W Osaka

The hotel sits in Shinsaibashi, Osaka’s shopping district, with Amerikamura a short walk south and Dotonbori within walking distance. Hommachi and Shinsaibashi stations are a few minutes away on foot, and Osaka Castle is a few stops east on the Chuo Line.

Behind a stark black façade, the interiors are bright and playful, from a long entrance tunnel lined with circles to a lobby ceiling patterned with the traditional asanoha motif. We checked in up in the Living Room on the third floor, the hotel’s lobby and bar, and a lively place for a drink in the evening.

Our corner suite had a separate living room and bedroom, with views over the city on two sides. Each floor has its own colour, ours a vibrant blue, and the marble bathroom had a large round bathtub and a double vanity.

We also toured a Cozy King Room, with a chaise longue by the window, a colourful minibar and a bathroom with both a tub and a shower.

Breakfast was a choice of set menus on a weekday, from American to Japanese, and an attendant walked the room with a tray of pastries and doughnuts.

Sushi UKIYO is a hidden counter for Edomae sushi, and Teppanyaki MYDO has its own street entrance, its walls covered in hand-drawn art by a local artist. The Away Spa floor has the indoor pool, an open-air courtyard and the WET BAR & DECK, open in the warmer months.