Hilton Osaka {JPN}
 

Looking for advice (costs, time) on how to travel from KIX (Kansai) airport to the Hilton-Osaka.

Our flight arrives at 6:45pm

When you come out of KIX customs, take the escalator up to the second floor and walk straight across to the rail station. There are two rail companies, Nankai and JR.

Among you options are to:
1 - Take the JR airport rapid service to Osaka station. I think the Hilton is directly across from the station. This is the direct way to go, and the cheapest.
2 - You could take a JR Haruka to Tennoji and change to JR Loop line to Osaka station.

[This message has been edited by unagi1 (edited 07-19-2001).]

unagi1,

You have answered past questions for me in regards to Japan and again you have come through.

thanks!!!

Willie

Osaka Hilton Update
 

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).]

Sweet Willie,

Thank you! I really appreciate the report, as I'm booked here on an award stay next March. Just curious, were you on a paid or award stay?

Also glad to hear of your success in upgrading. I'll be only a couple of nights short of diamond this year, and this may be the incentive to try for a few cheapie stays to make it.

T2

edited for spelling

[This message has been edited by tartetatin2 (edited 08-09-2001).]

I was on a paid stay, but at only 17955 Yen ($145 USD), I thought it was a cheap stay for a Hilton in Japan. Plus the double summer bonus, plus the upgrade etc etc.

If you have not traveled internationaly before as a HHonors Gold or above, it is a true pleasure. I have only been gold for the past five years, but all my stays in Europe, I have been upgraded, free breakfast, executive floor, great service etc. etc. all w/out asking. They see gold and respond. Too bad the US Hiltons are not like that.

Neat pool too, on the top floor.

Hilton Osaka hotel
 

Any comments about this hotel, is it decent?

Online rates are Y21,000 for a double room, then Y24,000 for a "deluxe", and Y28,000 for "club floor". What do you get for the differential, is it worth it?

Would appreciate any comments or thoughts, never stayed in Osaka and would like to be near Osaka or Shin-Osaka station -- this hotel seems to fit the bill. How does it compare with JR's Granvia (similarly priced) that is right in the station?

Thanks a lot!!

Hilton Osaka is a fine property, and if you want to be close to Shin-Osaka Station, well, you won't get any closer.

I stayed there in July 2001 and then again earlier this year, rooms are quite comfortable, if a little on the small size, but show me a large room in Japan that isn't a suite. I stayed on discount rates in a standard double both times, so can't comment on whether the upgraded rooms are worth the extra. Service is up to usual Hilton standards.

Location is fantastic, with plenty of shopping and good restaurants close by. I didn't use the hotel's facilities.

Enjoy your stay.

[This message has been edited by inasmuchas (edited 11-24-2002).]

I recently put in 4 long nights at the Granvia. Very small rooms (even by Japanese standards http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif ), desperately in need of serious, serious renovation - like with a wrecking ball. In comparision, the Hilton across the road seemed like the Taj Mahal. The ONLY saving grace for the Granvia was that it was very inexpensive - less than $90 per night including breakfast. Just imagine what $90 gets you in Japan, downscale it, and you have the Granvia. It'd be acceptable for one night, but next time it'll be the Hilton for certain.

To summarize: DO NOT STAY AT THE GRANVIA!

[This message has been edited by JHunter (edited 11-24-2002).]

Excellent info so far, any other comments, particularly on the upgraded rooms? Commonly in Japan, the first level upgrade just gets you a room on a higher floor -- this isn't worth extra to me, if that's the case.

Incidentally, if you want to stay in a LARGE hotel room in Japan, I can recommend two Tokyo properties: the Westin (Ebisu Garden Place) and the Park Hyatt (West Shinjuku). Both are pricey but very good, although the Hilton Tokyo, Century Hyatt, and Keio Plaza Intercontinental, all at Shinjuku, despite being older, are fine for their price range.

The 3 grades of rooms I am aware of at the Osaka Hilton are deluxe, business floor, and executive floor.

The business floor rooms have an in-room fax machine; I am unaware if they feature LAN ports yet, as Asian Hiltons (e.g. Shinjuku, Seoul) with business floors usually do.

The executive floor rooms come with lounge access and breakfast.


A side note about Granvia hotels: they are ****, like Prince hotels, not *****; the one in Kyoto station is new and rather nice, but rooms are unimpressive.

I wrote this one up in the non-compliant hotels thread. Although I had booked an executive floor room and then 2 free nights, they told me they were sold out on my freenights and I'd have to move... so settled on one a regular room. Well upon checking hilton.com, they did in fact have executive floor rooms available on the web site for my award nights they just lied and figured they could sell them vs. give them out. Did get breakfast coupons, but nothing else. Is right across the street from Osaka station, so convenient for traveling.

Thanks folks. I think the comments are quite definitive: skip the Granvia. At the Hilton, the lowest priced room ("deluxe") is sufficient -- and don't do it with an award! I appreciate everyone's help.

I spent a night at the Hilton Osaka last January. As a Gold member at the time, I had requested an upgrade to the Executive Floor. They were very glad to give me the upgrade at check-in PROVIDED that I pay an additional 4,000 Yen to my (admittedly) low fare of 21,000 Yen. An interesting variation ...