Hilton Osaka {JPN}
May 13, 2019, 12:14 pm
#391
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,206
I really liked this hotel!!!
The hotel is located across the street from the Osaka station. Not to be confused with the Shin-Osaka station (where the bullet train stops). The cab ride to the Osaka Hilton from Shin-Osaka will cost about 1200-1500 yen ($9-$13 USD).
We arrived into Kansai (KIX) airport around 6:30 pm. At the JR ticket office at KIX, we turned in our JR rail pass vouchers for our rail passes. Then took the local JR line to Osaka station, trip took about 50 minutes from KIX.
When exiting Osaka station, take the central exit and walk across the street. If taking the correct exit, one can see "Hilton Plaza" on the side of the building where you want to go. If you have alot of luggage (as we did due to the wife(just can't get her to downsize the amount of clothes/shoes)) you may want to take the airport bus to the hotel, but if this is at rush hour it may take 1.5-2 hours.
Upon entering the hotel w/our bags, the bellman ran (yes ran!) from the other side of the lobby to collect our bags. Upon seeing my Diamond card, the front desk stated that I will be checking in in the executive lounge on the 32 floor.
Was given a very nice room w/Kimonos and a King size bed.
Breakfast in the Exec lounge was mostly western fare and good. Coffee service was the most prompt I've ever had.
Concierge was VERY helpful w/directions and making reservations. Get your destination and return printed in Japaneese to help the cab drivers. They really appreciate it.
In the building attached to the Hilton, called the Hilton Plaza, on the B2F floor, basement second level, there is a VERY good cheap restaurant that specializes in Okonomiyaki food. I've listed a post on this restaurant in the Japan section of FT dining.
Forgot to add, when we checked out, the bellman asked if we needed a cab. We said no that we were taking the airport bus to Kansai which is a block away from the Hilton. He loaded up our bags and ESCORTED US TO THE BUS PICK UP AREA. AWESOME!!!!!!! TRUE SERVICE.
[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 08-09-2001).]
The hotel is located across the street from the Osaka station. Not to be confused with the Shin-Osaka station (where the bullet train stops). The cab ride to the Osaka Hilton from Shin-Osaka will cost about 1200-1500 yen ($9-$13 USD).
We arrived into Kansai (KIX) airport around 6:30 pm. At the JR ticket office at KIX, we turned in our JR rail pass vouchers for our rail passes. Then took the local JR line to Osaka station, trip took about 50 minutes from KIX.
When exiting Osaka station, take the central exit and walk across the street. If taking the correct exit, one can see "Hilton Plaza" on the side of the building where you want to go. If you have alot of luggage (as we did due to the wife(just can't get her to downsize the amount of clothes/shoes)) you may want to take the airport bus to the hotel, but if this is at rush hour it may take 1.5-2 hours.
Upon entering the hotel w/our bags, the bellman ran (yes ran!) from the other side of the lobby to collect our bags. Upon seeing my Diamond card, the front desk stated that I will be checking in in the executive lounge on the 32 floor.
Was given a very nice room w/Kimonos and a King size bed.
Breakfast in the Exec lounge was mostly western fare and good. Coffee service was the most prompt I've ever had.
Concierge was VERY helpful w/directions and making reservations. Get your destination and return printed in Japaneese to help the cab drivers. They really appreciate it.
In the building attached to the Hilton, called the Hilton Plaza, on the B2F floor, basement second level, there is a VERY good cheap restaurant that specializes in Okonomiyaki food. I've listed a post on this restaurant in the Japan section of FT dining.
Forgot to add, when we checked out, the bellman asked if we needed a cab. We said no that we were taking the airport bus to Kansai which is a block away from the Hilton. He loaded up our bags and ESCORTED US TO THE BUS PICK UP AREA. AWESOME!!!!!!! TRUE SERVICE.
[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 08-09-2001).]
May 13, 2019, 12:27 pm
#392
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,887
Hi,
I stayed at the Conrad Osaka in April but having come down from Tokyo ( luggage sent in advance with luggage delivery service) and reading up in advance we knew we had to take a local train from the Shin-osaka shinkansen station to Osaka station ( then we got a taxi to the conrad)
I did find the underground passageways around Osaka station a little confusing at first ( especially coming from Nishi Umenda to the Umeda Sky building and then later to Yodobashi Camera but after a few visits through the area it gets more familiar ( if you pay attention to all the signs) ( this was my first visit to Osaka after 5 visits to Tokyo and planning on coming back in late July ( Hilton is a lot cheaper than the conrad then)
Regards
TBS
I stayed at the Conrad Osaka in April but having come down from Tokyo ( luggage sent in advance with luggage delivery service) and reading up in advance we knew we had to take a local train from the Shin-osaka shinkansen station to Osaka station ( then we got a taxi to the conrad)
I did find the underground passageways around Osaka station a little confusing at first ( especially coming from Nishi Umenda to the Umeda Sky building and then later to Yodobashi Camera but after a few visits through the area it gets more familiar ( if you pay attention to all the signs) ( this was my first visit to Osaka after 5 visits to Tokyo and planning on coming back in late July ( Hilton is a lot cheaper than the conrad then)
Regards
TBS
May 13, 2019, 1:16 pm
#393
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,206
Hi,
I stayed at the Conrad Osaka in April but having come down from Tokyo ( luggage sent in advance with luggage delivery service) and reading up in advance we knew we had to take a local train from the Shin-osaka shinkansen station to Osaka station ( then we got a taxi to the conrad)
I did find the underground passageways around Osaka station a little confusing at first ( especially coming from Nishi Umenda to the Umeda Sky building and then later to Yodobashi Camera but after a few visits through the area it gets more familiar ( if you pay attention to all the signs) ( this was my first visit to Osaka after 5 visits to Tokyo and planning on coming back in late July ( Hilton is a lot cheaper than the conrad then)
Regards
TBS
I stayed at the Conrad Osaka in April but having come down from Tokyo ( luggage sent in advance with luggage delivery service) and reading up in advance we knew we had to take a local train from the Shin-osaka shinkansen station to Osaka station ( then we got a taxi to the conrad)
I did find the underground passageways around Osaka station a little confusing at first ( especially coming from Nishi Umenda to the Umeda Sky building and then later to Yodobashi Camera but after a few visits through the area it gets more familiar ( if you pay attention to all the signs) ( this was my first visit to Osaka after 5 visits to Tokyo and planning on coming back in late July ( Hilton is a lot cheaper than the conrad then)
Regards
TBS
May 13, 2019, 3:59 pm
#394
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,887
The Hilton being close to Osaka/Umeda station ( the JR loop line is probably useful) and several metro lines as well as being close to the Osaka Station city and the Hilton Plaza shops and close to the airport limosine bus stop at Herbis is probably slightly better located than the Conrad.
The Conrad ( part of the Festival City complex ) is above the Watanabebashi train line ( probably of limited use to tourists) and on top of an underground passageway to Higobashi station on the blue Yotsubashi line ( one stop to Nishi umeda for a walkway to the Herbis and Osaka station). Coming from the Higobashi station the exit is no 4 IIRC but the conrad osaka shows up on the direction boards and a few stops to Namba station for the Dotonbori river and nightlifge ( lots of neon and restaurants wiith the glico (sp?) Osaka running man sign)
We found that we took the Yotsubashi line south then changed lines to many destinations ( a little walk between lines ie200-300m but not too bad). A taxi from Osaka station was less than Y700 and was about the same to the Herbis airport limosine stop. coming from Tokyo we used the luggage delivery service and could have walked or used the subway but my mother was feeling a little tired so we just used the taxi. With carry on only you could use the subway up to Nishi umeda for the limosine bus but with suitcases and the cheap taxi fare it is a lot less hastle for the taxi.
The area immediately around the conrad is less commercial ( as the floors below 33 ( conrad starts on 33-40 with the lobby on 40) are offices but there is a small shopping area with convenience stores etc at B1 level.( the level below the street entrance to the Conrad.
There is a river on both sides of the Conrad with a walkway with lots of greenery and small modern art pieces which make it a nice walk) and there is an art museum on the 4th floor of the conrad tower ( did not go in)
The Conrad location is not bad at all.
However stepping out onto the 40th floor lobby with the floor to ceiling windows and the art scultpures gives an immediate wow! factor ( better than the city view at Conrad tokyo alothough the bay views at Conrad tokyo are excellent too). As a diamond I got a panoramic view corner room and from the bedroom and bathroom you had magnificent Osaka city views with hundreds of twinkling red lights at night which was beautiful whilst showering. Equally good views from the lounge and gym.
Whilst I would probably not pay 2x the hilton price for the conrad ( esp if you are going to be out all day and night) if you plan on coming back to the hotel during the day and can put up with the location and fewer shops ( but major shopping malls are just 1 stop away on the metro) the Conrad is excellent ( I paid around Y 35000 for the Conrad whilst the Hilton was Y27000 in April so the Conrad price was very good
Regards
TBS
May 13, 2019, 4:03 pm
#395
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: Southwest, Hilton
Posts: 896
We are about to leave Osaka Hilton. Executive floor was fabulous. Location is great. We have renovated room and I think you get more for your points here. Shopping is 1000 times better than in New York.
May 13, 2019, 4:13 pm
#396
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: Honors Diamond; AA Ex Plat; AS MVP 75K
Posts: 225
Any chance you have photos of the renovated room? The photos online make it look significantly less desirable than Conrad, but on points its a bargain comparatively.
May 13, 2019, 4:24 pm
#397
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: Southwest, Hilton
Posts: 896
We are just about to leave and it’s messy but I will find you one. Quiet room 3407. Absolutely no complaints. Bed was comfy, shower was great. Almost as great as Tokyo Hilton. Don’t think you’ll find better. Never liked Conrad hotels.
May 13, 2019, 4:26 pm
#398
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: Southwest, Hilton
Posts: 896
May 13, 2019, 6:23 pm
#399
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: Southwest, Hilton
Posts: 896
I just want to say that the transit system here is daunting. Very little English and this morning we had to get exec floor concierge to write a note to our cab driver where to go because they don’t speak English.
After you arrive at Osaka station, you still have to walk an Atlanta airport length to get to Hilton so pack bandaids and iceyhot. It’s been fun but you can’t just run out and say let’s go x or y because it’s very complicated. Of course if you travel here often I’m sure it’s a piece of cake.
After you arrive at Osaka station, you still have to walk an Atlanta airport length to get to Hilton so pack bandaids and iceyhot. It’s been fun but you can’t just run out and say let’s go x or y because it’s very complicated. Of course if you travel here often I’m sure it’s a piece of cake.
May 19, 2019, 5:44 am
#400
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,689
Without passing comment on the posts above about the difficulty in finding the hotel from Osaka Umeda station, here is the easiest and most foolproof way I can think of to describe this.
1) Make sure you are somewhere in the Osaka Umeda JR West (West Japan Railway Company). The JR bit is important, there are 7 stations in the complex, but the main JR station is well signed from all of them.
2) Once you are in the JR Station, follow the signs for Hotel Granvia - this is on the south side, fully built into the station building, and is extremely well signposted in Japanese and English.
3) At the entry area to the hotel you will see the main South Central Exit door to the outside. Go through it, outdoors and to the roadside You will see Hilton East Plaza on the right. Cross the road and you are there.
A lot of the confusion comes from the use of the underground passageway system but the above - staying on the station's main floor level - just makes it as simple as possible. Also there are some references to the central exit, this is perhaps slightly misleading (ok, totally incorrect). A photo of the door is below, which was taken by the station entrance for the Granvia. If you could see through all the concrete blocks on the right side of the photo, the Hilton would be right there. It is actually quite simple, it's just there are almost no signs to the Hilton within the station complex.
There is a temporary issue that there are roadworks going on, so you can't directly walk from the door below to the road, you have to walk around it a bit, but if you leave this door with a view to getting to the roadside then with a bit of weaving around you will get to the Hilton. Also there is a taxi / road entry to the Granvia, which is not signposted in the station, but if you got to that, you would see the Hilton behind you anyway.
1) Make sure you are somewhere in the Osaka Umeda JR West (West Japan Railway Company). The JR bit is important, there are 7 stations in the complex, but the main JR station is well signed from all of them.
2) Once you are in the JR Station, follow the signs for Hotel Granvia - this is on the south side, fully built into the station building, and is extremely well signposted in Japanese and English.
3) At the entry area to the hotel you will see the main South Central Exit door to the outside. Go through it, outdoors and to the roadside You will see Hilton East Plaza on the right. Cross the road and you are there.
A lot of the confusion comes from the use of the underground passageway system but the above - staying on the station's main floor level - just makes it as simple as possible. Also there are some references to the central exit, this is perhaps slightly misleading (ok, totally incorrect). A photo of the door is below, which was taken by the station entrance for the Granvia. If you could see through all the concrete blocks on the right side of the photo, the Hilton would be right there. It is actually quite simple, it's just there are almost no signs to the Hilton within the station complex.
There is a temporary issue that there are roadworks going on, so you can't directly walk from the door below to the road, you have to walk around it a bit, but if you leave this door with a view to getting to the roadside then with a bit of weaving around you will get to the Hilton. Also there is a taxi / road entry to the Granvia, which is not signposted in the station, but if you got to that, you would see the Hilton behind you anyway.
Jun 15, 2019, 5:57 pm
#402
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Everywhere
Programs: AA EXP - 3.7MM, Bonv LIFETIME Titan, HH Dmd, Hyatt Glob., Priority Clb Dmd, Ntnl Exec El., Sixt PLT
Posts: 1,680
Just finishing 2 night stay in Hilton Osaka. Renovated executive room on 34th floor. Executive Lounge is now on the 3rd floor.
It operates on the following schedule:
Breakfast: 6:45-10:30 am
Afternoon tea: 3:00-5:30 pm
Evening cocktails and canapes: 5:30-7:30 pm
As A Diamond, we had a breakfast at the restaurant on the first day. It was rather crowded so for the second day we switched to the lounge.
Selection is nearly the same except Chinese dishes and cooked to order eggs. But there are a few nice touches like fresh cherries and somewhat better selection of cheeses/cold cuts. For the evening they serve three types of hot items that were different on both evenings. Australian Chandon + wines/beer/sake/selected hard liquor. Overall, an excellent lounge especially for Japan. Could get busy in the evening.
It operates on the following schedule:
Breakfast: 6:45-10:30 am
Afternoon tea: 3:00-5:30 pm
Evening cocktails and canapes: 5:30-7:30 pm
As A Diamond, we had a breakfast at the restaurant on the first day. It was rather crowded so for the second day we switched to the lounge.
Selection is nearly the same except Chinese dishes and cooked to order eggs. But there are a few nice touches like fresh cherries and somewhat better selection of cheeses/cold cuts. For the evening they serve three types of hot items that were different on both evenings. Australian Chandon + wines/beer/sake/selected hard liquor. Overall, an excellent lounge especially for Japan. Could get busy in the evening.
Jun 15, 2019, 9:57 pm
#403
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Programs: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor, Hyatt, (Former IHG Ambassador)
Posts: 1,379
Jun 16, 2019, 12:15 am
#404
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: SQ PPS *G, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 264
Couldn’t agree more with this. I have been to Hilton Tokyo and Hilton Tokyo Odaiba, and Hilton Osaka easily has them beat. And also in terms of physical space as well.
Aug 17, 2019, 6:55 pm
#405
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: TK E+, WY, Radisson R
Posts: 2,360
Bust stops are just outside of arrival area of the terminal. I believe it is bus #5 you want for the Hilton, but please double check. Tickets can be purchased outside in the automatic machines. It is about a 45 minute ride to the Hilton, very nice and comfortable. I think it is the best way to reach the Hilton other than a Taxi, which could cost you over 10,000 Yuan or more!
As a gold, I'll get the breakfast, correct? I don't expect to be invited to the lounge since this will be end of Nov (fall foil-age) and most hotels will be full.
