After visiting Tokyo and Kyoto, our next stop of the trip was in Osaka. There were a few different properties that we were interested in but, ultimately, we chose The Osaka Station Hotel. We had an amazing stay here and I can’t say enough about this property. Read on for my in-depth review!
Booking Our Stay at The Osaka Station Hotel
We initially planned to stay three nights in Osaka but, after spending a night in an onsen in Kyoto, we ended up with just two nights in town. There were a few different options available on points that were intriguing from Marriott and Hilton. Our travel companions had roughly 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in their account and wanted to use those if possible.
We looked at The Osaka Station Hotel, the W Osaka, St. Regis Osaka and the Ritz-Carlton Osaka. The Osaka Station Hotel had the best rate and location and we were able to book our two night stay for 52,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night via the Marriott website.
The Osaka Station Hotel Location
As you may have guessed from the name, The Osaka Station Hotel is located directly adjacent to Osaka Station. It’s worth noting that Osaka Station is the primary station for local and regional lines while Shin-Osaka Station, located a few miles north, is the primary inter-city station serving Shinkansen trains. The hotel itself is located in the JP Tower Osaka on the west side of Osaka Station. The hotel occupies the 29th through 38th floors of the 39 story building.
There are two entrances to the hotel, one via the building’s lobby and the other is via the motorcourt on the side of the building. During our visit the property was still fairly new and Uber drivers and taxi cabs had some difficulty finding the entrance.
The Osaka Station Hotel Lobby and Check-In
The lobby of the hotel is located on the 29th floor. After entering the hotel on the ground level, an elevator whisks you upstairs to the sky lobby. This was our first impression of the property and it didn’t disappoint. We had sweeping views of the surrounding city through the floor to ceiling glass windows.
The lobby has quite a few seating areas that take advantage of the views. We were always able to find seats here when waiting on our friends but the lobby didn’t feel cluttered in the slightest.
Just off of the main lobby is a large elevated space that held some funky art as well as a water station. Aside from a few people refilling water bottles, I never saw this area used and it seemed like wasted space. if anyone knows some other purpose this space has I’d love to know.
We arrived at the hotel just after 7:00p local time. There was no line for check in and we were quickly assisted at the desk. Our luggage was taken to the room by bellmen while we attended to the check-in formalities. In a matter of minutes we had our room keys and were on our way.
The Osaka Station Hotel Guest Room
We were assigned to room 3447, a standard king room that was a slight upgrade due to being on a higher floor. Upon entering the room you find yourself in a hallway that is also part of the bathroom. At 430 square feet, the room was designed to maximize space and never felt cramped.
The attention to detail in the room was evident as soon as you walked in the door. A small shelf to rest your room keys, wallet, etc. was located at the entrance.
The sink/counter space was located in the middle of the entryway while the shower and toilet were behind glass doors on the left.
Stepping into the bedroom there was a king bed to the left, a seating area against the window, and a desk and TV stand to the right.
The bed was flanked by two nightstands, one was empty and the other held a variety of items like a phone, notepad, and more. A welcome gift was waiting for us on the bed as well.
Above each nightstand was a lamp as well as controls for the room along with power outlets. For whatever reason, the right nightstand held all of the bedside items and had more room controls than the left.
On the nightstand was a phone, bluetooth speaker, analog clock, note pad, pen, pillow mist, tissues, and a satin pouch.
The seating area was against the window and connected to the desk/TV stand in an effort to maximize space. Against the window was a lounger style sofa which provided a great spot to read/work. A small table and a chair made for a nice space for us to relax and chat at the end of the day.
Across from the bed was the desk and TV stand. The TV was a good size but we spent most of our time out and about or sleeping so we rarely used it. This area housed the minibar, coffee and tea makers, and a selection of glassware. Like our hotel in Tokyo, the items in the minibar were free during our stay.
The closet had robes, pajamas, and some hangars waiting for us along with a small set of drawers. The closet door also acted as the divider between the bedroom and the bathroom. If the closet door was open, the bathroom was closed off from the bedroom, if the closet door was closed, the bathroom was open.
We tended to leave the closet door closed as it mad the room feel more open but, depending on your situation, you may want to leave it open.
The bathroom area had a large shower/tub combo which was a much better setup than we found during our stay at the Hilton Tokyo. There was a rainfall shower head as well as a handheld shower head which could be adjusted based on height.
Toiletries were from the Japanese hair and skincare brand Hanonico, which were mounted on the wall of the shower in reusable bottles.
The toilet was located to the right of the shower in its own private room. While the design was minimal, it still had all of the features of a high-tech Japanese toilet.
The sink was located on the island vanity between the entryway and the bedroom. The island itself was quite large and provided plenty of space for Mrs. ATX to deploy her makeup and other toiletries.
A large selection of additional toiletries and skincare products were located in a drawer in the vanity. Extra towels and a scale were located in the vanity as well but, one has to wonder, who is weighing themselves on vacation?!
While far from the largest room I’ve ever stayed in, The Osaka Station Hotel had one of the best.
The Osaka Station Hotel Food and Beverage
The Osaka Station Hotel has four food and beverage establishments on property, though the hotel is walking distance from hundreds of dining options. Of the four, we visited two during our stay.
The two we didn’t visit were ‘The Moment Grill and Dining, described as an Osaka buffet offering over 80 dishes featuring carefully selected ingredients from Japan and beyond, and Teppanyaki Mizuki, which required a multiple day advanced notice. The Moment is also the breakfast space for the hotel but, we didn’t visit during our stay.
The two we did visit were The Lobby Lounge and the Main Bar. The Lobby Lounge was located directly adjacent to The Moment and offered a variey of light bites and beverages throughout the day.
The Main Bar was by far the highlight of the food and beverage offerings. The entrance is hidden behind a door labeled “Stationmaster’s Office” and it really leans into the railroad theme, the hotel is owned and operated by Japan Railways.
Once inside, you’ll find a cozy lounge that feels warm and open at the same time. Massive, floor to ceiling, windows provide a sweeping view of Osaka while the large bar and dark seating provides a moody space to enjoy a drink.
The Osaka Station Hotel Fitness Center
Though we were on vacation, I still carved out time to visit the gym. The fitness center on property is located on the 30th floor and has a variety of cardio and weightlifting equipment. It isn’t large, especially given the size of the hotel, but I never found it to be too busy during our stay.
Summary
We had a fantastic stay at The Osaka Station Hotel. Looking back on it, it may be one of my top stays ever. The attention to detail and the friendliness and professionalism of the staff may not have fully come across in this review but, if you’re visiting Osaka, this place should be near the top of your list!