the next morning. While I don’t have pictures (it was packed), it is located on the second floor. The gym consists of two benches with dumbbells, three treadmills, two ellipticals, and a floor exercise area with mats.

Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba Bottom Line

This is a clean and efficient limited-service hotel located in one of Osaka’s most popular neighborhoods. It won’t win any awards, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t. If all you need is a clean room in a central neighborhood of Osaka, the Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba fits the bill nicely.