What kind of luxury hotel is Conrad Osaka?
When I visited Osaka on a business trip in early September, when the summer heat was still hot, I decided to stay at this hotel, which opened in 2017. I had a hard time deciding which hotel to stay at since Osaka is home to such luxury hotels as The Ritz-Carlton Osaka and St. Regis Osaka, but this time I decided to stay at Conrad Osaka. To get straight to the point, the food presentation in the executive lounge was not high quality, but the food menu was extensive. I also enjoyed the spectacular view of Osaka city.
I took the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station and arrived in Shin-Osaka Station at around 16:00. When I got off the Shinkansen, I felt a hot and humid breeze, and it was already over 35 degrees Celsius in Osaka at that time. I took a cab from Shin-Osaka station to the hotel where I would be staying this time.
This area surrounding the hotel is more of a small office district. With downtown areas such as Umeda and Namba within walking distance, the hotel is well located to enjoy all that central Osaka has to offer. The hotel is located on the 33rd to 40th floors of Nakanoshima Festival Tower West.
As I got off the cab in front of the first floor entrance and entered, I was struck by an art chandelier composed of prismatic elements in three-dimensional geometric folds in the elevator hall. The original form, the transparency of the material, and the rainbow-colored light produced from it were impressive. I then took the elevator up to the 40th floor. When I got off the elevator, I was already in a world of sky. I felt as if I was floating in the sky. The reception lobby, where you can look over the vast skyline that changes its expression from moment to moment, is worth a visit. It was truly a place where sun light, sky, and clouds seem to merge into one huge space. At the entrance, you will be greeted by contemporary artwork depicting the gods of wind and thunder in the sky, a powerful impression that you will never forget once you see it. There are 389 nature-themed artworks displayed throughout the hotel. I felt as if I were in a contemporary art museum.
This time, I booked a room with Executive Lounge access, so I first headed to the Executive Lounge on the 39th floor. The executive lounge faces north, so through the large windows I could see the Yodo River below and the downtown area of Dojima and Umeda over the expressway. The view of the mountains beyond could also be captured, so it was a wonderful view that only a high-rise floor could offer.
After checking in at the Executive Lounge, I decided to enjoy “Afternoon Tea” for a while. The buffet counter had a Segafredo coffee machine and TWG tea, and the fridge had soda water, ginscher ale, cola, oolong tea, Japanese tea, iced coffee, iced tea, milk, apple juice and grapefruit juice. Also, there was focaccia pizza, tomato and olive canapés, shrimp pilaf, salad, scones, clotted cream, green tea cake and vanilla cream tart, chocolate cake and chocolate cream, macaroons, pound cake, fruit watermelon and pineapple, etc. It was truly a food menu that was more of a lunch than an afternoon tea. My only disappointment was that alcohol was not served during Afternoon Tea.
After this, I headed to my room on the 37th floor. The room I stayed in was facing south, so it was in a direction from which I could see Abeno Haruka and Kyocera Dome Osaka. The view of Osaka city from 200 meters above the ground was amazing. It might be a inferior to the spectacular view from a luxury hotel in Tokyo, though.
Also, the room on the south side where I stayed this time had a strong west sun, and it was a very hot day (over 35 degrees Celsius), so the air conditioning did not help at all. The air conditioning became effective after sunset. During the summer season, it would be advisable to avoid rooms on the south side. The views of this hotel vary greatly depending on the direction. I would recommend rooms on the north side of the building. If you want to enjoy the view, request one when you check in. Unfortunately, the rooms on the north side were fully booked on the day I stayed. If that request cannot be fulfilled, you can request a room on a higher floor where the neighboring building does not block the view, on the south side facing Namba. However, as noted above, during the daytime in the summer season, rooms on the south side are hot. It is also advisable to avoid rooms on the east and west sides, which are lined with buildings immediately next door, if at all possible.
Then I noticed that it was already past 6:00 p.m., so I decided to go back to the Executive Lounge for “Evening Cocktail”. During the cocktail time, the lights were dimmed a bit, creating a more mature mood. Outside the window was a night view of the outside of Osaka City. I thought the night view was more wonderful than the daytime view. At that time, the sun was setting. The entire sky was tinted orange and the sun was setting behind a distant mountain range.
During Evening Cocktail, dim sum, caponata, fried fish, spring rolls, ham and avocado salad, octopus and potato salad, duck and terrine, mini burgers, grilled chicken and sautéed vegetables, rolled sushi, seafood curry, soup, baguettes, white bread, three kinds of cheese, dried fruits, etc. at the buffet counter were available. For dessert, there were almost the same variety of cakes and fruits as at Afternoon Tea. There is a wide variety of food available, so you won’t need to go out of your way to eat out.
Alcoholic beverages include Asahi Super Dry, Sapporo Black Bell, Heineken, Chilean red and white wines, Espace sparkling wine, vodka, whiskey, and liqueurs. There was no champagne. There was an array of reasonably priced alcoholic beverages. Overall, don’t expect much from the food menu or the quality of the alcoholic beverages. By far, the Club Lounge at Ritz-Carlton, Osaka is of higher quality. Also, the Executive lounge was very crowded on the Sunday I was there. There were especially many families with children.
After this, I went to the swimming pool on the 38th floor. As soon as I got off the elevator, there was a reception desk. Guests have access to the swimming pool, gym, saunas, jet baths, locker rooms, and relaxation rooms, all free of charge. The theme of Conrad Spa & Fitness is healing through the power of stone. Many stones were used as a motif in the lighting, walls, and furniture. Also, Osaka Castle could be seen from the relaxation room. Overall, compared to the swimming pool at Ritz-Carlton Osaka, this hotel was more luxurious and comfortable.
The next morning, I woke up around 6:00 a.m. I made myself a cup of coffee from the coffee machine and sat on the sofa by the window, looking out over the big city of Osaka in the morning. On this day, too, the sky was bright blue in the morning and stretched endlessly. After this, I headed to the all-day dining restaurant on the 40th floor for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. The staff showed me to a table near the window with a great view. Breakfast was a Japanese-Western buffet, with a wide variety of 60 dishes in all. One breakfast dish that deserves special mention is the Wagyu roast beef. The roast beef was tender, savory, and very tasty. I then immediately went through the check-out procedures after breakfast and left the hotel. Since I stayed here on a business trip this time, I did not have much time to relax, but I was able to enjoy the spectacular view in Osaka.
Check Availability and Pricing for the hotel on Agoda
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About the Executive Lounge
| Check-in / Check-out | The Executive Lounge on 39F |
|---|---|
| Open Time |
Opening Hours 11:00-21:00 Breakfast 6:30-10:30 Afternoon Tea 15:00-17:00 Evening Cocktail 18:00-20:00 |
| Club Lounge Access | Club Floors and Suite guests |
| Features | Not High quality alcohol and food |
*From 19:00 onwards, the club lounge is for use by those aged 12 and over.
Is the location easy to access?
The most convenient way to reach the hotel is by cab from Osaka Station. The trip takes 10 minutes and costs between JPY700 and JPY1,000. The hotel is located in a somewhat troublesome location for access by train.
The hotel is about a 15-minute walk from Osaka Station. It is not an impossible distance to walk, but it is a challenge on rainy days or if you have a lot of luggage. The hotel is also directly connected to Higobashi and Watanabebashi Subway Stations, but it takes time to get to both stations. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to transfer from Osaka Station to the subway. I am not used to Osaka and often get lost in the underground passage.
Even if you take the Shinkansen and get off at Shin Osaka Station, a cab is convenient. It takes about 20 minutes to the hotel. The fare is about JPY2,500. The Shinkansen does not stop at Osaka Station.
Then when you take the Shinkansen to Shin Osaka station, you need to be careful about the size of the luggage you bring with you.
When boarding the Tokaido Shinkansen, Sanyo Shinkansen, or Kyushu Shinkansen, passengers are required to reserve a seat with oversized luggage space in advance if the total of the three sides of their baggage exceeds 160cm.
If you bring in oversized luggage without an advance reservation, you will be charged a fee of JPY1,000 including tax to bring in the luggage and place it where the crew designates.
It is important to note that oversized luggage cannot be brought into unreserved seats. If you have a preschool child, you need to purchase a reserved seat ticket for the preschool child.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, bathrobes, pajamas, English tea bags, green tea bags, bottled water, and a coffee machine, etc. There were shanghai tan bath amenities. It smelled nice with the scent of hojicha (roasted green tea). Room service is available for 24H. There are some convenience stores nearby. The free Wifi reception was good.
Is this child-friendly?
The hotel is child-friendly. If requested in advance, staff will provide children’s pajamas, toothbrushes, slippers, conrad’s bear, and cribs, etc. One child (ages 17 and under) per adult will be free of charge for co-sleep.
How about In-house Facilities?
There is a gym, indoor swimming pool, jacuzzis, communal baths, saunas, locker rooms, and relaxation rooms, all free of charge for guests.
The gym is open 24 hours. 16 years old and older are allowed. All other amenities are open from 6:00 to 22:00.
Sportswear, running shoes, and swimsuits are available for rent.
Then there is a spa treatment shop. If you have a spa treatment service, you need to make an appointment. It’s open between 10:00 and 22:00.
Then, this is a perfect universal design hotel. There are some universal rooms and wheelchairs are available for borrowing. If you bring someone with weak legs, you may want to inform the staff in advance as they arrange a room near the lifts.
Have a nice trip! Welcome to receive any questions about Conrad Osaka from the below space. Check Availability and Pricing for the hotel on Agoda
Info about Conrad Osaka
| Style | Luxury City Hotel |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
15:00/12:00 |
| Estimated Price | 90,000 JPY |
| Contact E-mail Address |
osaci.hotel@conradhotels.com |
| Internet Connection | Free Wifi in the hotel |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are available Pets are not allowed The parking lot is available at 3,000JPY per day |
| Location | Conrad Osaka’s MAP |
| Access | Refer to the above |
| Address and TEL | Tel +81 6 6222 0111 |
| Official Homepage | Conrad Osaka’s HP |
*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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