Imperial Hotel Osaka

Excellent service! The staff were polite and even escorted me to my room upon check-in. The room was very spacious for Japan. There's a shuttle bus to Osaka Station for shopping and dining, and a Lawson convenience store right across the street for basic needs. There's also a food street about a 15-minute walk away.

This is an established, high-end hotel in Osaka, located in a prime spot along the Yodogawa River. It's the perfect place to watch the fireworks displays and the Tenjin Matsuri festival. You often see prominent Japanese figures and corporate groups here, and the hotel even has several upscale restaurants that you can book. Last time, when I tried to book a room for the fireworks display, I couldn't get one with a direct view of the fireworks, which was a real shame. I hope I have better luck next time I try to book!

Pros: 1. Exceptionally clean. 2. The room has an transom window that can be opened for ventilation (it's rare for high-end city hotels to offer openable windows; I hope they retain this feature when they renovate). Fresh air is definitely better than a ventilation system, as ventilation ducts can also accumulate pollutants. 3. High-quality ingredients used for breakfast. 4. Room service food is delicious; I ordered it multiple times (mainly because there aren't many dining options nearby). 5. Plenty of convenience stores in the vicinity. 6. Excellent water pressure in the bathroom, very refreshing. 7. The toilet light brightness is adjustable, allowing you to see clearly at night without being fully woken up. 8. Great location. It's actually quite close to Umeda. A taxi to Shinsaibashi cost 125 yen, and back from Umeda was between 70-80 yen. A taxi to Universal Studios Japan (USJ) was 365 yen. The airport is less than an hour away. 9. All staff members greet you with a bow, giving a very 'old money' imperial vibe. 10. The rooms are spacious. I recommend booking a 40 square meter room for a very comfortable stay. Cons: 1. The adjacent shopping mall is struggling, and all the restaurants inside have closed down, leaving very few dining options nearby. Only McDonald's is open; otherwise, you have to walk at least 700-800 meters to find a decent restaurant. Also, the hotel doesn't offer a buffet dinner for lunch or dinner, which meant I had to rely on room service. 2. The hotel provides very few toiletries; there wasn't even body lotion. Who doesn't moisturize after a shower? Hotels like Okura at least provide a small sample pack with a tiny packet of makeup remover, face wash, toner, and lotion – that can't cost much. 3. The room service menu could be more diverse. 4. The buffet breakfast variety is exactly the same every day. After eating it for five days, it was hard to keep going. Couldn't they introduce a little variety?

This was my second stay, and I really love the hotel's style. The ambiance is elegant, and the surrounding scenery is beautiful; you can take a walk along the river. There's a coffee shop on the ground floor of the plaza, and breakfast is also good. There's a shuttle bus to Osaka Station every 20 minutes, making shopping super convenient. The service is five-star standard, as expected from a long-standing local hotel. Don't miss the hotel bakery on the ground floor. If you check the map, there's also a century-old unagi restaurant nearby, though it's a bit far. The subway station isn't too far either. Overall, a great stay! Facilities: The hotel is older but very well-maintained! Hygiene: Good, though they forgot to provide pajamas on the last day! Environment: The hotel's style is elegant, and the surrounding scenery is beautiful! Service: Five-star standard!

This established hotel maintains its high standards. While the decor might be a bit dated, the cleanliness and attention to detail are impeccable. The room's noise control, blackout curtains, and soundproofing were all excellent. The high-pressure handheld showerhead was fantastic – strong enough to massage my tired calves! 🚿 They offer a convenient shuttle bus to Osaka Station every 30 minutes, easily found at the Sakurabashi Exit. There's also a shuttle to Kansai Airport, but I didn't get a chance to use it this trip. I didn't opt for breakfast this time, but I'll definitely try it next time. I'll choose this hotel again on my next visit to Osaka.

The room was spacious and well-equipped. Although the hotel is a bit old, it's very well-maintained. Upon checking in, a staff member accompanied us all the way to our room. The window offered a view of the Osaka city skyline and a beautiful riverside scenery, perfect for a stroll, and we could watch the sunset from our room. The hotel has an annex, but the shops inside were mostly closed and rundown. There was one restaurant open during the day, with windows facing the river, offering light meals and afternoon tea. The biggest drawback was the inconvenient transportation. There's a free shuttle bus every 20 minutes from outside the Starbucks at JR Osaka Station's Sakurabashi exit, which takes about 15 minutes to reach the hotel. Walking to the nearest subway station takes about seven to eight minutes. There are very few restaurants or shopping malls near the hotel.