Hotel Review: Conrad Osaka, Japan.

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Overview

The Conrad Osaka is located within the top floors of the Nakanoshima Festival West Tower (164 guest rooms in total) - you enter on the reception level on the 40th floor. It has four restaurants and lounges, a Conrad Spa and beauty salon, a heated indoor pool, and a health club with personal training options. The Conrad is currently voted as being #1 out of 470 hotels and ryokan in the Osaka area (ranked by traveller rating). It’s a fairly expensive option but really worth it and I can see why it’s received the number 1 spot.

Hotel website

Would I stay here again?   Yes, yes, yes! The hotel was in a fantastic location, fabulous services and facilities, stunning views and Osaka was somewhere I would love to come back to.

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Location

The hotel is on the inner-city island of Nakanoshima - known for its architectural remnants, culture and art. Easy to get around the city too by the Osaka Metro - the hotel is located ⁣right above the subway (Higobashi station) and the Kieken train. You can travel to Osaka Airport (ITM) in 15 minutes and Kansai Airport (KIX) in 50 minutes. There was a good choice of five star hotels in the city, but the Conrad really stuck out for me as being the one to try.

Osaka was such an interesting city with so many things to do - I will write more about this in another blog but Dotonbori and Shinsekai were absolute highlights. You can read more about the areas here https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/a-comprehensive-neighborhood-guide-to-osaka/

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Accommodation

There are deluxe, premium view (king and twin options), and corner rooms; all with executive options. There were also three categories of suite. I had originally booked (through Hotels.com - https://uk.hotels.com/) a deluxe king room without breakfast for 3 nights, but only the third night so that we could keep our room for the entire last day as the flight wasn’t until 11:45pm (it was cheaper just to pay for breakfast at the hotel for 2 mornings only). Nearer the time though I did cancel and rebook as the price had reduced, I got an upgrade to a Premium view room including breakfast for £50 less. We were offered another upgrade at check-in (at special reduced price factoring in only really staying for 2 nights apparently) to a Corner Executive room (twice the size allegedly) but for another £1,000 almost! The standard rooms are huge anyway and we never really make much use of executive lounges in hotels anyway when breakfast is already included.

The room was exceptionally well designed - there was a separate WC on entrance (with the usual Toto Washlet toilet) with small hand wash sink, you then went down a corridor (all dark wood and slate floor but with colour accent throughout of red) to a fully open-plan bathroom - twin sinks and enclosed circular bathtub and separate shower. Quality everywhere was evident, as was exceptional cleaning. The king size bed was huge and comfortable (but not such as comfortable pillows as Zaborin Ryokan - amazing!); there was a mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, sofa, work desk and chair and lots of space, as well as an LCD TV that I could plug in my iPad for Netflix through HDMI - also floor to ceiling glass with stunning views over Osaka city.

Sometimes centralised lighting and other systems in hotel rooms can be complex - however, though really comprehensive, the small panel at the bedside was really easy to operate lighting, curtains, air conditioning, setting the make up room or do not disturb and also included an alarm clock. It was easy to change the language settings and also an off button to dim the display overnight.

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Food & Drink

Every morning we had breakfast in the Atmos restaurant, on the entrance level off the main lobby again with exceptional city views. There was a mix of buffet-style with tea/coffee, juices etc. and some additional hot options served to your table. Choice of food was exceptional as was standard and presentation, from western style to a full array of Japanese options too.

Being in such a fantastic city, we ate out for both lunches and dinner, though there is a choice of restaurants in the hotel - Kura (which was Teppanyaki & Sushi) and a Grill restaurant. Afternoon tea is also served in the bar (40 Sky Bar and Lounge) and in the entrance lobby there is a cake/patisserie stand called Aeria (we though for the first day this desk area was a high-end jewelers until we got closer to realise it was cakes!)

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Facilities & Service

The hotel has the most incredible swimming pool and spa area on the 38th floor - in each respective male/female changing room there were onsen-style showers and a cold plunge pool, as well as a large hot pool too - despite there being large windows out from the pool area these were frosted for privacy so you couldn’t take advantage of the view. Through luxurious changing room facilities there was a large communal indoor pool, this time with views across the city. There was also a decent sized gym filled with Technogym equipment. Although the pool and spa area are only open from 6am to 10pm daily, the gym can be accessed 24 hours a day.

Guests in executive rooms and suites get access to the Executive Lounge, featuring breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails, as well as a private check-in. Located on the 38th floor, this lounge also has a private meeting space and wrap-around windows for outstanding views over Osaka. Basically wherever you were in the hotel you would find amazing views from somewhere!

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ThePrivateTraveller’s top tips (any areas for improvement?)

• I would say pricing of upgrades at check-in to be reviewed, the special deal of £1,000 extra wasn’t that attractive!

ThePrivateTraveller’s absolute highlights:

• Great location and service.

• The quality and size of the bedrooms, with the most incredible city views.

• Although we didn’t have time for treatments, the spa area itself was fabulous, not least the amazing views from the pool, day and night.

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Useful website links:

• The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka - there was a Marimekko ( https://www.marimekko.com/gb_en/) exhibition when we were there http://www.moco.or.jp/en/

• Osaka Castle https://www.osakacastle.net

• Tempozan Ferris Wheel http://www.senyo.co.jp/tempozan

• Tsutenkaku Tower (the ”Eiffel Tower of Osaka)  https://osaka-info.jp/en/page/tsutenkaku

• Umeda Sky Building https://www.osakastation.com/umeda-sky-building/

• Japan Airlines https://www.jal.co.jp/en/

• Zaborin Ryokan https://zaborin.com/

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