Review: InterContinental Osaka

Introduction

The InterContinental Osaka is a relatively new hotel, having opened in 2013 in the Grand Front Osaka commercial development – a mixed use space with offices, shops and residences, as well as a convention centre.

The InterContinental Osaka occupies the highest levels of the building, with the lobby on the 20^th floor offering stunning views of downtown Osaka. With standard rooms on the larger side of what we’ve experienced in Japan, as well as ‘Suites’ or ‘Serviced Residences’ that go all the way up to 3-bedrooms, the InterContinental Osaka offers up spacious, luxurious rooms for business travellers. 

Location & Impressions

From Osaka International Airport, the InterContinental Osaka is around 20 minutes away by car, or 30 minutes by train. If you’re heading into Kansai airport, expect the trip into town to take just over an hour via car or train.

Head to the Grand Front Osaka complex’s ground floor and you’ll spot one of the entrances for the InterContinental Osaka. Although not directly connected to the main Osaka station, the InterContinental is only five minutes walk away, which is especially handy when getting around.

The proximity to the Grand Front Complex makes the location extremely convenient for shopping, dining and picking up anything you might have forgotten to bring.

Once you locate the entrance, you’re whisked up to the 20^th floor lobby, with contemporary art on display and a well-placed lounge area that’s great for meeting colleagues and associates.

Once we’re checked in, we head up to our 1-bedroom deluxe serviced residence, with other suites occupying the 29^th through to the 32^nd floors of the InterContinental Osaka. 

Room

Our 1-Bedroom Deluxe room is extremely spacious by Japanese standards, with a room size of 72sqm, incorporating a bedroom, living room, kitchen/laundry, bathroom, and a separate toilet.

The largest 3-Bedroom Corner rooms can extend as much as 165sqm, so if you’re looking for a hotel with plenty of space the InterContinental Osaka certainly ticks that box.

The layout of the room is well-thought out, with a lounge area...

...and a small dining area kept separate to the master bedroom.

In the lounge room, the sofa and armchair are perfect for quick meetings with colleagues or for relaxing in front of the television.The interior finishing is modern and still feels fresh, thanks to the recent opening of the InterContinental Osaka in 2013.

In the separate bedroom area, there’s a large king-size bed...

...with another television inside. 

On one side of the bed you'll find storage for clothes and luggage...

...and on the other a small working nook with a compact office chair.

We found the bathroom to be quite spacious, with a good-sized sink...

...and amenities from Agraria. 

The bathroom features a large rainwater-style shower head...

...plus a full-size bath - the bath caddy is an especially nice touch if you like to curl up with a glass of wine. 

There’s a small kitchenette where you can prepare your own meals if you prefer...

...and there’s even a  microwave and dishwasher provided, as well as cookware and tableware – the Serviced Residences do truly feel like you’re living in a luxury apartment rather than a cramped hotel room, which is perfect if you’re planning an extended stay in Osaka.

The InterContinental Osaka also provides guests with a washer/dryer combo, as well as a full-size refrigerator, a DeLonghi coffee machine...

...and a Bluetooth speaker setup. 

Work

In-room WiFi is fast and free, and we had no issues connecting multiple devices to it. In our 1-Bedroom Deluxe room, there’s plenty of spaces to get some work done, but we opted to head up to the Club Lounge level instead.

Located on the 28^th Floor, Club InterContinental in the InterContinental Osaka is one of the best hotel lounges we’ve ever been to.

The ambience and atmosphere are perfectly tuned in to what a hotel lounge should be, with nicely decorated relaxation areas, and functional but still aesthetically pleasing work areas.

The Club InterContinental lounge offers up breakfast in the mornings, afternoon tea from 2:30pm, followed by evening cocktails and canapés, and a nightcap from 7:30pm onwards.

It’s easy to spend an entire day here if you’ve got work to do and be looked after by the friendly staff.

If you’ve booked a Club InterContinental room, you’ll also get a discount on laundry services, plus access to a private boardroom for up to 8 guests for 1 hour.

The InterContinental Osaka also has a 24-hour business centre where you can access computers, printing services and mail services if required.

For larger events, there are meeting spaces available ranging in size from 400-person theatre style spaces to small boardroom or dining spaces. 

Eat

The InterContinental Osaka has a great Club Lounge Breakfast with cooked items and a small buffet.

On the 20^th floor, you’ll find two restaurants, a bar and a lounge, including the Michelin-starred Pierre restaurant. Pierre offers up great set menus for lunch, and we enjoyed an amazing dinner there, starting off with champagne...

...followed by a Kyoto duck and lotus root terrine. 

Next up was a mushroom croquette and risotto in consommé...

...and a Biwa trout confit.

The main event was a slow-roasted Olive beef tenderloin...

...and a fig ice-cream dessert to finish up. 

If you're after something a little more casual, check out NOKA Roast & Grill – this restaurant features an open kitchen space where you can enjoy a three course lunch for ¥5,000.

On the same floor, there’s also the 3-60 lobby lounge area as well as the adee bar, where you can enjoy a cocktail or two - try the  Amano-sake Citrus Squash cocktail for something that’s refreshing with a bit of bite.

Within the Grand Front Osaka complex there are plenty of dining options available, including Asian and Western restaurants that are open from 11AM to 11PM on most days. 

Relax

The InterContinental Osaka features a 24-hour fitness centre, a Japanese bathhouse, a swimming pool and a separate spa for treatments.

The fitness centre features a decent range of cardio machines and weight machines. While there could have been more free weights, there were certainly more than we’re used to seeing at business hotels.

Because you’re so well situated with Osaka station nearby, it’s also worth considering daytrips to nearby Nara, Kyoto or Kobe. 

There were a lot of things that impressed us about the InterContinental Osaka, from the spacious rooms to the excellent InterContinental lounge on the 28^th floor. If you’re looking for a hotel that can offer a little more than your standard business hotel, the InterContinental Osaka certainly makes a compelling case, however the larger rooms do command a premium price.

James Fordham

James has been interested in aviation ever since his first flight. When he’s not travelling, he’s still on the road indulging his motoring hobby, or trying a new whisky.

Colin White

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Colin White

Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles

01 Apr 2016

Total posts 5

One powerball.......

Friday, 15 Sep 2017, 04:20:09 pm

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