Hotel New Otani Osaka

Located in a business district of Osaka, Hotel New Otani Osaka is a mammoth multi-story hotel with a huge lobby dominated by a four-story-high atrium with a glass ceiling that lets in plenty of sunlight. Decor features include a marble-look floor and wall tiles as well as chrome railings, white marble counters, and lots of glitzy lights. There's little else in the way of decoration to make public spaces more welcoming, and for this reason it can give guests the impression of being in an airport or shopping mall, rather than a hotel. With a long list of features catering to a range of travelers, this property is popular with both business and leisure travelers.  

Hotel New Otani is located in a business district of Osaka, walking distance from Osaka Castle, one of the city's best known tourist attractions. The closest subway station is a few minutes' walk away, making most areas of the city easily accessible. 

• Five-minute walk to Kyobashi subway station
• 15-minute walk to Osaka Castle
• 14 minutes to Shinsaibashi shopping street by public transit 
• 15 minutes to Osaka station by public transit
• 20 minutes to Kuromon market by public transit
• 22 minutes to Abeno Harukas skyscraper by public transit
• 24 minutes to Tsutenkaku Tower by public transit
• 24 minutes to Shitteno-ji Temple by public transit
• 33 minutes to Universal Studios by train
• 48 minutes to Kyoto by train
• 52 minutes to Kobe by train
• 58 minutes to Kansai International Airport by train

Rooms at Hotel New Otani Osaka start at 322 square feet (98 square meters) of floor space -- which is spacious by Japanese standards. Rooms and suites are done up in different but similar styles and follow a color palette leaning heavily on neutrals. But furniture is generic, with a borderline dated look, and different upholstery on sofas and armchairs can clash. Even worse -- some rooms show signs of wear and tear, including worn carpeting, torn wallpaper, and scuffed furniture. On the plus side, the rooms' large windows let in plenty of natural light, and some offer scenic views of nearby Osaka Castle. Standard in-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, and electric kettles. Bathrooms are functional and fitted with shower/tub combos, sinks set in plastic countertops, and electronic Japanese toilets. Toiletries and hairdryers are provided. Smoking and non-smoking rooms are available, but past guests have complained of lingering smells of cigarette smoke in non-smoking rooms. 

There are many extra features on offer at Hotel New Otani Osaka, but most are subject to expensive extra fees. There are 10 pricey restaurants on-site, eight of which serve Japanese cuisine (the other two focus on Chinese and French fare). A buffet breakfast (for a fee) is served daily at Satsuki restaurant and includes a huge spread of over 100 Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes. Keyaki specializes in Kobe beef and seafood, while Isshin focuses on oden and tempura. Mikan serves local Osaka cuisine, Kenzan is a sushi bar, Imai is a noodle bar, and Jojoen Yugentai restaurant serves Japanese barbecue dishes. Kagairo is a traditional Japanese restaurant, while Fujio has a menu dominated by beef dishes. Other restaurant options include Taikan En, serving Chinese cuisine from Shanghai and Sakura, a French restaurant. Rounding out their dining options, the hotel also has three bars, a patisserie, and room service.

While the hotel has plenty of recreational facilities, all incur high fees and include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, three whirlpools, a large fitness center with several weight and endurance machines, and a tennis court. Other facilities include a traditional Japanese hot spring (onsen), a sauna, and massage services. The business center costs extra to use as well; it's equipped with PCs, printers, and a photocopier. Several meeting and events rooms are available and can accommodate up to 3,000 guests, and there's a chapel for weddings. Parking is available on-site, again for a fee. In fact, the only free facility is the hotel's Wi-Fi, available throughout the property.