derpelikan

i stayed there several times last year.

and if you are a gold or diamond you will really get a great treatment there.

the gm is a german and he and his staff is doing a very good job. it was one of my best stays in a hilton hotel .

dp

RTWSTARALLIANCE

Please read my post again. No time travel here.

yasuki

Definitely, Westin Osaka is better. Hilton Osaka is on the better location but Westin Osaka will gives you the much more comfortable stay in the hotel. 42m2 room with a large bathroom and a showerbooth VS 30m2 room with a tiny bathroom. Westin Osaka has a shuttle bus and it occurs every 20 mins, but in these days, I walk to JR Osaka station. (just 10 mins) On the way to Osaka station, you can find Yodobashi-camera and Comme Ca Store.
http://www.yodobashi-umeda.com/index.html

To KIX, the airport limousine bus stops at Westin Osaka in the morning, and otherwise you can take a cab to Herbis Osaka that is an shopping complex(shops, restaurants, a bus terminal and a hotel-Ritz Carlton Osaka) with 7-8 dollars.
http://www.herbis-osaka.com/

It is quite similar to Westin Tokyo VS Hilton Tokyo. But in this case, Hilton Osaka is more expensive than Westin Osaka, so I mostly choose Westin Osaka. ( 9 stays at Westin Osaka, 1 stay at Hilton Osaka, 9 stays at Hilton Tokyo and 1 stay at Westin Tokyo in my 2004 )

mario33

Thanks for your replies.

I actually managed to obtain a better rate at the Hilton (USD183 nett)compared to the Westin (USD200 plus taxes); and with the free breakfast and Gold upgrade (?) it seems that Hilton is better value.

My stay in Osaka will be very short, hence a convenient location is a big plus.

Another Starwood "double stay credit" lost

mario33

I just realised that there are 2 main railway stations in Osaka; Osaka JR and Shin Osaka.

Since I will be arriving by train from Kyoto, it looks like I will be arriving at the Shin Osaka station . Hence, the Hilton Osaka may not be as convenient as I had originally thought.

Is there a shuttle from the Shin Osaka station to the Westin Osaka ?

Thanks.

railroadtycoon

Yes there is a shuttle to Osaka station.
heres the page in Japanese
http://www.westin-osaka.co.jp/access/shuttle.html

However you can get the idea of the distance. It is walkable, but the shuttle is good. The shuttlebus runs roughly every 20minutes.

Ah i'm sorry I just realised thats to Osaka station, not shin-osaka station. You can go to osaka station and take the train to Shin-Osaka if needed.

Actually if you're coming in from Kyoto, instead of taking the Shinkansen which only stops at Shin-Osaka, take either the limited express train or special rapid trains from Kyoto station to Osaka station, its only 10minutes longer than by Shinkansen (it takes 25minutes by local or limited express trains from Kyoto to Osaka Station, it takes 15minutes by Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka Station).

yasuki

Yes, that is right. You do not have to take Shinkansen. Take a rapid train on Tokaido-Sanyo line from kyoto. It takes just 30 mins to Osaka, and you can save 2,400 JPY.

rbAA

You can take the JR line from Kyoto to Osaka.

Hyatt has the HR Osaka, but it is down near the convention center, about 30 minutes south, but still a 50 minute limo bus ride to KIX. Shuttle runs about every 30 minutes. I paid JPY11,700 per night, which was less than Westin or Hilton, but only saw Osaka from the shuttle, which was planned as I had spent the majority of my time in Kyoto and had flights into/out of ITM for the trip to and from the US and out of KIX to Shanghai.

mario33

Would taking a cab to Herbis Osaka and catch the limousine bus, more convenient/comfortable than taking the Westin shuttle to JR Osaka station for the train ride to KIX ?

Also I noticed that the Westin Osaka charges an extra USD40 (plus taxes) for twin occupancy. Are they particular about the number of guests in the room like certain countries in Europe ?

yasuki

I think so if you have heavy luggages. The problem is the traffic jam.

The single rate is different from the twin rate. That is all.

yasuki

Since 25th of April on 2005, the shuttle bus between The Westin Osaka and JR Osaka station has been renewaled.

[ Hotel shuttle bus (free) ]
From hotel : 7:50. 8:10,30,50. 9:00-20:00(05,20,35,50). 21:10,30,50.
From JR Osaka : 8:00,20,40. 9:00-20:00(00,15,30,45). 21:00,20,40 .22:00.
5-10 mins would be required.

[ Airport Limousine bus (1,300JPN) ]
From hotel to Kansai airport(KIX) : 07:18 -> 08:30
From Kansai airport(KIX) : 18:45 -> 20:04

RTWSTARALLIANCE

Well. I need to get myself out of the hotel I am staying at in Fukuoka. The Westin Osaka looks to be the option as I want to see the observatory. Can someone comment on direction from Shin Osaka, cost of HSIA in rooms, is HSIA charged for Executive Lounge guests, what kind of upgrades are Plats getting now if available, suggestions for walking around the real downtown Osaka area (I know Hotel is not in center of city so to speak) and is it easy access to Osaka Castle? Thanks appreciate. I need to make my reservation asap.

railroadtycoon

To get to the Westin Osaka from ShinOsaka Station, take the JR line south to Osaka Station.

The Westin Osaka runs a shuttlebus between Osaka Station and the Hotel.
Pick up times can be found here:
http://www.westin-osaka.co.jp/access/shuttle.html

If you prefer to walk, it is about a 15 minute walk from the Central North Exit. When you exit, cross the street keeping Yodobashi store to your right, keep walking strait (follow other folks) until you get to a pedestrian underpass, go in the tunnel and it emerges at the Umeda Sky Building, you should be able to find the Westin next to the Sky Building.

Here's a map: the trail is in red:
http://www.westin-osaka.co.jp/img/map/map200601.gif

---
Edit:
I found an english map here:
http://www.westin-osaka.co.jp/img/map/map_a4e.pdf
---

As for getting to Osaka castle:
Follow the directions back to Osaka Station either walk or bus:
Take the JR Osaka Loop line to Osakajokoen Station (Osaka Castle Park St.) you can also take the Osaka Loop line to Morinomiya Station, it doesn't matter much all the JR stations and subway stations are outlining the Castle so you'll have to walk through the park and up to the castle.

You can also pick up a map from the tourist information booth outside the Station. I've read your prior Japan reports so I'm sure you'll have no problem navigating around.

Hope that helps.

Things to do in Osaka:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=480881
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=498834

yasuki

In short, cost of HSIA in rooms is 1,050yen/day and WIFI at the exe lounge might be free, I guess. You would be upgraded to the DX room on the exe floor or the corner suite on the standard floor. I guess you prefer the DX room on the exe floor because of the heavenly beds.

I am staying at Hilton Tokyo Bay on 29th and Westin Osaka on 30th.
Have lots of fun!

RTWSTARALLIANCE

Thank you both. Excellent information.