kats

JPY11,111 per night is being offered at SPG.com mostly on weekdays. The rate is unprecedentedly low to my knowlege. Great opportunity for those visiting Osaka. I am switching my stays at Sheraton to Westin now.

kats

The special rate of JPY11,111 has disappeared. I found out later that the rate was to match a limited time offer from a travel site.

BonViveur

Not sure whether to be happy or disappointed here. Stay is 8 nights over Christmas and NYE, all on points, so it's nil revenue at a time of rack rates.

All requests made in advance were denied at check-in, including a higher floor request. The reason given was that higher floors were smoking floors, but apparently, so was ours, judging from the smell. We didn't like the small, soft pillows and requested others. We received 'Japanese buckwheat' pillows - very hard and heavy, and uncomfortable to us, so we called again for different pillows. The first response was to deny our request as we had enough pillows already so we informed them to retrieve the unwanted ones and exchange them for others.

The corner room/suite is pleasant enough but furnished without sufficient thought. The smaller living room/office has 3 chairs and a coffee table, a TV on a console with mini bar and a large desk with fax. A sofa would have been much appreciated to relax in the room. There is only 1 armchair in what the hotel called a suite. Desk is large and there are plenty of power points everywhere. Views are as good as I can expect in an unattractive city with 2 huge windows plus a second in the bedroom. Bathroom has separate carpeted room with twin basins - kind of old fashioned. There are very few decorations in the room and hallways making the appearance spartan, but the other public areas are lovely.

Breakfast coupons are offered to platinum members which can be used in the club for a 'refreshing breakfast' or in the Amadeus cafe for a 'continental breakfast'. We went to Amadeus on the first morning and received a bill, without a word of english (I know this isn't an English speaking country) before we had taken a plate of food and after handing over our vouchers. I asked what the bill was for and was told we had to pay extra to have the buffet instead of continental breakfast. I had not been asked my preference, just received the bill. When i took this up at the club, they removed the charge without prompting and expalined the rules...you pay 458yen extra for the buffet and that the staff would explain what we were permitted to eat for free. We also received special vouchers for 1 Jan including full 'special New Year buffet at Amadeua, regular club breakfast, or japanese set breakfast in Hanano restaurant. I guess they are fully booked and need all the venues, but it's a nice touch. generally, the breakfast was good, including some really high quality pastries from the inhouse bakery.

Platinum newspaper delivery was spotty but they were available in the club.

The hotel charges a silly 4200 yen to use the pool or gym, which is great for plat. members who get it free....we enjoyed a private pool and spa each night.

Massages are on offer for 7850 yen per hour in the fitness club, or in room. Great price, I think.

TVs are very old 20 inch CRTs but they do have external RCA AV connections. It's obvious this hotel operates as far from Starwood standards as their contract allows, not participating in a number of programs, like Starwood Privilege and surprisingly, a few staff made us feel like unwelcome foreigners - a real surprise to us as most Japanese staff, and the people in general are most helpful and welcoming. Maybe it was a bad year in Japan?

It is a 10-15 min walk to trains, only 1/3 covered and the shuttle to the station is infrequent so once the St Regis opens next year, we'll stay there instead, on Midosuji, although the location will improve once the new JR station and shopping complex are completed.

Generally a good Japanese style western hotel, but not my favourite in Japan.

VanMan

Just left the Westin after a 3 night C&P stay with Mrs V. We were impressed with the Platinum upgrade, which was a King bedroom,with all the normal attributes, on the executive floor PLUS the adjoining room which was set up as a sitting room, with pull out bed sofa, plus desk, flat screen TV, fridge and full bathroom.

The lounge was just down the hall and offered a "continental" breakfast with hot scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, plus lots more.. The evening lounge experience was fairly formal, with the staff pouring all the drinks, and on Sunday even preparing plates of cold food for your table...the only problem with this is that a lot of the garnishes were not to our taste...no problem asking for what one would like though!

The transportation options are good, with a free shuttle every 15 minutes throughout the day to the huge Osaka Station complex, which has 3 subway lines plus numerous other trains. The Kansai bus leaves three times each morning from the hotel between 7am and 11am. About 1 hour 15 minutes to KIX for 1500 Yen.

We really enjoyed a three night stopover here to enjoy Osaka's many offerings.

chanp

Checked in today, for 2 nights. Got here about 11am, room not ready. Didn't expect it to, as it's a busy time of the year for them. Came back about 3pm, checked in downstairs. Check in process a bit slow, finally made it to my room. It is a recently renovated one, so the agent says. Seems ok to me. Went to the lounge this evening for some drinks and appys. They sit you down then serve you multi courses of canapes. Had a drink list which you choose from as well. All served. Never seen it done at any property before like this. Nice touch. Will report back on breakfast tomm, as I was given coupons. Additional costs for breakfast are a bit more, as there is a new years menu on the 1st.

Im going to try the Michelin star restaurant at the property tomm. When I checked in there was a book with Kokyu marked. When I asked for reservations, they said it was made at Imperial Palace, and they tell me it s the same restaurant?? Will report back on Sat.

chanp

Restaurant was good. The concierge there was awesome, Ill have to post his name in a future post. The restaurant was pretty good. For new years, they had 2 set menus, 11 and 13k IIRC, maybe it was 15k a head during that night. Good property, lounge service is really good. English is a bit of a problem with some of the employees, but they try really hard.

Tracer_SEA

Just finished a stay at the Westin... Felt dated and stuffy and seems to cater mostly to wedding business

The Hilton looked nice from the outside -- and the location is better (no need for shuttle to/from Osaka Station)... Is it a better bet for foreign visitors?

Clive7

Anyone stayed in the westin osaka lately? I'm quite undecided between this or the hilton osaka.

3rdworldresident

does anybody stay here recently?

how is its service and plat recognition compare to the st.regis?

thanks in advance

ps. sorry for my poor english lol

StationaryTraveller

The Westin Osaka

Stay Period - 2010.10.14 ~ 2010.10.18
Room - Corner Suite

- Bad room condition
- Corner Suite is not the Heavenly Bed
- Platinum Benefit is a breakfast and Happy Hour ^
(Platinum member to eat breakfast at 400 yen to pay additional at the restaurant Amadeus)
- Fantastic Happy Hour ^^^
- There is a pretty garden
- There is free shuttle bus to the JR Osaka Station
- Taxi price (From Osaka Station 650 yen. From Namba Station 2.000 yen)


Approximately 100 photos and the reviews written in Korean
To see the reviews you need a very fast internet speeds

The Westin Osaka - Corner Suite

BonViveur

I mainly agree with the info here except; a/ the corner accommodation is not a suite. Maybe you could call it a junior suite. It has a living area so tiny it is barely usable and feels cramped and uncomfortable. We used it to keep our luggage and shopping. This room type is avail on points as an upgraded room, not double points. It's a great room for a room, but even the hotel didn't call it a suite when we stayed, and b/ the plat breakfast can be had at either the lounge or in the main restaurant. If you eat in the main restaurant, you may only eat certain items without paying a supplement.

We considered it again for our next 1 week stay as it has a great laundry nearby and the new Osaka Station City is less than a 10 min walk, but St Regis won out. Greater cost, but greater style, newer, real full breakfast, 1 min to subway and it's midtown, between all the places we like to visit.

enelym1978

^ Thanks for the nice pictures!

Can't wait to spend 2 nights there next week. The bed looks kinda bad though... I hope I will get a newer bed. The one I had at the Westin Taipei was litterally heavenly... I slept like a baby!

BKKLEE

Just returned from a 3-night stay......

Chose Internet as the "gold choice gift", however 24-hours after logging on to the signal my wifes iPhone was still "loading" making the service totally useless.....

Starwood Lurker II

I would request for technical assistance from the front desk on both instances(yes for the hotel in Incheon as well). It may just be an issue with the IP address between the server and the phone.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

BKKLEE

Tried it at both the Westin Osaka and Sheraton Incheon and both properties couldn't have cared less (no problem getting connected in the business class lounges at both Incheon & Osaka Airports so I'd say the problem was not with my wifes iPhone but with the hotels server)