Background
Arguably the most luxurious address in Osaka, The Ritz-Carlton Osaka’s Western aesthetic was apparently deliberately designed to give the local people an experience different from the traditional Japanese hotels. Today, this hotel pegs itself as Osaka’s premium address for luxury travellers in both the business and leisure segments.
What’s It Like
As soon as I stepped into the opulent lobby of The Ritz-Carlton Osaka, I felt like I was transported to one of Europe’s grand palaces. The decor of the hotel, dotted with paintings, sculptures, gorgeous drapes, chandeliers and plush furniture, was resolutely European, and the piano playing in the background added to the charm. After a quick, personalised check-in, I was escorted to my suite by a staff member, who proceeded to give me a quick tour of the room, but not before showing me the view from my room.
Where Is It
The hotel is located a stone’s throw from Osaka’s main railway station at the heart of downtown Osaka, in the upscale Nishi-Umeda district. Alternatively, there is easy connectivity to Osaka’s bullet train station, Shin Osaka, as well as the international airport.
Rooms
The hotel houses 291 luxuriously appointed rooms and this includes two Japanese suites and two Ritz-Carlton suites. I stayed in a Club Suite, which was luxurious right from the word go. The living room featured a large work desk and a sitting area with a comfortable sofa. A generous passage led to the marble bathroom on one side and the bedroom on the other side. Since this was a corner suite, my bedroom offered me sweeping views of the Osaka skyline. Some of the perks in my room included a Nespresso machine, a 55-inch TV, a massive wardrobe, a plush bathrobe and slippers and a chaise longue by the bedroom window..
Food & Drinks This hotel scores high points on its food and beverage offering. I enjoyed a lengthy, highly refined dinner at the traditional Japanese fine dining restaurant Hanagatami. Here, you can interact with the chefs in different sections of the restaurant — sushi, teppanyaki and tempura. One of the best French restaurants in Osaka is La Baie, with its Michelin star, with its elaborate French menu and exhaustive wine list to pair. Evenings are fun at The Bar, when locals and hotel guests descend upon the establishment to sample its cocktails and choose from its selection of over 100 whiskies.
Meetings and Banquet Facilities
From small meetings to large-scale events, The Ritz-Carlton Osaka caters to the MICE segment very well, with its different conference venues and ballroom spaces. The Grand Ballroom can hold up to 850 people, while the smallest meeting room, The Cricket Room, can host up to 12 people. There are, of course, many other MICE spaces in the hotel.
Leisure
Open up to 10pm daily, the spa is packed with business travellers in the evening. While the spa does offer a host of relaxing international treatments, my recommendation is to try the Japanese treatments and therapies.
Verdict For the traveller who takes luxury seriously and is willing to pay for it.
Price: Upwards of INR 23,000
