The Hotel Toyo features has a fun and funky look, with several colorful wall murals and whiteboards for travelers to scrawl their own graffiti. When guests aren’t out on the town for sightseeing or nightlife, they mix and mingle in the communal kitchen and lounge. There's a sofa and bean bag chairs to relax on, plus public computers and a TV for video games and movies. A rooftop deck and game room with ping-pong table are other gathering spots. The guest list here skews young, to backpackers and other international budget travelers who'd rather spring for private rooms than settle for dorms. 

The Hotel Toyo is in a vibrant area at the north end of the Nishinari ward, within a short walk of shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and bars. The Shin-imamiya-ekimae tram station and Dōbutsuen-mae subway station are both within two minutes on foot, and Shin-Imamiya Station is about a seven-minute walk. The Shinsekai nightlife district and Spa World are even closer at about a four-minute stroll. It's only a few minutes farther on foot to the 103-meter Tsutenkaku Tower and The Tennoji Zoo at the southwest corner of Tennoji Park. Both Keitakuen Garden and the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts are in the park, and they're roughly a 10-minute walk from the Toyo. 

The Dotonbori dining, nightlife, and entertainment district is 10 minutes away by metro, and other city attractions like Universal Studios Japan, the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, and Osaka Castle are 30 to 35 minutes by train. Reaching Osaka International Airport is a 25-minute taxi ride, and 40 minutes by subway or Itami-Airport Limousine Bus. Kansai International Airport is 40 minutes from the Hotel Toyo by car, and about the same using public transit. 

The 100 guest rooms at the Toyo have a simple, spare look, with beige curtains, white walls, and minimal furnishings. Units are either Western-style, with beds that have regular mattresses, or Japanese-style, which have futons and tatami mats. A hint of color or pattern comes from accent walls covered in wallpaper or washed in bright hues like lime green, but it doesn't add much visual energy. 

All rooms come with Japanese bathroom slippers, small TVs (some are older tube models), and free Wi-Fi, and some add mini-fridges and fans, but some lack AC. Same-floor communal washrooms are shared by all guests, and there are hairdryers and minimal free toiletries. Shower rooms are open 24 hours a day, but they’re only on the first floor. Rooms are all non-smoking, but there are public smoking areas outside on each floor. 

As a hostel, the Hotel Toyo offers limited facilities, with no breakfast service (other than free instant coffee), on-site restaurant, or leisure facilities. There's a communal kitchen with electric burners, plus a wood table, full-size refrigerator, sink, toaster, microwave, cookware, and tableware. The lounge is a comfortable space with a sofa, bean bag chairs, public computers, board games, and a TV with DVDs and a video game console. Another common space to hang out is on the rooftop deck, and other features include a ping-pong table, coin-op laundry, and vending machines (offer juice, beer, sake). All guest get free access to a public bath at a nearby hotel. The front desk is open 24 hours a day, with English-speaking staff who offer tourist assistance. Bikes are available to rent, there are umbrellas to borrow, and Wi-Fi throughout is free, but there isn't any on-site parking. Travelers with limited mobility should be aware that there's no elevator.