Chris S.
Yelp
Conrad Osaka, the New King of Luxury Hotels?
Everyone loves Japan so much, it's almost a pilgrimage that all must go through. Tens of thousands descend onto Japan throughout the year, particular during the springtime. And for Osaka, well that means a ton of Taiwanese, Koreans and Chinese visitors.
For everyone, that is - until you realize who's just staying that Conrad Osaka. With rooms over $800 a night, we were in a guest list of several high-profiled families and celebrities during our stay in Osaka, and with the hotel being one of the premier place to stay for guests with money, we were incredibly excited to see just how amazing this hotel was going to be.
Let's be clear - I prefer the Conrad Osaka over the Conrad Tokyo. With such an elegant understated elegance, sweeping views of the city and a well designed bedroom, this oasis of a spot in Osaka, I think, should take the crown from its already amazing sister property in Tokyo. Conrad Osaka is a landmark that will feel undeniably Japanese yet so technologically advanced in so many ways - an ultramodern yet conservative in nature, this is indeed the best hotel in Osaka/Kyoto....that is until the Park Hyatt Kyoto opens up in a few months....
Our room was located in the Executive section of the hotel, and we were given access to the Executive Lounge like the Conrad Tokyo. Our room was set up with one insane view of Osaka, and along with all the various gifts and treats the management team left us, we were also greeted with two swans shaped like a heart and a happy anniversary post.
All rooms of course comes with the exquisite views of the Osaka cityscape and rivers, along with digital control panels that control the lighting, curtains, room temperature, room service and so much more. One of the most fascinating things about these rooms though, is the separate toilet - true to Osaka culture, the toilet is moved out of the bathroom and included in its own private area, to allow better use. I really think this is one of the best features that any hotel could have - guests can shower and wash up without having to wait for their counterpart to finish up on the toilet.
The rooms - my gosh, this is literally on tier with the Park Hyatts I've stayed at. Everything is set right and functional, and kept to a minimum. Nothing screams LOOK AT ME, yet everything seems expensive and well placed. And the bathroom, well, that's just simply the icing on the cake. The shower had both a shower rail and a waterfall shower head, but included is an even bigger tub (biggest compared to all Japanese hotels I've been) that can literally fit me and my wife TWICE.
Double vanity sinks make for easy wash up and turndown, and the shower amenities were top line.
Again, another huge win here for the Conrad Osaka - the serene spa and pool layout makes this place so relaxing and tranquil. With an array of treatment rooms and views overlooking the city, plus a huge jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, I would come here every morning after the gym to rejuvenate and get ready for the day.
But let's not kid ourselves. The most important part of this hotel is the lobby. And when I mean lobby I mean it's 3-story open space floor-to-ceiling wall of windows and an ethereal staircase made of the finest materials. Yes, that amazing lobby that contains 389 contemporary artworks, including Kyoto-based Kohei Nawa's molecular white bubbles and Matsuo Takahiro's shimmering curtains of the prettiest crystal shards at the 40th floor sky bar and lounge.
It's so impressive that every time we're in an elevator with guests or strangers, we wait for their excitement and gasp of breath at the opening of the elevator doors. It's that amazing.
The Conrad Osaka is the perfect answer from Hilton to the all the 5-star hotels in Japan. What a perfect and impeccable 5 star luxury hotel. Personalized service and jaw-dropping views, combined with the fantastic room and lobby makes you feel so undeserving of anything else in life.
Different and unique, futuristic yet functional, the Conrad Osaka is all that wrapped in one. With its ideal location to so many subway lines and perfect for business travelers, it's close to the many food and entertainment locations in Osaka.
Before I end this report, I want to give a HUGE shoutout to Midori, our guest relations manager for making our stay at Osaka the best in the world. Without her, all the magic and surprises would have never happened. It's because of her incredible skills and generosity that have made this place so amazing! Thank you!
Luxury is incredibly easy to find in Japan, but acing it on the first try, that's a unicorn. What a place to be!