Located in the prestigious Umeda’s main gateway of business, shopping cultural and entertainment district across from the main Osaka station and 45 minutes from Kansai International Airport, The Ritz-Carlton Osaka provides a sense of luxury with a twist - from its integral part of a larger complex that is combined with business offices, retail facilities and especially the lobby at the ground level that offers a refined atmosphere reminiscent of an 18th-centuary British noble’s residence. At least, that is what captures the guest’s eye during the arrival experience.
The normal architectural rendering of a classic Ritz-Carlton is one of concrete, marble and glass with contemporary interiors and is what the international Ritz-Carlton guests have come to expect. However, the grace of such an English manor castle house also makes you feel more like stepping into a French or Swiss Chateau instead.
Though it might not be everyone’s cup of tea for this dusky symmetry classical influence Georgian style grand proportions with intricate plasterwork, elaborate fireplace and the use of rich like tapestries, the interiors are meticulously appointed with arts and antiques that is the owner’s passion.
The Ritz-Carlton Osaka is the only 5-star hotel in Osaka for 3 consecutive years that received the Forbes Travel Guide Five-star award and marking this distinctive honor, the hotel has been undergoing renovations in 2024 to upgrade all the rooms and hallways with the concept of “Legacy and Renewal” to preserve the refined elegance of the European classic style.
Given that the hotel has been in operation for nearly 3 decades, the ceiling height is not that high and warmer tones have been applied for a more relax feeling of intimacy in the interiors with a lot of blond wood panelling which is then offset with a lot of antique furniture, old masters paintings, large volumes of European porcelain, English chinaware and objet d’art in antique display cabinets, along with richly patterned carpets, so you feel like you are stepping back in time with a refreshed look.
We had been booked into a Club Floor room, so our check-in was to take place in the Club Lounge. We were quickly spirited to 34th floor and walked into a lounge that still exuded the hotel interiors, but had top floor elevation with spectacular views looking out over Osaka. This perspective was very eye-catching after an arduous journey to arrive especially in the evening. Through the large window is the sweeping view over Osaka and at night, the city lit up like fairy illumination as far as the Mt.Ikoma.
The noticeably grander space comprises of a number of inter-flowing spaces with an impressive entrance, warm living room area complete with low-set furniture; the sectionized aristocrat home bar; elegance and spacious dining area with the enhanced and newly- established food presentation space that offers breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres, cordials and desserts as well as a mini kitchen in action for live cooking by an appointed chef.
The cocktail hour will convince you not to leave the hotel. Firstly, there is their own branded Ritz-Carlton French Champagne from the champagne house Charles de Cazanove in Reims, which is a very elegant champagne not to be missed.
The reknown Osaka Kushikatsu deep-fried skewers with meat and vegetables and tempura are fabulous and on point during our stay, it is one of the best ways to savour some genuine local treats without stepping out of the hotel. The fried rice with sea bream, the melon prosciutto, local craft-beers just to name but a few……and not forgetting the in-house chocolates which are divine and hard to say no to.
We were lucky enough to have a corner room allocated on the same floor, so access to the lounge did not require an elevator trip thank goodness. As it was rather late in the afternoon, our room was ready and check-in too in no time at all with a friendly club team looking after us. Our 51sqm upper floor Corner Deluxe King Bed Club Room was elegance personified, it was certainly plenty of space to spread ourselves out and it made us feel relaxed straight away. There was a working desk and chairs in front of the corner windows with a white table top that had been installed on the desk, along with the headboard mirror, to enhance brightness by reflecting both natural light and indoor lighting.
While blending in with modern sophistication and functionality to create an even more comfortable and inviting space, the bedroom’s wallpaper and carpet incorporate a two-tone colour scheme of off-white and warm gray, skillfully differentiating the colours of the bed and the living area to create a sense of spaciousness and dimension. Natural lighting from the big windows also allows you to wake up with a great vista that inspires.
The decorative wall above the guest room bed’s headboard features sculpted panels inspired by the beloved “floral pattern” motif that has been cherished in the rooms since the hotel’s opening. These panels are illuminated with indirect lighting, enveloping the room in a warm glow and emphasizing the transformation brought by the renovation. The frame portion is adorned with molding, similar to the ceiling, evoking the timeless elegance of a traditional noble residence. The large king bed with the most pristine high thread count sheets allows you to sleep soundlessly and the large marble bathroom with all the mod-cons - a double vanity including luxurious Dyptique bathroom amenities, which we love. The closet hanging space was capacious and we never felt cramped with so much space to enjoy. Our welcome amenity was also a “sweet” one that we savoured throughout our stay.
Additionally, the indirect lighting on the decorative wall creates a soft, warm ambience throughout the room as well as sofa beds had been installed in the upper-floor guest rooms on the 33rd-35th Club Floors and 36th and 37th Sky View Floors to be used as extra beds. The bench seat has also been reupholstered in a botanical green, serving as an accent to the room and bringing a touch of nature into the space. The sophisticated new look harmonizes with modern design elements while preserving the classic charm.
Breakfast in the Club Lounge is an intimate affair and all the favourites are there, from classic pastries to your favourite eggs cooked to your liking, but being in Japan you get the local specialties such as seasonable vegetables, fish, miso soup, rice and condiments and much more to savour. While each buffet item is not large in size, it is all about the freshness and being replenished regularly and some flavours will pique your taste buds as the produce is at its optimum flavour.
A series of high quality Ritz-Carlton in house branded loose leaf tea selection of your choosing is freshly prepared in a pot (should the help yourself tea bags not be to your liking) and we could not get over how beautiful each selection was and we tried quite a few. Coffee is seriously good too and if you fancy a glass of French sparkling wine with your breakfast, then you can well and truly indulge!
Besides, another alternative full breakfast option is served in Splendido, the Italian restaurant at the lobby level. The elegant spread in a conservatory like ambience was very welcoming and pleasing to the eye. The interior design encompassed large lantern lights, hanging wrought iron wall sconce lamps, over-sized dining tables in light wood tones and large subtle floral upholstered dining chairs on a Mediterranean tiled floor.
We were spoilt for choice with the highest quality ingredients. A few menu items caught our attention such as the Japanese radish with a red centre, the apple and honey salad dressing and pearls of raspberry chocolate for a decadent waffle dressing, to name but a few.
The well equipped Fitness Center is where you can burn some extra calories and a spa for that well earned pampering, so the wellness necessities have been well catered for but we rather spent some good times at the indoor swimming pool with lots of natural light flooding in through the two walls of windows and that was long enough to swim laps, followed by the hot bath “onsen” in exchange for further indulgence at the Club Lounge.
It is difficult not to want to eat out and try the local cuisines, but the hotel has four options to keep you sated in a fine-dining way, so temptation is at your fingertips and none will disappoint as they all have stellar reputations with service at a level that makes you feel like you never want to leave. We tried Hanagatami for a kaiseki dinner that was quite satisfying that delighted our senses and something to cherish for the seasonal produce used in this superior Japanese culinary.
Being a guest in the Club Lounge also meant that you had an opportunity to enjoy some local cultural activities while enjoying some refreshments. First up was a sake tasting with Rino san which was eye-opening with three distinctly different sake exclusively from Osaka to surprise the palate. We also tried our hand with Furoshiki with Hina san - a traditional and beautiful Japanese art of gift wrapping with colourful cloth that started as a way to carry a bento box or bottle of liquid and it was fun.
The location is second to none, as you are right in the thick of the restaurant precincts and department store shopping is just a 5-10 minutes walk away. Should you arrive by train, no need for a taxi as it is a short walk. The Ritz-Carlton Osaka has definitely made us rethink any future trip and will have us returning to this lap of luxury for the next visit in this vibrant metropolitan city of Osaka.
Tried & Tested:
Location: 5/5
Design & Decor: 4.5/5
Location: 5/5
Design & Decor: 4.5/5
Room Amenities: 5/5
Housekeeping: 5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value For Money: 4.5/5
Experience: 4.5/5
Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.
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