At New Otani, an unobstructed panoramic view of the castle nestled atop a green hill and surrounded by a two-tiered moat is all yours. Ask for the side of the hotel facing the castle, for which one must pay 2,000 yen more. Rooms in the range of 7,000 to 9,000 yen are in abundant supply, even in such central locations as Umeda in the Kita area and Shinsaibashi in the Minami area, perhaps two of the city's most lively quarters. Check with hotels about such features as phone hook-ups, which aren't always available. One good choice in this range is Hotel T'Point.
Rooms are small, but clean and modern.
Dining Three kinds of local cuisine are worth a try. The atmosphere is decidedly chaotic but these people are not rude or vulgar. For another culinary adventure, go to Shin-Umeda Shokudo, a restaurant mall near Umeda Station, where dozens of small Japanese and Western restaurants compete with each other. The atmosphere borders on shabby, but the food quality is almost invariably good for the price. Matsuba Sohonten offers kushikatsu, deep-fried food on sticks, for 100 yen apiece.