JAPAN – Intercontinental Osaka is the best base to explore the Kansai area

Osaka is the place to be based while exploring the Kansai area in Japan. I stayed at the Intercontinental Osaka with my family during the Christmas holidays of 2016 twice. It was part of my 2 weeks in Japan itinerary. I had choosen the Intercontinental Osaka because of the location and because it offered what I needed. Let me show you around this luxury hotel, but first let’s start with a video. 

The hotel

The Intercontinental Osaka is located near Umeda train station making it very accessible and the days I went on day trips I didn’t loose time with transportation. The hotel is located on the top floors of a skyscraper offering beautiful views over Osaka in all directions. When I arrived with my family at the Intercontinental Osaka we were escorted to the 36th floor for check-in while our luggage was already transferred to the room. Everything went smooth and my name was already communicated to the reception so that I was addressed by name at check-in. I love this kind of personal attention. The general areas of the hotel are decorated with light marble and have huge windows for natural light. Before my arrival, I had sent an email to the concierge for restaurant advise as I prefer to eat local and during the holiday season restaurants get booked full quick. Their advice was perfect and I’ll share later which restaurants I visited in Osaka. The Intercontinental Osaka is a modern luxury hotel and the staff is friendly and takes care of any personal need. My family and I had a great stay.  

The rooms at Intercontinental Osaka

As I said in the introduction I stayed twice at the Intercontinental Osaka because I stayed overnight in Kyoto in between. The first stay I had booked two rooms and for the second stay a family apartment. The basics are the same with the difference that the family rooms have a small kitchenette and dining table too. I travelled through Japan and in general rooms are small due to the cost per square meter but at the Intercontinental Osaka the rooms are large and spacious. In the suite I had a large living area with desk and seating area which gave access to the bathroom and bedroom. The beds are amazingly comfortable which is good for my back (pain). The bathroom was equipped with a rainforest shower and a separate large bath. The amenities were of good quality and refilled every day. As an IHG member the well-stocked mini bar was complementary which I like. Although there are free water bottles in the room, necessary I think, I just want to be able to grab a beer or so without worrying about sometimes (not here) overpriced minibar costs. The comfortable  rooms are surprisingly large at the Intercontinental Osaka which made my stay a memorable one. 

Facilities at Intercontinental Osaka

The Intercontinental Osaka has a large professional spa with their own products. My wife told me, as I didn’t have a treatment, that the staff is very professional and knows how to make you relax. Their steam room is also worth a visit before or after using their large indoor pool. My kids loved to swim there before bedtime. A gym is something I rarely use as I’m way to busy exploring the area but the Intercontinental Osaka has one and it’s large. Other facilities include a wide range of business facilities of which some came in handy during my bleisure travel. Wi-Fi is very fast so that the kids could enjoy Netflix without problems. The Intercontinental Osaka offers enough facilities to stay indoor in case you are not exploring the Kansai area. 

Dining & Drinking at Intercontinental Osaka

The Intercontinental Osaka has two restaurants, a bar and a pastry shop. The all-day dining restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a large choice of dishes. The other restaurant is a Michelin starred restaurant and serves French cuisine. I love to dine in Michelin starred restaurants but I also only eat local food when travelling. Maybe next time when I’m in Osaka! The bar is modern and very nice decorated. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a glass of champagne when the sun sets; at least I did.

I had breakfast once in the all-day dining restaurant but as I booked a club room I had also access to the club lounge. A private area for breakfast, high tea and evening cocktails. The choice is a bit less but they do prepare several dishes a la carte. I prefer privacy over choice. Their high tea comes with about 8 different items and the evening cocktails include an a la carte dish. It’s the “new” club lounge from Intercontinental worldwide that service is more personal and a la carte. I like that. Altogether lots of choices at the Intercontinental Osaka to eat. I’ll share later also the best local restaurants in Osaka with you which the concierge of the hotel recommended to go. They ARE good! 

Conclusion

The Intercontinental Osaka is a modern luxury hotel suitable for both the leisure and business traveler: bleisure. Its located downtown Osaka near the Umeda station which makes it the perfect base for exploring the Kansai area. It has enough options to eat and drink plus a wide variety of facilities. The rooms are very large, for sure for Japanese standards, and comfortable. I had a great stay and I highly recommend staying at the Intercontinental Osaka if you visit Osaka or the Kansai area. I’m sure you will enjoy too. 

If you would like to know what you can do in and around Osaka then see one of these options: my day trips in the Kansai area and make sure to check the 2 weeks in Japan itinerary. I will add more destination information over time.

For more hotel information and booking options please visit the website of Intercontinental Osaka and check out the Intercontinental Osaka Facebook page for great offers.

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Gallery of Intercontinental Osaka

** All opinions are based on a genuine stay, flight or experience. I’m not affiliated with the hotel, airline or tour operator but I might be (partially) sponsored – or paid. **