IMPERIAL HOTEL OSAKA Luxe

We booked a 3-night family stay but fortunately for us and by sheer luck we discovered upon check-in that the pool was off-limits to anyone under 20 years of age. Nothing was mentioned on the hotel website about this and it was a big showstopper for us as we always book hotels with swimmingpools so the kids can enjoy a nice swim after a day of sightseeing. The hotel was not willing to bend the rules for one hour each day, so we decided to change hotel. We spent a couple of hours in the hotel lobby with our kids waiting for the front desk to contact Expedia to get our money back while we were trying to book another hotel. Not once were we offered something to drink. Afterwards we spent time relocating to another hotel so our programme for the day was pretty much distroyed after that. During our communication with the front desk we also checked their website to see if it said anything about age limits at the pool (which it didn't) and were shocked to find that the pool area could only be accessed by hotel guests upon paying a whopping fee of 5400 yen (app. 47 USD) pr. person pr. day. This is our first bad experience in Japan.

My son and I have just spent 6 nights in this hotel on our Osaka, Nara and Kyoto leg of our Japanese adventure. We chose it for it's location by the river (very run down on the hotel side) / sights, supposed comfort and leisure centre. We have spent many nights in a broad range of hotels and found this one to be not only the most expensive but also the least welcoming, relaxing and helpful. It wasn't until we checked in that we were made aware of the fact that the leisure facilities were only available for those 20 years or older (unfortunately this was not stated on Trip Advisor as we would not have stayed here). The breakfast buffet had a very limited choice and was of mediocre quality - the general prices for food was very expensive (although expected in a high end hotel). On departure the hotel shuttle bus refused to put bags into the hold so we had to struggle onto the bus unassisted and then the driver dumped us at Osaka train station instead of Shin-Osaka station meaning we had to make a connecting rail journey. We had cleared with the reception and driver 2-3 times that we needed Shin-Osaka. The driver was very abrupt and unhelpful and turned his back on us instead of giving further assistance. I would not recommend this hotel for families or for travellers wanting to relax as it did not provide for either. A vey disappointing hotel stay although the general visit to these areas and transport was outstanding and I highly recommend a visit. If we come over again I would book accommodation in Kyoto because of the friendliness of the people and it's vast range of beautiful areas.

The service was great. The hotel is tasteful and charming Guest Services staff were amazing at making dinner reservations for us at hard to get in restaurants on short notice. The hotel offers a free shuttle to the main train station. The only small negative is that the hotel is not in a good walking location for sights or restaurants.

On our last year's family visit to Japan, Osaka was the last city that we visited. We were looking for a luxury hotel to stay and Imperial Hotel was the choice we made. The only downside is that, it is not in the city center, but they have a free shuttle to the Osaka Station every few minutes. The rooms are spacious, with the beautiful riverside view. Liked the state-of-the-art bathroom. The choice of dining options were good. The hotel is a bit dated if you compare it with latest modern hotels. The service was flawless and we wouldn't hesitate to stay in The Imperial, if we ever visit Osaka again.

What's not to like. Huge corner room, huge bathroom, awesome view and clean. We loved our room. Automatic curtains you can control from the room, piped in music in the bathroom - loved that. The downside is it is pretty far from where the action is. It's about $20 cab ride to get to Dotonbori but I believe they do have a shuttle to the train station. We were only in Osaka for a day so we were pressed for time. Other than location, everything else was wonderful. Loved our room. Staff were polite and helpful. Breakfast buffet was above average. I did not encounter any issues.