My latest stay in Japan included a 2-day trip to Osaka, and since the strong yen persuaded me to opt for a budget accommodation in Tokyo... well, I decided that I could go out on a bit of splurge for that particular event. Accordingly I chose the Ritz-Carlton and definitely enjoyed my stay there!

The hotel is located close to Osaka station (keep in mind though, that the Shinkansen trains stop at *Shin-Osaka* station, which is much further away) putting you right in the middle of what is Japans second biggest city. If you arrive via Osaka (not 'Shin-Osaka') station, the hotel can even be reached by walking underground, taking you about 5 minutes provided you travel with light luggage - though even I didn't know about that until the day I checked out.

Ritz-Carlton is associated with luxury, and they surely deliver here:
The lobby and surrounding areas resemble the palaces of auld-lang-syne Europe. The rooms are huge even by non-japanese standards and offer you fluffy bathrobes, remote-controlled curtains and panorama-sized windows looking over Osakas skyline.
All the hotel staff I encountered spoke English and they seemed perfectly able to adjust their level of... mhmmm... service(?) between those who want a particular *poshness* and those who don't want it.

Final verdict: Full score!

The hotel is located 5 to 10 minutes walk away from the JR Osaka Station. Underneath Osaka Station is a very, very large underground shopping area that spans not only JR Station but several other train stations and several department stores. It is sometimes frustrating and sometimes fun to get lost down there.

The hotel is of the quality that you'd expect of the Ritz Carlton. The building interior and exterior is posh, and the service excellent and consistent.

Our room was a nice sized room with nice furniture and a flat-screen TV. Our room faced kind of northwards so we had a veiw of the JR Station as well as of the really, really cool looking Sky Building.

The breakfast was very good, decent variety and excellent quality.

i stayed there for 1 night only , but it is a fantastic stay and I had a wonderful new year there!
Location---it is close to JR station , and can get to airport by limousine bus easily and comfortably.
Room---It is an excellent room(superior room), spicous and classic, beautiful city view,
Staff---Friendly, speak in fluent English, helpful and very polite,
make me feel I am a VIP !!!!
Facility---- wonderful but no free internet in room.
I had a New Year Brunch Buffet in Splendo, delicious and good service.
It is a highly recommended hotel for relaxing trip!!!

My family of 4 stayed in the Executive Suite for 12 nights in November. We had previously stayed there 3 years old and we were happy that the good things havent changed. The same old world cosy ambience. The fireplace and cosy lobby all decked in Christmas decoration certainly makes this feel like an old friend's lodge. Probably the only luxury hotel in Osaka that is not glitz and glass. And certainly all the whos whos hang out here, as evidenced by the Rolls Royces and the number of Birkins everyday....
The bathrooms were large and luxuriously appointed. We loved the large extra-large king-size beds and the 10 diff kinds of pillows. They even had special pyjamas, bathrobes and slippers for our 2 little girls in their different sizes, which made them feel like princesses,,,,and the service extended to us throughout our stay was always impeccable, friendly and professional from arranging tours, to bullet train advice, restaurant bookings etc. Kudos. In 2009, we felt it was no 1 and this time round, having had the chance to visit some of our other friends in other 5 star hotels, this is still no 1.

And its location is superbly connected via underpass to all the subway, train, JR, shinkashen and shopping malls within the next 1km vicinity so we need not even walk on ground level, esp useful when it is windy and cold.