Tony U.
Yelp
We arrived here by Taxi and were greeted by Angels. I mean it. All my bags were taken by a staff that made me feel like I was a king. All smiles yet more professional, courteous and sincere than I've ever seen at a hotel.
About four people or so greeted us and had our luggage, umbrellas, shopping bags and nick nacks all neatly packed away on a luggage cart in what seemed like 5 seconds.
The front counter person greeted us with warmth and gave us our room key in a quick and efficient manner.
But there were two other people, porters for the day, one whose name was Otawa led us to our room and showed us all the perks. Her professionalism put us both at ease. The vibe inside the Ritz Carlton is of dim smoked wood. An old school kind of elegance that leaves your spirit calm, cool and at ease. There are paintings that all have simple scenes of people, items or places. Most were impressionist in artistic style and there were interesting cabinets with unique China and collectibles like a mini statue of a man riding a horsey and an old fashioned telephone that actually worked.
Our room was elegant and cozy with a huge 60" Flat screened television and lots of space and a view of JR Osaka Station.
The bathroom was spacious and had two sinks and a toilet seat that was motion sensitive. It even flushed automatically and of course was the modern Japanese toilet with bidet.
At bed side, there were buttons you could press to open or close the drapes, leave a do not disturb light at your door, and to function the lights.
The turn-down service here is first class pampering. You'll find your bedsheets unfolded open so you could tuck in Italian sheets and pillowing that are the most comfortable I've ever felt. At your bed side is a bottle of water with a unique round glass and two chocolates.
The bathroom countertop is also in relaxing gray Italian marble.
Prior to checking in on our first night, my gf and I went out into Jr Osaka Station and got lost trying to find the Lucua Building where we wanted to have a taste of Okonomoyaki. The place was a 15 minute walk from our hotel and we got lost trying to find it amid the busy Jr Osaka crowd of locals. Jr Osaka Station is a lot like Grand Central Station and can be confusing because of the many different directions and the rush of pedestrians. We were completely disoriented and had no idea that we were walking in circles.
After being totally lost, we'd just about given up trying to find our destination when out of the blue in a sea of 1,000 people, our Porter, Otawa, in plain clothes off duty found us with smiles and like an angel guided us right to the Lucua Building as if by magic in what took maybe 2 minutes.
Like I said, the people who work here were angels.
The breakfast buffet was very good though I did have a few issues here: no scallions, no Tabasco sauce and no hot mustard.
The vibe was excellent though. For the breakfast buffet, other than my gripes above, you'll find just about anything:
1. Omelette or eggs fried to your liking
2. Congee
3. Soba
4. Lots of papaya and dragon fruit
5. Cereals
6. Bacon, braised pork (soooo good!!!)
7. Bagels and lox
8. Pancakes (too dry), waffle, green tea bread pudding and French Toast
9. Natto
10. Yogurt and cereals
11. Lots of Toast
12. Smoothies and juices
13. All the coffee you'd like (including double espressos and cappuccinos)
The staff running this place were all 5 Star people.
Aside from stores, there was a very relaxing lobby lounge for tea time. If you go there late at night, you'll hear very suave mellow live jazz that is as good as jazz gets. I heard some of the most hypnotic, romantic jazz sung in minimalism with just a piano. It was dreamy 5 Star jazz at its best.
My entire experience was so fun here that I found myself not even wanting to leave my room which seemed like my own little world of everything I needed to be happy for the rest of my life.
The juxtaposition of arriving in my room here to the outside rush of the Osaka/Umeda Stations left me in a state where sleeping for 10 hours was a cinch.
The room service was prompt, reliable and perfect.
After all these years and numerous hotel stays, I thought I knew what 5 Stars meant. I didn't know until my stay here.
Thanks Ritz Carlton Osaka for a perfect 4 night experience that I will never forget.
Can not wait to come here again.