Japan has officially gained its first W branded hotel with the opening of W Osaka.
The W Osaka opened its doors to guests on Tuesday amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has resulted in most international visitors being cut off from the East Asian nation.
When international travel to Japan does open up, Marriott loyalists will be very happy and excited to find that a brand new property has opened in the country’s third most populous city.
This brand new W hotel in Osaka is situated in an also-new building on the city’s Midosuji Boulevard designed by renowned Osaka native Tadao Ando.
The building’s modern and black exterior contrasts with the hotel’s bright and bold interior design inspired by Osaka’s trademark neon city lights which is brought to life by Amsterdam-based studio concrete, which has also designed both, the W London and W Verbier in Switzerland.
A colourful Japanese welcome for guests
Upon arrival at W Osaka, guests enter an illuminated tunnel inspired by the Japanese art forms of cutting and folding paper, origami and kirigami, with images of nature and seasons reflected on its walls.
Guest rooms
The property has a total of 337 guest rooms and suites, all of which have stunning views of Osaka’s expansive skyline from floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The base category rooms start at a generous 40 square meters of space. Guests can also expect rainfall showers and high-end amenities to enhance their stays further.
The ‘Extreme Wow Penthouse Suite’, the hotel’s top suite, will be a truly memorable space, with a “Zen-inspired garden” at its entrance along with museum-quality artwork, a chrome soaking tub that’s reminiscent of a Champagne bucket and even an in-suite DJ booth to entertain you and your closest friends. This suite is situated at the hotel’s 27th floor and is 200 square meters in space with a 5.4-meter-high ceiling and five sequenced rooms divided by oak portals that merge traditional Japanese home design with the W spirit.
Dining
W Osaka boasts four restaurants and two bars. ‘Oh.lala…’ features a new ‘bistro-dining’ experience partnered with Chef Yusuke Takada of French restaurant ‘La Cime’. ‘Teppanyaki MYDO’ takes you on an adventure of authentic Japanese flavours offering its spin on Osaka soul food including branded Japanese Wagyu beef and extravagant teppanyaki dishes served at the counter in three separate dining areas.
At the end of a zigzag, curtain-lined corridor is omakase-style restaurant ‘Sushi UKIYO’ with its interiors reflecting the concept of “ukiyoe”, or a floating world, as a metaphor for Osaka, a city of waterways.
Then there is ‘MIXup’, a coffee house features freshly made sweets prepared by the chef in the open kitchen along with W Osaka’s original coffee, tea, and original label champagne.
At the heart of W Osaka is the ‘LIVING ROOM’ that serves a lineup of colorful cocktails as well as W Osaka’s own private-label champagne. Guest can expect the unexpected – from a standup comedian performance to a DJ set by W Osaka music curator (and collaborator of Tiësto and Armin van Buuren), Yuuki Yoshiyama.
Next to the hotel’s WET swimming pool is the ‘WET BAR’,featuring an eclectic list of creative cocktails.
Amenities
On the fourth floor of the hotel is ‘FIT’ (the brand’s way of calling a fitness centre) which features state-of-the-art fitness equipment as well as a yoga room with stunning views of the city.
‘WET’ is the hotel’s indoor pool space with an LED ceiling to illuminate and amplify the fun. For guests who live by the brand’s ‘Detox.Retox.Repeat’ philosophy, ‘AWAY SPA’ awaits to restore and revive, with five private treatment rooms.
W Osaka features a total of four event and meeting spaces, including the GREAT ROOM, a 390-square-meter ballroom, with high ceilings, deep oak pillars, and champagne-gold metallic details.
Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (excluding China), Marriott International, commented:
Osaka’s mix of culture and bold, high-energy lifestyle makes it the ideal setting for the debut of W Hotels in Japan. We are excited to once again be partnering with Sekisui House to welcome W Osaka to the luxury hospitality landscape here, and know international travelers and locals alike will be drawn to the hotel and its playground of possibilities.
Jennie Toh, Vice President of Brand Marketing and Brand Management, Asia Pacific, Marriott International, added:
The energy and eclecticism of Japan, particularly Osaka, make it the perfect backdrop for a W hotel. From unforgettable dining experiences and live music sets to the thoughtful design rooted in the history and culture of the city, W Osaka is a destination within a destination where international jetsetters and local tastemakers meet and make magic.
Other details
W Osaka is a category 6 hotel on the Marriott Bonvoy chart meaning you will have to shell out 40,000 points for a off-peak period stay, 50,000 points for a standard period stay and 60,000 points for a peak period stay at the hotel.
Featured image by Marriott
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