Osaka, the city of food and flashing neon lights, is always high on our Japanese hit list. Less awesome are some of the hotels we’ve booked when going there. Global hotel giant Best Western might not set your boutique juices flowing, but its new property right in downtown provides a mid-range, comfortable alternative to those smoky business hotels. 

Best Western Osaka Tsukamoto (www.bestwesternhotelasia.com) sits within spitting distance of Dotonburi’s bright lights and two minutes’ walk from JR Tsukamoto Station, which can whisk you away to the temples and tea-houses of Kyoto in an hour. You’re also just two stops away from the Shinkansen bullet train line to Tokyo.

One of the modern, functional guestrooms will set you back B5,493/night, including free internet. AirAsia will get you to Osaka and back for about B9,990.