ElevatorEnthusiast

On the topic of multiple elevators, I have found this setup at most properties I have tried in Japan - I find it a fine trade-off for a hotel being on the top section of a building rather than the bottom, as is common in the US. Off the top of my head, two elevators were necessary for Prince Gallery Tokyo, Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, Park Hyatt Tokyo, Mesm Tokyo, St Regis Osaka, and W Osaka - the latter is a bit dumb as the first elevator only takes you to the 3rd floor.

ElevatorEnthusiast

Well, similar to Kyoto, Miyako strikes again as an amazing operator! The Osaka Marriott is one of the coolest properties I have been to in a long time, and it's great that the property provides fantastic comfort in addition to stunning and unique views (being so high up over everything else for miles). This was easily my favorite in Osaka - here are my pros, cons, and photos:

Pros:

• Met by several agents on the 19th floor and escorted to the Club Lounge for check-in as I was on the list - I think this is supposed to be relaxing, so I'll mark it as a pro - though, I found it a bit odd that I was brought to a table and asked to wait - five minutes later, a check-in associate came over and brought me to the desk - not sure if this was a stall tactic or they really were doing other things - oh, well, I enjoyed some water and walked around the lounge
• No upgrade showed up on app - I'm pretty sure the Miyako hotels don't integrate on room type in the app - but was told I was upgraded to a Club Corner King - this room was stunning - please see the photos
• 50th floor Club Corner King facing southwest was stunning - amazing windows looking out over an urban landscape that never gets close to your height - very unique as even the RC Tokyo had the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower matching your height
• Room was spacious with lots of comfortable seating and multiple nice tables - there were also some cool and smart design elements such as the walk-in closet that could be accessed from the bedroom or entrance foyer
• Bed was wonderfully comfortable - plush covers, plush mattress, plush pillows
• Shower pressure was fantastic from the wand head - literally the perfect pressure - so strong but not stinging
• Shower and bath had a lovely window, too
• Toilet was fully automated
• Loved the Marriott logo on the towels
• Bags were in my room by the time I arrived
• A lovely welcome gift of assorted chocolates and cookies and really tasty strawberries in a beautiful dome with some fresh and pretty flowers (I didn't eat the flowers)
• Told explicitly I could have checkout until 4 PM when they asked when I was leaving - I told them I would be leaving at 1 PM
• Super convenient transit links - the Tennoji station on the Midosuji Line (which takes you to both Umeda for JR links to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka for the Shinkansen) is literally in the hotel's basement with direct elevator access to the hotel lobby
• I loved the elevators and building design - the see-through elevator shafts (wish they made the cars scenic, too) were so fun to see the elevator machinery come up to your floor - the scenic access elevators from the ground levels to the hotel lobby on 19 were also worth visiting (as opposed to the smaller hotel access elevators a few cars down)
• Given a voucher for the Harukas 300 public observatory - definitely recommend doing this - the 360 degree views from the 60th floor were lovely, no real waits, staff was friendly, and the elevators have see-through ceilings so you can see inside the shaft
• Club Lounge offering is nice
  • Afternoon and evening service - tasty cakes, vanilla macarons, and cheese and pepper cookies
  • Evening service had several dishes, including a tasty fish baked in a cheese sauce
  • Lots of liquor and spirit choices for self-pours between 7 and 9 PM, including Bailey's and Kahlua
• Elite breakfast is served in the 19th floor buffet restaurant (interesting as this was the first hotel in Japan to give me a paper voucher)
  • Relatively tasty offering - nice donuts, pancakes weren't too bad (though a bit overly thick), nice egg station with paper order forms including an option for a well-done (so American) omelet
  • Couple of misses - have to get your own coffee from the machine, salmon a bit dry - but overall not bad

Cons:

• Hand towels were a bit thin
• No Internet TV OS

Overall, this was a lovely hotel that I would return to in a heartbeat. It might be a bit further from the action, but convenient transit links resolve that problem. It's just so comfortable and beautiful.

Photos:


























































Some sunset shots from the Harukas 300 observatory:

Nagasaki Joe

Nice review, ElevatorEnthusiast, thanks. You clearly thought more of the hotel than I did, but to each his own. It's a very solid 50k point redemption. One observation I got from your reviews in Japan so far is that your Ambassador Elite status has gotten you upgrades that I haven't gotten with Platinum Elite status only. I'd be curious to know if you have gotten more upgrades here than you normally would have gotten in the US under the same circumstances. As a Platinum, I did get access to the 50th club floor but not to a corner room, which clearly is a step above in terms of space and also offers a more panoramic view.

At 4.6, this hotel rates the same as the RC Kyoto. Although I haven't stayed at the RC Kyoto yet, I've been inside of it and am pretty familiar with the property and RC-style service. That said, I thought the service at the Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel was good but not exceptional. Anyway, if anyone has a 50k FNA from a credit card, I think this would be a very good place to use it.

ElevatorEnthusiast

It's interesting - I definitely wouldn't say that Japan has offered significant numbers of suite upgrades, but I expected that as a combination of high demand and some of the properties I'm staying at seemingly not having many suite choices. However, I do think that most of the properties I have visited, Osaka Marriott included, have been upgrading me before arrival in good faith. Unlike the US where I will push for upgrades at check-in, I have been accepting the rooms given to me here in Japan as conversations consistently at check-in have led to "we have upgraded you to...". My best and most consistent suite upgrade experience has still been my trip to Dubai, and I'm curious to see if my upcoming trip to Doha and Abu Dhabi will play out similarly.

WillTravel4Food

People can say what they want about this property, but in my book it is top notch. It's easily my best Marriott experience ever. Even without a suite upgrade, I was on award, it was still a stellar experience. The lounge is amazing and I'm still telling people about that experience. The concierge were able to book me a difficult to find spot for the Santory Yamazaki distillery tour. I'd recommend this property in a heartbeat to anybody. As for those who say location is a problem, there are two train stations next to the hotel. I was able to get everywhere I wanted without problems and never found it to be an inconvenience.

All your pictures make me want to go back, but we will be touring on the San'in coast this coming April and never be anywhere close to Osaka.

dafonz

Echo this. This property and the St Regis osaka are my two favourite marriotts in Japan. Concierges in both hotels were fantastic to work with and got us into some pretty tough to get into restaurants.

koi

Just curious are they still giving out abeno harukas observatory tickets? I couldn't find any info about it other than people saying it on the forums... If so, how many tickets do you get per stay?

mynameisdmoon

1 for each guest (I'm assuming, as there were two of us) for each night of your stay.

888maple

Does anyone know this hotel frontdesk email ? I'd like to email them for our upcoming stay later this year. Thank you

kb1992

It seems that this hotel won't allow SNA.

Can anyone tell a different story? I have SNAs expiring on 12/31 and would love to use it by then.

Otherwise, I might stay at Osaka Westin or W.

ElevatorEnthusiast

Marriott Miyako: "We are so sorry your room is on a low floor."

Me: "What floor is it?"

Marriott Miyako: "46th floor"

Me: "Now this is my type of hotel"

ElevatorEnthusiast

I love the Osaka Marriott Miyako - my 2nd stay here was even better than my first. The staff display a level of care and detail that is refreshing, even for Japan, the heights are stunning, and the breakfast was far better than I remember. Here are my updated impressions after my 2-night stay:

Pros:

• At check-in, they said I had been pre-assigned to a Club Deluxe - I asked if there were any suites or corner rooms, and they offered a junior suite if I was okay with 2 beds (more like a small double or a big twin) - I did tell them I didn’t need late checkout (not sure if that changed anything) - then, they apologized for the low placement on the 46th floor ;-)
• The junior suite is more like a full suite in my book with full separation between the living room and bedroom
• Unlike the Conrad, despite the height and full glass windows, the climate control works well to maintain the cool or warm temperature you desire
• The beds were fantastic - plush mattress, plush covers (especially when you stack the cover from the other bed), and plush pillows - I was literally in a cloud floating above Osaka
• Shower pressure is amazing and the shower has a great view
• Housekeeping showed a huge amount of care
  • Delivered a bunch of extra towels soon after check-in
  • Brought me some lovely roses at turndown service
  • They made my bed with the double covers as I had them during mid-day service
• Same welcome gift of some chocolates and madeleine
• Views throughout the building are stunning
• Club lounge had tasty treats during afternoon tea service - especially the cheese soufflé and macarons
• Breakfast is only in the restaurant and is very good
  • A server rolls around a cart with warm and yummy croissants
  • Really yummy and fluffy pancakes with M logo
  • Good hashbrown sticks one day
  • Omelets are good
  • Good almost-savory donuts
• Service is very friendly - always lots of folks to greet in the lobby, etc. - assistant manager wanted to hear about my stay when I checked out, etc
• Located directly above Tennoji Station - great for Kanku Rapid service to Kansai Airport (only 1080 JPY on IC card), but make sure you are in cars 1-4 as the train uncouples at Himeno Station (JR Harukas is more than double the price and less frequent)

Cons:

• I only stayed two nights

I will return.

Photos:

mynameisdmoon

Aw man, seeing this review pop up in my inbox makes me want to return here. This was the first property I ever booked blindly just because of FT's cult-like raving reviews of it and it was a treat (especially give the price I paid a year ago....). I'm itching to go back to Osaka for a short trip and hopefully will be staying here (4-5 days maybe ). Now if the pricing would fall a bit...

FrontOfTheCurtain

Disappointed, as an Ambassador, I was told at the restaurant & at the lobby Bonvoy desk that breakfast is only available in the Club Lounge.

Norexan

Has anyone had the teppanyaki dinner at the ZK restaurant in this hotel? I'm trying to figure out how much it costs but all I can find is that it starts around 10K JPY. What is the upper limit, not including alcohol?