5 of the best new hotels in Osaka that opened in 2025

Capella gained widespread attention when its Bangkok property was named the world’s best hotel in 2024. Earlier this year, the group opened the first urban hotel of its sister brand Patina in Osaka. Located just a minute's walk from the city’s most treasured landmark – Osaka Castle – Patina feels like an entirely different proposition. Where Capella leans into contemporary luxury, Patina embraces a more understated, quiet luxury.

Patina Osaka is designed around the concept of wellness. Its 221 elegantly appointed rooms and suites – some offering unobstructed views of Osaka Castle – feature natural materials such as wood, stone and washi paper to create a calming, grounding atmosphere. Beyond the typical hotel amenities of a fitness centre and indoor pool, the entire fourth floor is dedicated to Patina Wellness, a sanctuary in the heart of the city offering health-tech treatments including hyperbaric oxygen and hydrogen therapy, cryotherapy, a far-infrared sauna and full-body LED therapy.

Art, design and music are also central to the hotel’s holistic approach, with local and international creatives contributing to some of its signature experiences. Osaka-born graphic artist Verdy has been tapped to design a range of exclusive merchandise, while American sound designer Devon Turnbull (Ojas) created the hotel’s Listening Room, a luxurious reimagining of Japan’s listening bar culture. 

Osaka’s latest luxury hotel surely knows how to capitalise on its sky-high perch. Occupying the upper levels of the brand-new Grand Green Osaka multipurpose complex’s South Building, spanning floors 31 to 38, Waldorf Astoria Osaka’s 252 generously-sized rooms and suites are perfectly positioned to capture the city’s dynamic skyline.

Nearly every facet of the hotel celebrates the view – from the breathtaking 30th-floor indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Osaka Bay, to the brand’s iconic Peacock Alley lounge, where you can unwind with afternoon tea or evening cocktails while taking in sweeping vistas of the Kansai region.

As is typical of Waldorf Astoria worldwide, this Osaka property carries the hotel’s signature Art Deco opulence. Here, it’s refined with Japanese sensibilities under the direction of renowned Hong Kong-based designer Andre Fu. Japanese artisanal touches such as kumiko screens, painted washi panels and shoji lampshades are tastefully woven into the interiors, grounding the hotel firmly in the spirit of Osaka.

With its striking colour palette of dusty pink and royal blue, the Basement Hotel Osaka Honmachi is clearly designed for the new generation of travellers – those who see travel as a lifestyle that blends work and social connection. 

Conveniently located by Hommachi Station, the hotel offers 119 rooms across 14 floors. They may be compact (15.5–16.5 sqm in size), but they’re comfortable and fitted with all the mod-cons you’d need. Some rooms come with sofas, while others feature picture windows with wide views of the city.

The life of the hotel revolves around the spacious lounge on the 14th floor, which serves breakfast and transitions into a café after 2 pm. There’s a variety of seating arrangements, from dining and communal tables to sofas and desks suited for remote working. 

More interestingly, its Social Hour programme is free for guests, offering sweets and pastries from 2pm to 5pm, and then evening cocktails right after, with alcoholic and soft drinks plus snacks until 10pm, all with no extra charge.

Located in the revitalised Sakai Port area, Dorsett by Agora Sakai may seem an out-of-the-way option for those unfamiliar with Osaka prefecture’s geography, but this new bayside hotel is surprisingly well positioned. Just a five-minute walk from Sakai Station, it offers quick access to downtown Osaka, with shopping and nightlife hubs like Namba and Shinsaibashi reachable in just 10 minutes by train. Even better, if you're visiting for the Osaka Expo, the hotel offers direct ferry services to the venue.

The hotel features 321 bright and airy rooms and suites with large windows overlooking either the city skyline or the harbour. Some rooms can sleep up to three people with an additional sofa bed, while others come with separate seating areas or walk-in showers.

Facilities include a compact but functional fitness room, self-service laundry, free Wi-Fi and a relaxing space to unwind after a day of sightseeing. Every day from 4pm to 9pm, the Refresh Lounge welcomes guests free of charge with a selection of around 20 different teas. And to start the day, the breakfast buffet caters to all appetites with a spread of both Japanese and Western dishes.