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posted May 4, 2012
Really great value, by far the best of the various places I've been to in Japan. The rooms feel a bit more spacious than others I've been to in Japan. Note that this is not near the subway (the one across the street is a specific line that does not connect to the subway). There is a very well-run bus that goes every 6 to 15 minutes to Osaka station. I used that a lot.
posted April 28, 2012
This hotel is dated but was quite obviously constructed with no expense spared back in the early bubble economy years of the late 1970s. Hence it is still in good condition with an impressive lobby, superbly attentive staff/concierge and fairly good views of the city if you get a room facing east above the 10th floor. Try and stay in the Tower Wing for slightly larger rooms and more expansive views of Umeda and northern Osaka. I didn't try any of the 40-odd restaurants in the hotel but had coffee in the charming lobby with waterfall, stream running through it. This was expensive (£9) but worth it for a one off. The main concern I had about this hotel prior to booking was its location. It is on the western end of Nakanoshima, where a large part of Osaka City is administered from... City Hall, Japan Mint and Bank of Japan Kansai branch are located to the east. These are some of the few old western-style buildings in Osaka which survived WW2 so worth more than a cursory glance! However, this is a good 20 minute walk from Umeda, 10 minutes from lobby to the nearest underground station (Higobashi line) and 15 minutes from Yotsubashi (Midosuji line) There is a brand new station (Keihan Nakanoshima line) directly opposite the hotel where you can get to Kyoto in 50 minutes. Crucially, the hotel offers a very smoothly run, exclusive shuttle limousine bus service between the hotel which has a frequency of every 8-15 minutes to the Sakurabashi exit of JR Osaka/Umeda station. This turns this hotel into somewhere inaccessible into somewhere perfect for a more relaxing stay. So, if you don't want to pay the prices of staying at the Hilton or Ritz-Carlton in Umeda, but still want largeish rooms, good views, stay in this charming, albeit dated 1970s hotel. However, if you want to be near all of the nightlife, probably better to stay in Namba or if you are on business and have strictly no time, stay in Umeda. Travel times (from hotel lobby): Kyoto station - 60 minutes with Super Rapid Express, 45 minutes with Shinkansen Kobe station - 45 minutes Nara - 1 hour Hiroshima - easily do-able on a day trip Himeji - 1.5 hours with shinkansen Tokyo - 3.5 hours with Nozomi shinkansen service, 4 hours for Hikari service. Taxi fares (post 11pm) - Namba (1,500-2,000 yen) - Umeda/JR Osaka station (1,500 yen) I'd stay here again if I wasn't on a rushed trip around Japan.
posted April 27, 2012
as previously mentioned by other people, this hotel is slightly isolated with not much within walking distance. However, it has a brand-new subway station situated on the hotel grounds and an absolutely fantastic free shuttlebus to Osaka station city. You can therefore connect to anywhere within the city or the rail network for the rest of Japan. The rooms are large if slightly dated, but very, very comfortable and the quality of the bed and linen are superb and well maintained and spotlessly clean. Food is very pricey except for the very nice little patisserie shop. For the budget conscious, it is easier to take the shuttlebus to Osaka station and go to the many restaurants in that area. This is a great base for exploring the city. For a Westerner. However there are bizarre amount of rules for using the swimming pool and spa and it is a little bit three seashells (watch demolition man for reference). Staff are fantastic, so I really do have to recommend this hotel is like the location drawback.
posted April 23, 2012
This hotel is a beautiful piece of Osaka history. Located on the island of Nakanoshima which was a safe haven for International journalist after WW2. The rooms are Western style & large, the entrance lounge is lavishly decorated, the breakfast buffet is delicious, Leach Bar makes the best drinks in town & it's convenient! They run a bus to and from Osaka's main station about 4-5 times and hour, only a 10 minute ride. I totally recommend this lovely a d stylish hotel.
posted April 13, 2012
Stayed in 2 semi double rooms with 2 young children in the West Wing for 4 nights. The only real positive was a regular shuttle bus to JR Osaka station, with train connections all over Kansai. When arriving in the hotel you feel like you have gone back 30 years in time. The decor was very 80s! This is not a child friendly hotel. There is a very serious feel about the hotel, with most of the clientele being older Japanese business men. Our check in experience was disappointing, with one of the two rooms having a very bady smoke odour, despite requesting non smoking rooms. The front desk managed to change the room very quickly though. The first night was extremely uncomfortable as the room was very hot and their was no air conditioning (only heating!). The front desk agreed to open a window but this wasn't ideal! The buffet breakfast was average with a wide selection but quality was poor with no fresh fruit selection.
