If there are two cities in Japan that I keep coming back to, it would definitely be Tokyo and Osaka. Both are incredibly convenient when it comes to flights and planning trips, even for bigger families or groups. The most challenging part, however, isn’t transportation or even the food. It’s figuring out where and how to comfortably host a large group, especially since Japan is known for having smaller hotel rooms compared to other countries.
That’s where InterContinental Osaka comes in. A familiar name synonymous with luxury and hospitality across more than 70 countries, it ended up being the perfect choice for our trip to Osaka.
INTERCONTINENTAL OSAKA
3-60 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan 530-0011
+81 (0)6-6374-5700
intercontinental.osaka@ihg.com
@intercontinental.osaka
https://icosaka.com/en/
stay
For this trip to Osaka, we decided to stay at InterContinental because they’re one of the few hotels in the city that actually offer full-service residences with full-sized kitchens, ideal for big families, groups traveling together, or even long stays.
Gone are the days of booking multiple rooms with connecting doors or settling for Airbnbs that lack the full service and comfort we look for when we actually want to relax and enjoy a proper vacation. The best part is that this hotel is right in the heart of Osaka, making everything so much easier for the entire group.
For our rooms, we opted for their 2-Bedroom Residence City View for up to four guests, complete with beautiful views of the city, parks, and rivers. They also have residences that can accommodate families of up to six, perfect for large groups or families.
Our residence came with a simple yet spacious master bedroom overlooking Osaka City.
The master bedroom also had its own bathroom and bathtub.
The other room, on the other hand, could comfortably fit two people and had an equally nice view of the city.
The shower was located inside the room, while the toilet was shared in the common living space.
The entire residence itself was lined with apartment-style comforts perfect for long-staying guests, from plenty of storage spaces to thoughtful little conveniences. Not that we needed all of them, but it was nice knowing everything was readily available for those who would.
But of course, it wouldn’t be considered a serviced apartment without its own fully equipped kitchen and laundry area.
My favorite part, though, and probably where most families or groups would spend their time, was the dining and living area.
But nothing beats lounging on the sofa with its panoramic view of the Yodo River, which somehow looks even better at night.
More than the view though, it was the incredible attention to detail and comfort that made spending more time in the hotel feel completely worth it.
For couples or smaller groups tho, they also have standard rooms that still surprisingly carry a Japanese touch despite InterContinental primarily being known as a business and luxury hotel.
This particular room had a single-cut stone slab right at the center of the room, adding a subtle Japanese vibe and setting it apart from traditional hotel rooms. We honestly loved it so much that we almost wanted to stay here instead because of its cozy yet refined atmosphere.
hotel
While the hotel itself feels more westernized, you’ll still notice hints of local design, textures, and inspiration scattered throughout the property.
For example, the rooms feature local paintings, while the carpets are adorned with patterns inspired by the water lilies.
Even the corridors have river-like patterns that subtly portray Osaka City.
Intricate local designs and washi paper tapestries can even be seen all the way down to the ground floor receiving area.
The hotel is also conveniently located within the upscale Grand Front Osaka complex, so shopping and transportation are literally right at your doorstep.
And like most 5-star hotels, the property also houses a world-class spa called MEGURI SPA & WELLNESS.
In fact, it won the “World Luxury Spa Awards” in 2024 under the Luxury City Hotel Spa and Luxury Holistic Spa categories. The spa is open to both checked-in guests and outsiders.
There’s also a spacious and modern gym, quite possibly the biggest hotel gym I’ve seen in Japan.
Plus a heated lap pool with a jet bath.
And of course, it wouldn’t feel complete without separate Japanese-style onsens for men and women. Photos weren’t allowed inside, but we definitely enjoyed our baths.
eats
But the staycation experience isn’t the only thing we consider when staying at luxury hotels like InterContinental Hotels and Resorts. Food also plays a huge part in the overall experience.
For quick snacks, there’s a café on the ground floor called STRESSED, which, when spelled backwards, becomes “desserts.” Witty, yes, but they also offer traditional desserts and hotel-exclusive tea and aromas.
For breakfast, NOKA Roast & Grill serves the hotel’s daily buffet featuring both Western and Japanese cuisine. Throughout the day, it transforms into an all-day à la carte dining restaurant for both hotel guests and walk-ins.
Like most 5-star hotels, InterContinental Osaka offers a wide selection of both Western and Japanese breakfast dishes. One of my favorite sections was definitely the pastry corner, which honestly felt comparable to a standalone café outside the hotel.
But surprisingly, it was the salad bar that we kept going back to because of how fresh the local greens and fruits were. Not to mention the impressive selection of european cheeses, something you don’t normally see in Japanese hotels.
I also liked how even their breakfast plates were specially designed for the hotel.
And fittingly enough, they even had a crepe and ice cream bar for kids, or kids at heart.
For tea time, we decided to try out their English afternoon tea experience in partnership with TWG tea, specially curated for Osaka.
Our favorite, hands down, had to be the InterContinental Osaka Tea. We loved it so much that we kept drinking it all the way through dinner.
Since there were two of us, we ordered their sampler set, which came with a variety of flavors, a and a welcome drink on the side.
The first layer focused more on sweet desserts, the second on savory finger food, while the bottom layer featured pastries, all carefully designed to complement one another.
For desserts, our favorite had to be the vanilla panna cotta with plum jelly.
And for the savory bites, we’d easily give it to the caviar and blini. Can’t go wrong with caviar!
Of course, special mention also goes to this blueberry and raspberry drink recommended to us by the hotel staff, the perfect refreshing drink to end tea time.
In fact, we loved it so much that we ordered it again later that evening at Adee Lounge & Bar, where live bands perform every Friday, Saturday to Sunday.
dinner
For dinner, we treated ourselves to a fancy set-course meal at Pierre, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant known for its decade-long reputation of using fresh local ingredients prepared with French cooking techniques.
It’s the perfect place if you’re celebrating something special or simply want to impress a date with good food and panoramic city views.
For starters, we were served their amuse-bouche featuring Italian bread with sakura trout from Hokkaido, followed by fromage from France and a yogurt dish that surprisingly tasted like cheese.
We then followed it up with a light yet hearty tomato, honey, and herb tea from Kumamoto Prefecture.
I’m honestly not the biggest fan of prawns, but this particular prawn dish, combining French citrus flavors with tempura-style preparation and curry, was surprisingly good.
But if I had to pick a favorite from the main course, it would definitely be the Nanatani Duck from Kyoto. It was the simplest dish in the lineup, yet somehow the most flavorful and memorable for me.
We ended the night with a special request: a French macaron, which the staff at Pierre gladly prepared for us.
final thoughts
Overall, I wouldn’t say I was surprised by the level of service, hospitality, room quality, and food we experienced during our 2-night stay at InterContinental Osaka. It was definitely impressive, but also what you would expect from a world-renowned luxury hotel brand like InterContinental.
What surprised me more was how the hotel still managed to feel warm and genuinely Japanese despite its modern and luxurious atmosphere. From the thoughtful service and beautifully prepared food to the subtle local touches around the property, everything felt intentional and well-curated.
What really made the stay memorable for us was how comfortable and convenient everything felt, especially while traveling as a group. It had the perfect balance of luxury, comfort, and hospitality without ever feeling too formal.
I would definitely recommend staying at InterContinental Osaka if you’re the kind of traveler who enjoys exploring with family or friends and simply wants a comfortable, seamless, and enjoyable stay in Osaka.
INTERCONTINENTAL OSAKA
3-60 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka, Japan 530-0011
+81 (0)6-6374-5700
intercontinental.osaka@ihg.com
@intercontinental.osaka
https://icosaka.com/en/
Live an Awesome Life,
NICO of Team Our Awesome Planet