Booking

The Hilton brand has several hotels in Osaka. The shortlist came down to the Hilton and the Conrad. As in Tokyo, practical considerations led me to book the Hilton Osaka — since I was planning day trips by train, the hotel’s location was a clear point in its favour.

Facade of a modern hotel at night with illuminated windows

Location

From Osaka Kansai Airport, you should allow around an hour for the journey depending on your mode of transport. Osaka Station is right across the street. The Local Rapid Train takes just under ten minutes to Shin-Osaka, the Shinkansen station served by every Shinkansen line including the Nozomi. Metro stations are also directly accessible underground.

Check-In

The staff were very helpful and friendly. As a Hilton Diamond member, I was upgraded to a King Executive room. My luggage was promptly delivered directly to the room.

Room

The first impression of the room is quite good — bright and typically Japanese. On the right side is the bathroom with toilet, shower, and bathtub. As expected from Hilton, the usual toiletries such as shower gel and shampoo are provided.

In the room itself, alongside the bed there is the familiar window sofa, a small side table, and a work surface. A nice touch this time was the well-distributed power outlets as well as USB charging points.

The generously sized TV is easily visible from the bed. As usual, there is a safe, ironing board, and coffee machine. True to Hilton form, the promised water bottles are also in the room — something I always appreciate.

Hotel room setup with coffee machine and water bottles

Mini-bar with drinks and snacks in the hotel room

Hotel room with promotional brochures and remote control

Hotel room setup with tea set and sweets on plate

Hotel room with sliding doors and couch in foreground

Two packs of Fresh+ Cleaning Wipes on marble surface

Hotel room with double bed and grey duvet cover

Hotel room with desk, chair, and television

Hotel room shoe rack with slippers and towels

Stack of three towels with a sign above them

Hotel corner with glasses on tray and essential oil

Modern bathroom setup with sink, mirror, and toiletries

Modern hotel bathtub with towel and wooden panels

Shower area with shower fixtures and glass partition

Bar / Restaurant

Breakfast is available as a buffet in either the restaurant or the lounge. Since the hotel was quite fully booked, both venues were correspondingly busy. Both Japanese and Western dishes are on offer. The hotel also has several additional restaurants and bars.

Ice-filled vodka and wines on hotel table

Breakfast tray with coffee, orange juice, and bread on a modern table

Breakfast buffet in the hotel with coffee machines and fruits

Hotel restaurant with seating and tables

Hotel bar with coffee machine and juice dispensers

Breakfast buffet with various dishes and crockery on the table

Breakfast tray with muesli, honey, and other snacks

Breakfast buffet with salad and dressings on the table

Buffet with various dishes and accompaniments on a table

Amenities

The indoor pool is generously sized. The fitness room, on the other hand, is open 24 hours and has everything you need for a solid workout. One feature I particularly liked was the complimentary headphone lending service. The sauna and cold plunge bath in the evening made for a genuinely relaxing experience.