The Newest Hotel in Osaka, Japan, Is in One of the City's Most Impressive Buildings, With an On-site Onsen and an 11-acre Park Next Door

A magnum of 2015 Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage appears almost as soon as I sit down for my first meal at Waldorf Astoria Osaka, the Hilton luxury brand’s first hotel in Japan. Director of food and beverage Maximiliano Elias proudly tells me that this is their house Champagne and that Moët & Chandon made magnums exclusively for the hotel, because Champagne tastes better poured from magnums, and regular-sized bottles would look silly against the soaring ceilings of Peacock Alley, the trademark Waldorf Astoria lobby lounge.

“It just doesn’t have the same effect,” Elias says with a casual shrug. This “go big or go home” mentality permeates every aspect of the hotel, from the imposing entryway doors, to the sweeping marble staircase leading to Peacock Alley to the generously sized guest rooms. This is a place of grandeur and celebration, where it’s only natural to drink Champagne every day, from a magnum-size bottle, no less.

Staff members I meet throughout my stay hail from Argentina, Spain, the Netherlands, and Ireland, along with many excited locals, eager to share their hometown with visitors. Osakans are, in my experience, among the friendliest Japanese citizens—more talkative and less reserved than the people I’ve met in Tokyo and Hokkaido. One bartender was quick to AirDrop me a detailed note full of recommendations upon learning this was my first time in Osaka, while Toki, my chatty driver who picked me up from the airport, left me a handwritten card upon checkout.

André Fu—the Hong Kong interiors architect behind hotels such as The Shangri-La, Tokyo, and Villa La Coste, in Aix-en-Provence, France—has outdone himself with this latest project. Fu drew Art Deco inspiration from the original Waldorf Astoria New York, which reopens after a massive renovation this summer, along with Osaka’s Yodoko Guest House, the only surviving Frank Lloyd Wright residence in Japan. There are subtle peacock tail motifs throughout the hotel, from the geometric patterns in intricate kumiko woodwork headboards to Japanese washi paper designs in the elevator.

Waldorf Astoria Osaka comprises two separate buildings connected by an indoor walkway to transition from the public spaces and lively opulence of Peacock Alley to the warm, homey arrival lobby, revolving around a natural stone fountain, where the front desk is located along with guest room elevators. This space is nicknamed “the lantern” for its warm golden glow and reminds me of the atrium at Upper House in Hong Kong, Fu’s first hotel project.

Here, everything you need to know about Waldorf Astoria Osaka.

The Rooms

I was impressed by the entry-level guest rooms, which felt more like junior suites, with spacious walk-in closets, separate soaking tubs and walk-in rain showers, and minibars featuring local snacks and beverages.

All 252 guest rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows with automated drapes and sheer linen curtains that can be easily controlled from bed to reveal views of the Osaka Bay, Yodo River, and the city skyline. “You can do lazy sightseeing from bed,” says Ewoud Roosjen, Waldorf Astoria Osaka’s commercial director. Many rooms have views of the Umeda Sky Building with its famous glass-enclosed escalators, and Roosjen tells me that rooms on the West side of the hotel have front-row seats for the annual Yodogawa Fireworks Festival. Thoughtful details like the angle of the TV tilted perfectly toward the bed, a lacquered jewelry box, folded pajamas, and housemade chocolates for turndown service make for a pampered and comfortable stay.

Three signature suites include a Presidential Suite built for entertaining with a natural hardwood dining room table that seats eight, a full kitchen, pantry, and private bar.

Food and Drink

Waldorf Astoria Osaka has four restaurants and bars with Peacock Alley as the striking first impression when the elevator doors open on the 29th floor. “Peacock Alley is the beating heart of the hotel,”  Roosjen says. A light all-day dining menu is available, along with afternoon tea, pairing sweet and savory bites served on Ginori pastel porcelain with a selection of Steven Smith Teamaker loose-leaf tea and Champagne.

Jolie Brasserie serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the impressive breakfast buffet could have been arranged by a food stylist, including an exquisite salad bar with more than a dozen freshly julienned and sliced ingredients, congee accompanied by a plethora of toppings, and a Japanese breakfast set that you’d be remiss to skip.

Tsukimi, a teppanyaki spot, is the hotel’s signature restaurant. Guests sit right at the bar and are treated to a study in the precision of grilling meats. Wagyu beef from nearby Kobe is proudly served here, and chefs respectfully present the cow’s noseprint birth certificate to guests. There is also a sushi counter within Tsukimi for those who prefer raw fish to cooked meat.

After dinner, head downstairs to Canes & Tails for a nightcap. The Jazz Age-inspired speakeasy bar is located behind an unlabeled green door and twisting hallway with cocktails inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald book. After a long day of travel, I opted for a tropical non-alcoholic “The Lees of Happiness,” with a flower-shaped amazake ice cube that slowly melted into the drink to soften the sour flavors with sweetness.

Amenities and Experiences

Upon arrival, every guest is offered personal concierge services via Whatsapp. My concierge promptly delivered a yoga mat to my room, helped me locate the hidden-away ironing board, and made a couple of dinner reservations for me. Complimentary shoe shine is offered to all guests, along with free Wi-Fi, and first-come, first-serve access to the Mercedes-Maybach house car. The hotel concierge can also organize off-property excursions, like knife-making in Sakai or a traditional tea ceremony experience.

The 30th floor is dedicated to well-being, with a library, indoor 82-foot-long pool, fitness center with Technogym equipment, and spa. The library is a relaxing retreat that’s open 24 hours, serving as a private space to work, read, or take meetings, and you can even order in-room dining here. You can also workout with skyline views at the fitness center with a variety of cardio equipment, free weights, fresh fruit, and fruit-infused water.

The hotel has ample beautifully designed meeting spaces too, connected by dramatic corridors, including two glamorous ballrooms and a bright and airy chapel.

The Spa

Located on the 30th floor, the intimate spa has four treatment rooms and features four skin care lines, including Swiss brands La Prairie and Dr. Burgener and Japanese skin care by Tiaraleen. The intriguing spa menu goes far beyond standard massages, with fascial release therapy, scalp exfoliation, abdominal massage, infrared heated body masks, and a magnesium-laden meridien massage to combat jet lag. I opted for a two-hour vitality experience, which began with a foot scrub using local sake, sake lees, and salt while I sipped freshly whisked matcha. I started face down with a firm lymphatic massage to help improve circulation before flipping over for a gua sha facial, all using Tiaraleen products. Men’s and women’s changing areas are well-appointed with a sauna, steam room, and hot tub. These facilities are available for hotel guests to enjoy even without a spa appointment.

Family-friendly Offerings

Although there isn’t a kids’ club, the hotel caters to families with quite a few connecting rooms and amenities like mini bathrobes and slippers, kids-sized pajamas, small umbrellas, Stokke high chairs, and a kids’ menu with dishes like pork curry vol-au-vent. “My kids were terrible eaters until we moved to Japan,” says Roosjen, who moved to Osaka from Qatar. “But now they snack on nori paper and eat yakitori chicken hearts.” The pool is also family-friendly with flutterboards and arm floaties upon request. Osaka is a great home base for families looking to explore Kyoto (less than an hour’s drive), Nara, and Universal Studios Japan.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Waldorf Astoria Osaka uses Hilton’s LightStay platform to measure environmental impact and energy efficiency, and offers carbon neutral meetings through Meet with Purpose. There are no single-use plastics on property, with full-size refillable Aesop bath amenities and complimentary glass bottles of sparkling and still water from Ashigara Seiga replenished daily in every room instead.

The hotel features four purposefully designed accessible rooms, thoughtfully equipped with features like automatic doors, grab bars, and lowered sinks to support the comfort and independence of guests with mobility and sensory needs. In public spaces, there are Braille elevators, ramp entrances, and accessible amenities including the meeting rooms, fitness center, and swimming pool.

Location 

The hotel is on the top 10 floors of the trendy new Grand Green Osaka development, which has dining, shopping, and a terrific onsen (hot spring) that’s popular with locals. It’s also next to the 11-acre Umekita Park and across the street from JR Osaka Station, for easy airport access and convenient day trips to Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Nara by train. Kansai International Airport (KIX) is 45 minutes by car or train, and you can fly directly to Osaka from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

Waldorf Astoria Osaka is part of the Hilton Honors program, and members can earn and redeem points during their stay. Gold members receive room upgrades based on availability, complimentary breakfast, and a 25-percent discount in hotel restaurants, while Diamond members also get two complimentary cocktails per night at Peacock Alley. The hotel is also part of American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, which means, if you book with an Amex platinum card, you get early check-in, late check-out, room upgrades based on availability, complimentary breakfast, and a $100 food and beverage credit. Nightly rates at Waldorf Astoria Osaka start from $1,013.