Conrad Osaka

The rules of hotel curation are a little bit different in Japan. In North America and Europe we tend to shy away from the biggest brands and the biggest hotels, but there’s simply nothing in the hospitality world quite like a Japanese skyscraper-topping luxury hotel. The Conrad Osaka occupies the upper levels of Festival Tower West, which stands tall above the cultural and commercial district of Nakanoshima.

It’s a convenient location, and a commanding one — every room looks out over the sprawl of the city through floor-to-ceiling windows. The style is understated but contemporary, full of abstract references to traditional Japanese crafts. At fifty square meters or more, they’re genuinely spacious, and they’re full of small comforts, from in-room espresso machines and tea sets to plentiful bedside outlets and lighting options.

In a hotel of the Conrad Osaka’s caliber, a full-service spa, a fitness center, and a pool with a vertiginous view may be more or less taken as read. Meanwhile the dining options include teppanyaki and sushi, a seafood-centric grill, a pan-global all-day restaurant, and a bar with particularly impressive views of the river and the rooftops from 40 floors above the city.