Japan’s First-Ever W Hotel Offers a Playground of Luxury and Wellness in Osaka
W Osaka, Japan’s first W Hotel
Japan's first-ever W Hotel, W Osaka, made its debut this month along vibrant Midosuji Boulevard. The hotel is an exciting addition to the local hotel scene, bringing a spirited spin on luxury, delicious gourmet cuisine, and an array of wellness offerings.
The Living Room at W Osaka
"Osaka's mix of culture and bold, high-energy lifestyle makes it the ideal setting for the debut of W Hotels in Japan," said Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (excluding China), Marriott International. "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."
Welcome Room at the W Osaka
Style:
The design shines a spotlight on the contrast between Japanese minimalism and the limitless excesses of urban life, illuminated by Osaka's bright neon lights at night.
The hotel’s black monolith façade was designed by Osaka-born, world-renowned architect Tadao Ando. A minimalist exterior conceals colorfully exuberant interiors, a nod to the Edo period when excessive displays of wealth were prohibited. During this time merchants were said to have dressed modestly in public, but in private flamboyance and opulence were free to be expressed.
Guests enter W Osaka through an illuminated tunnel inspired by origami and kirigami.
Guests enter W Osaka through an illuminated tunnel inspired by origami and kirigami ( the Japanese art forms of cutting and folding paper) with images of nature and seasons reflected on its walls. On the third floor, the hotel's social hub LIVING ROOM (W's signature take on the lobby) greets guests with vivid colors and a show-stopping design featuring an original interpretation of whimsical Kawaii Kokeshi wooden dolls. Bright spaces, clean lines, and bold color schemes are inspired by Osaka's blazing streetscapes and reflected in the hotel's 337 guestrooms and suites.
Relax and Recharge:
King Bathroom at the W Osaka
Floor-to-ceiling windows frame stunning views of the skyline, while spacious bathrooms with rain showers and luxe amenities invite guests to retreat and recharge. For an unexpected touch, a surprise is locked away behind the closets: a unique "pixorama" of Osaka, a graphic filled with the city's famous landmarks, designed by pixel art group eBoy. To represent Japan's famous pink cherry blossoms and Osaka's azure oceanside, color themes and neon light accents shine either pink or blue on each alternate floor.
King Suite at the W Osaka
The WOW Penthouse:
Situated atop the hotel's 27th floor, the Extreme WOW Penthouse Suite (the brand's take on the traditional Presidential Suite) is 200 square meters 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. The "Garden Room" marks the entrance to the suite, with its Zen-inspired garden providing a refuge from the bustling city life below. The bedroom features dreamy artwork by Sigrid Calon, a Dutch textile artist whose works have been exhibited around the world, including at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) in New York. In the bathroom, the large, 1.9-meter-diameter chrome tub is a reimagined champagne bucket, and invites guests for a surreal soak. The suite features an open kitchen and a built-in DJ booth -- the first of its kind in a hotel room in Japan -- that's perfect for entertaining and soundtracking any stay.
Cuisine:
Oh.LALA
W Osaka's two bars and four restaurants tempt guests with unique, unexpected offerings and an unforgettably gourmet experience. Global flavors merge with iconic Japanese cuisine to tantalize the tastebuds in unexpected ways.
Bistro-diner OH.LALA: Chef Yusuke Takada, one of the top chefs recognized in "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" rankings, delivers high expectations to reinvent gastronomy with W Osaka's creative culinary team. At the heart of W Osaka is the LIVING ROOM, where guests can enjoy colorful cocktails as well as W Osaka's own private-label champagne.
TEPPANYAKI MYDO: This restaurant offers a spin on local soul food in addition to exquisite Japanese Kuroge and Akaushi Wagyu beef. Designed by celebrity Japanese interior designer Yasumichi Morita and Osaka-born artist Seitaro Kuroda, the restaurant integrates Osaka's eccentricities in culture, history and customs, and combines it with the boldness, brilliance and playfulness of the W brand.
MIXUP: Guests will enjoy art, natural lighting, and a chic color palette while sampling pastries, coffee, tea and cocktails for an amplified urban experience right on the main street.
SUSHI UKIYO: At the end of a zigzag, curtain-lined corridor, guest will find this omakase-style restaurant with its interiors reflecting the concept of "ukiyoe," or a floating world — a metaphor for Osaka, a city of waterways.
WET BAR, Next to the hotel's WET swimming pool is the WET BAR which features an eclectic list of creative cocktails.
Wellness:
WET
On the fourth floor of W Osaka, FIT offers the latest in fitness equipment, as well as a yoga room with a view. 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.
Osaka FIT
[Images courtesy of W Osaka]
Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy