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4.5
#12 of 450 hotels in Osaka
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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Imperial Hotel, Osaka, opened to the public on March 15, 1996. Located in a central downtown area overlooking a picturesque river, one of Japan's most famous spots for cherry blossoms, we are in an excellent location for guests to relax and enjoy themselves. The Imperial Hotel, Osaka has inherited the traditions of Tokyo's famed Imperial Hotel, which have been handed down over the past 123 years. We try to please our guests by offering our distinctive style of Japanese hospitality.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Lovely hotel with great customer service. Best way to get to the hotel from Osaka airport (KIX) is to get the airport limousine bus to Herbis Osaka stop and then walk over the road to get the complimentary hotel shuttle bus. Much much cheaper than forking out for a taxi. Friendly receptionist allowed me to check in early and also upgraded my room to the executive floor. All of the staff were very friendly for the duration of my visit. Room was a good size, comfy bed, nice bathroom etc. Shame about the small TV and it would have been nice to have a proper standalone shower rather than a bath one. I liked the nice touches provided by housekeeping, they cleaned the room nicely and arranged my items very neatly. I was also greeted to classical music playing on the room radio as I came back from a long day touring around. The shuttle bus to and from JR Osaka station every 15 mins is handy, particularly because there’s not a lot happening in the local area around the hotel and the hotel restaurants are just your standard affair that you won’t want to eat in every day. Osaka castle is a pleasant 30 min walk away along the river. Overall a great hotel in an average location but the shuttle bus makes up for it.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ImperialHotelOsaka, 客室予約係 at Imperial Hotel Osaka
Responded Mar 3, 2020
Please accept our thanks for your patronage of the Imperial Hotel Osaka. We are very grateful that you took the time to offer your highly valued comments about your stay. We were also delighted to learn that you had an enjoyable stay with us. However it’s very unfortunate that the size of the television and the bathroom were not satisfactory. Please accept our most sincere apologies. How was your visit to Osaka? Many of our guests appreciate the ease of travel between the hotel and Osaka Station, as we offer free shuttlebus service, departing once every 15 minutes on weekdays and once every 10 minutes on weekends and holidays. The riverbanks beside the hotel are lined with cherry trees that blossom with an explosion of pink color in the spring that our guests find delightful. If you have an opportunity we hope that you can visit Osaka at that time. The hotel staff look forward to welcoming you again during your next visit. Hayato Tsunaoka Reservation office Imperial Hotel Osaka
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Fairly luxurious, but a notch below their Tokyo flagship. Services and facilities were surprisingly inconsistent, and unsurprisingly inflexible. For one, the 'Superior' Imperial floor rooms are significantly worse than the 'Superior' regular floor rooms. When pointed out, the check in clerk agreed that the terminology was confusing and offered to change me to a better room for a significant upcharge (No 'Can we do this for free to make up for the misunderstanding?'). My wife wanted to eat at a strawberry festival buffet which was ongoing at the lobby restaurant, and she was curtly told they were 'closed'. Later on I found it was open but I needed to make reservations in advance, though the area was empty and they could clearly have fitted us in. When pointed out, the waiter said he did not know English and got confused! Again, no effort to address the issue (Can we offer you a tea and cake for your trouble?) The breakfast buffet was surprisingly poor quality - a very basic spread, no fresh juices, limited and basic selection of fruits, meats and cheeses, food not refilled in time, etc. The Imperial lounge had top notch service though. Though kids were not allowed, they allowed us to park our sleeping baby near the entrance and enjoy our drinks in peace, which almost made up for all the other shortcomings! The location is a little out of the way but not by much, and the shuttle bus to Osaka Station is convenient, and a short taxi ride would take you to most of the popular places around. The riverfront walk is excellent in spring.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:River view rooms are bigger and worth a small premium
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mom and I stayed here 3 nights. While in Japan for 2 weeks, this was our favorite hotel. The staff was amazing and the property beautiful and spotless. This was originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, so...history. There is a free shuttle from JR train station, 15 minutes away. Located beside the river, it has views on both sides. Amenities: all toiletries needed, big Japanese style tub, great views, choices of restaurants and bars, shopping nearby that is upscale as well as discounted. Shrines and museums close. They have wedding accommodations. We even saw a real Sumo at breakfast buffet which had a great array to select from in Japanese and western style. Arigato!
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ImperialHotelOsaka, 客室予約係 at Imperial Hotel Osaka
Responded Mar 29, 2020
Thank you sincerely for your patronage of the Imperial Hotel Osaka. Thank you also for taking the time to provide us with such kind words about our hotel. We were very happy to learn that you were satisfied with your stay with us. Did you enjoy your visit to Osaka as well? As you noted, the original Imperial Hotel in Tokyo was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. We’re proud to acknowledge that the design for the Imperial Hotel Osaka was greatly influenced by the motifs and traditions of the original Wright building. On behalf of all of our staff, we would like to warmly welcome you again to our hotel during your next visit here. Hayato Tsunaoka Reservation office Imperial Hotel Osaka
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Staying at the Imperial was to be one of the highlights of our trip but I have to say it was a real disappointment. The staff on arrival were very welcoming but it was downhill from thereafter.
We booked here on the basis of it having a good reputation and because the website listed a pool and gym as part of the amenities. However we were horrified to then find that use of the gym facilities comes at a price of ¥5,500 about £35) per person per day. This is not clear on the booking websites at all. For a supposedly five star hotel you would expect this kind of stuff - or at least basic access to exercise equipment - to be included in the price.
As for the rest of the hotel, again, pricey. A 2/3rd pint of beer will set you back around ¥1,300 (about £8). This would be fine if the service matched the price but to be honest the staff were fairly inattentive.
Our room was clean and bright although for a non-smoking room there was a lingering smell of tobacco which wasn’t pleasant.
It is also worth mentioning that the location of the Imperial is not great for tourists being around a 10 minute walk to the nearest metro. There is very little around the local area of the hotel to mention. The hotel does put on a shuttle bus to Osaka station in fairness.
Overall, the Imperial is a bit of a stuffy, stuck in the past kind of place. It seemed clear to us that they are catering mainly for the business market i.e. conferences. Tourists can get much better for the same price elsewhere.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ImperialHotelOsaka, 客室予約係 at Imperial Hotel Osaka
Responded Mar 29, 2020
Our thanks for choosing to stay at the Imperial Hotel Osaka and for providing you greatly valued comments about your stay. We understand that you were not satisfied with the fitness club usage fees, the staff service and the tobacco smell in the guestroom, and for that, we would like to express our sincere apologies. We pledge to work hard to eliminate the problems that you have identified and to offer all of our guests a very comfortable stay. We look forward to the opportunity to host you again in the future at the Imperial Hotel Osaka. Hayato Tsunaoka Reservation office Imperial Hotel Osaka
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After staying in a couple of mid range hotels in Japan it was a real treat checking in to the Imperial Hotel Osaka.
From the moment I arrived I could already tell why it came so highly recommended. The level of service was incredible and after tripping over myself in tiny hotel rooms, it was so nice to have a hotel room with space! Wardrobe, desk, chair, a place for your suitcase… These may seem like basic things but they make all the difference!
I loved the traditional pyjamas provided, the bathroom amenities were wonderful and the shower! I am going to miss that shower - just heavenly.
The hotel is a little bit further out from the action and I can appreciate that if I’d been staying in Osaka longer, it may have been more efficient to stay in the Minami Ward. However, for the time I was here I managed very well with my 10 minute walk to Sakuranomiya station. In addition to running along the Osaka Loop Line It’s a JR station so I managed to book all my upcoming travel on the bullet trains and Narita Express. Very handy!
There is also a Lawson’s right next to the station and there’s an entrance to the hotel right next to the river walkway so you can zip right in when you get back from a day’s exploration. (Just be mindful that the riverside exit closes at night so you’ll need to walk to the main entrance or there’s a phone there and you can call the front desk to have someone let you in).
Free tea, coffee and mineral water in the room were most welcome and the view was spectacular! I was on the 18th floor which was gave me some amazing views of the city in the morning and night.
I didn’t eat at any of the restaurants but did order room service after a particularly tiring day. It wasn’t great but they were very accommodating of my dietary requirements and were very apologetic when they ran out of an item I ordered. I’d stick to eating in Dotonburi…
Overall, I loved my stay at the Imperial and would happily go back.
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Take the West exit out of Sakuranomiya station for the hotel. Enter the hotel via the river...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed at the Imperial hotel in Osaka as it appealed to me being on the river away from the hustle and bustle of the city and station area. Luckily there's a free shuttle bus for hotel guests but it looked like locals used the service as well for free.
We had a 2 bedroom suite overlooking the river, the hotel is showing it's age but the deal we had included breakfast (which I had to negotiate on) as we were given 2 twin rooms when I wanted a king room and adjoining twin room for my daughters.
Service was very good but the breakfast was very underwhelming with limited choices and they were constantly running out of food in both breakfast venues. The hotel is located on the river and not far from a rail line, there are very few restaurants nearby so we used to catch the bus into Osaka station and go to Dotonbori where all the action is including a great teppanyaki restaurant called President which was excellent. Next time I'd stay around the station area where all the retail, transport links and its proximity to Osaka nightlife.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The view from our room was the highlight of the hotel for us. We stayed on one of the Imperial floors (room 1907) with a view of the river. It was really spectacular! The room itself was very nice. The bed was comfortable, there was a desk/work station, couch, chairs and coffee table. The shower room was great! Lots of high tech features in the room.
The hotel is in a good location. If you like to walk, you can walk along the river to the Osaka Castle (about 25-30 minute walk). Train stations are about a 15 minute walk. There is a shuttle from the hotel that will take you to Osaka Station.
All hotel staff were incredibly helpful and gracious. I had specific diet requests and they were very accommodating.
A few things to take into consideration.
1. My husband and I took the shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka. We were told the Osaka Station was next door to the Shin Osaka Station and that the hotel's shuttle would pick up hotel guests in front on the Osaka Station. Please note you must take a train from Shin-Osaka to Osaka Station. Once you are at the train station, you should exit at Sakurabashi (Eki Marche Osaka Sidewalk side).
2. There is a pool and gym, but there is a fee to use both. Plus, I use a snorkel to swim at home, but was not allowed to use it. The pool was very nice though.
3. The hotel is a very busy hotel. Breakfast is at 7:00 am and people start lining up around 6:50 am.
All in all, my husband and I had a wonderful stay!
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at the Imperial hotel for 9 nights in a deluxe double on the Imperial floor. The room was a good size and had lovely views out onto the river. Unfortunately the cherry blossom was late this year so we didn't get to see them in bloom. But still a lovely view from room. Breakfast had a wide range of options for many different tastes. the staff were extremely friendly and couldn't do enough for you. Whether it was send our suitcases to our next hotel, arranging early morning taxis's or answering general queries. We used the imperial lounge which was included in our stay for imperial floor guests and enjoyed free beverages, wine beer etc and snacks. Staff always attentive and friendly making you feel welcome.
Room was lovely and quiet and didn't hear any other guests throughout the whole of our stay.
The hotel is 20 mins away from the train station and does offer a free shuttle which was great to have. On weekdays and non holidays this service doesnt start until 10am which was a little late if you wanted to explore areas further afield . But on weekends it does start earlier. Most Shops don't open in Japan until 10am and restaurants 11am.
With our room we had turn down service, which is a nice added touch, little chocolates left by your bed each night and ambience music put on for your return
3 free complimentary water in our room and a fridge and mini bar if you wanted to buy anything
The hotel is situation right by a 7 eleven which can be used daily and next to OAP building with shops and food options.
If I was to return to Osaka I would definitely go back to The imperial hotel.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Upgrade to imperial floor
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pros: Location is good, close to one station and plenty of shops and convenience stores. Osaka Station is only one stop away. Hotel provides a shuttle bus every 20mins to and from Osaka station Hotel complex is absolutely massive, very beautiful, modern and has a luxurious feel. Rooms were very big and especially when compared to the Japanese standard Staff were incredibly friendly and always helpful I did not try the Sento at the hotel as it is an additional cost (discounted by half if you join the Imperial Club), however there were plenty of sentos not too far from the hotel (e.g. Spa World) My stay didn't cost a lot compared to some of the other 5 star hotels in Osaka e.g. Intercontinental. The hotel was very highly rated too and I was worried it was all too good to be true but thankfully it wasn't! The hotel really is just unbelievably good value for money!
Cons:
Overall: Would definitely stay again and recommend.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Delicious and large breakfast buffet, with both Japanese and international food. There is also an option for traditional Japanese breakfast trays. Comfortable room and beds and a deep bathtub. Staff is friendly and helpful. Nice location along the river with walking/running paths and coffee shops and other amenities near by. A short walk to the closest JR station. There is a shuttle bus to Osaka station with fixed departure times. The only disappointment is that the fitness room and pool is not available to hotel guests unless you pay a 2200 yen fee each time you want to visit (not per day or per stay but per occasion, so if you want to go to the fitness room in the morning and to the pool at night you would have to pay twice).
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:If fitness room and pool are important to your stay, be aware that costs extra to visit
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You should contact the hotel directly for early check in. Baggage drop is allowed in most hotel. But I don't think you are eligible to shower. But just go ask them directly, the staff is really helpful & friendly.
Hi Ann J. Osaka City Station is an hour trip by train from Kansai on the airport train. Outside Osaka station you are able to get the shuttle to the imperial hotel. The shuttle runs every 15 mins and it is about 15 mins on bus to hotel. The information desk will show you which exit you need to take at the station to pick up the Shuttle. Hope this helps. Jan
hi! just ask the hotel (imperial hotel osaka) regarding your 5yo kid.
In my experience, 5 star hotels doesnt really mind how many are getting in and out of the room.. especially, if that extra person is a kid. im sure it is ok and without extra charge.
any room is suitable for kids... if you want special "things" for your kid, you can email them and ask for information.
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