Your Address in the Sky: Conrad Osaka
Ever since I first saw images of that iconic 40th floor lobby and those views, it has been an ambition of mine to stay at the Conrad Osaka.
From the moment you arrive and see falling Sakura projected over the Conrad logo, it feels special. The level and quality of service you’d expect is there from the moment you arrive, when the elevator doors open on the 40th floor and what seems like all of Osaka is laid out before you, you can’t help but feel utterly captivated by it.
This has become one of my favourite hotels that I have ever stayed at, simply put, it is exceptional in every way. The attention to detail is superb right down to the housekeeping team leaving a pot of herbal tea with a little note of the weather forecast on in the room when they turn it down for the night.
Opening the door to my room, it’s deliberately dark, moody and as I walked into the main space it lightened, ceiling to floor windows with incredible views flooded the main area with light. Two sliding walls, when opened, reveal the bathroom with twin vanity units and behind a glass wall, shower and impressively large bath. Again it is the attention to detail in the rooms – A complimentary bottle of Sake, pyjamas neatly folded on the bed along with the collectable Conrad bear and rubber duck.
One night, while a little jetlagged, I went to one of the seating areas in the lobby and just sat there, drinking herbal tea, looking at those panoramic views of the city and feeling like, at that moment, I was the only person in the city.
Overall, something that really struck me about the Conrad Osaka was how perfectly zoned the hotel was with the reception and public spaces being absolutely flooded with light and views to die for, while by contrast my floor with the guest rooms on was darker, much more intimate, cosseting and almost sensual feeling. Everything here, from the largest sculptures to the smallest detail has been thought out, the materials used, the colours, touchpoints, how it looks, feels, smells.
For me a hotel isn’t just somewhere you stay, it’s a sanctuary, a retreat, a place that makes you feel special.
I love the way housekeeping phrased it on their note “Your address in the sky”.
Author - Chris Hulkes
