Four Seasons Arrives in Osaka With City’s First Contemporary Ryokan

The all-new Four Seasons Hotel Osaka has arrived in the vibrant Japanese city

Featuring the city’s first contemporary ryokan experience on its own dedicated floor, Four Seasons Hotel Osaka welcomes local and regional guests and international travellers to discover why this fascinating city is rapidly increasing in popularity on the world stage

Housed within the new One Dojima multi-use building by architects Nikken Sekkei, the interiors of Four Seasons Hotel Osaka are by a trio of Japanese design leaders, Curiosity, Simplicity and Design Studio Spin. Every detail, every finish and every luxury has been carefully crafted to set the stage for the warm welcome and caring service for which Four Seasons is known across Japan and around the world.

The All-New Four Seasons Hotel Osaka has arrived in the vibrant Japanese city

Located in the city’s Dojima neighbourhood – home to numerous cosy cafes, hidden bars and scenic waterways as well as important historic sites – guests enjoy easy access to numerous other diversions by foot, car or boat, or even by train as a gateway to other cities.  The Hotel’s concierge team enthusiastically shares their recommendations, tailoring itineraries and making arrangements for business travellers to make the most of their time in Osaka.

Introducing Osaka’s First Luxury Ryokan Experience

The first of its kind in the city, Four Seasons Hotel Osaka debuts the dedicated GENSUI 玄水 floor, a contemporary ryokan experience from the moment guests step off the elevator on the 28th floor.  Welcomed with a cup of green tea by the floor’s specially-trained Four Seasons staff, guests are asked to remove their shoes and provided with slippers, or they can simply enjoy the feel of rush-grass tatami mats on bare feet as they pad to their room or suite.

Designed by Japanese studio Simplicity, each accommodation is a modern expression of Japanese customs and design principles, with the added luxury of unobtrusive modern conveniences.  Seating is low-slung, doors slide silently and washi paper headboards look over luxurious futon-style sleeping platforms.

The All-New Four Seasons Hotel Osaka has arrived in the vibrant Japanese city

Amenities include yukatas (relaxed cotton kimonos), a mini-bar featuring curated selections, and a bathing stool placed in the shower area.  GENSUI guests also enjoy exclusive access to SABO tea lounge, offering bento-style breakfasts, tea rituals, and evening sake and wine.

In addition to the accommodations on the GENSUI floor, Four Seasons Hotel Osaka offers 130 more guest rooms and 24 suites, all with elevated city views from the 29th to 35th floors of the Hotel.  With fabulous views from every accommodation, interiors offer an understated palette of harmonious colours, natural wood and stone finishes, crisp white linens and myriad thoughtful touches that define a stay at Four Seasons.

While the lavish Presidential, Grand Osaka and Dojima Suites are certainly the pinnacle of luxury, those in-the-know will opt for one of many rooms and suites situated at the building’s curved and angled corners, opening up panoramic views of the city and beyond.

The All-New Four Seasons Hotel Osaka has arrived in the vibrant Japanese city

Destination Dining, Drinking and More

In a city currently boasting 85 Michelin-starred restaurants, Four Seasons is once again raising the bar with a collection of unique dining and drinking concepts overseen by director of Food and Beverage Sebastian Gassen and executive chef Paolo Pelosi.

The Hotel’s signature restaurant is Jiang Nan Chun, where authentic Cantonese cuisine is presented in a striking setting that emphasises an interactive dining experience.  Here, under soaring ceilings and against glittering skyline views, guests are treated to barbecue specialities, as well as a show-stopping roast duck carved tableside.  The restaurant also offers two semi-private dining rooms plus one fully private room with its own show kitchen.

Also on the 37th floor is destination cocktail emporium Bar Bota. With a dramatic bar taking centre stage, this glamorous setting infuses Osaka’s vibrant cultural heritage with a global outlook. Head Bartender Andrei Marcu prepares handcrafted libations incorporating local botanicals, the finest Japanese whiskeys and gins, and Insta-worthy presentations.

The All-New Four Seasons Hotel Osaka has arrived in the vibrant Japanese city

Led by executive sous chef Hiroaki Nagaishi, Jardin was conceived as an airy, garden-like space where guests can enjoy an international semi-buffet breakfast each morning, exquisite afternoon tea sets crafted by executive pastry chef Hafiz Razali in the afternoon, and a menu of classic French dishes each evening. Guests can choose from both indoor and outdoor seating at Jardin.

Two additional venues are Farine, an artisanal bakery that offers light lunches, sweet treats and speciality coffees and teas on the go, and CHA, a quiet oasis infused with Japanese touches offering a handpicked selection of Japanese teas, for in-house guests only.  Both are located on the first floor at street level.

The hotel’s most exciting opening, at Sushi L’Abysse Osaka, two of the world’s most celebrated gastronomic cultures — French cuisine and the art of sushi — will meet, intertwine and respond to one another in unexpected ways. Taking its place at the frontier of culinary innovation, Sushi L’Abysse Osaka stands as a bridge between the modern French sensibility of chef Yannick Alléno, a visionary with 15 Michelin stars to his name, and the traditional sushi expertise of chef Itaru Yasuda, who has finessed his craft rigorously over nearly three decades in Japan and beyond.

The All-New Four Seasons Hotel Osaka has arrived in the vibrant Japanese city

As the third L’Abysse destination in the world, following Paris and Monte-Carlo, the restaurant invites epicures in Osaka to a wholly new dining experience, where French and Japanese techniques meet and mingle, rooted in a deep appreciation of seasonal ingredients sourced from across Japan, with nigiri at its centre. Thus, at Sushi L’Abysse Osaka, chef Yannick makes use of his prowess to challenge traditional notions of cuisine and offer new culinary expressions.

Spa and Wellness

Encompassing the entire 36th floor of the Hotel, The Spa at Four Seasons is a sky-high oasis of relaxation, indulgence and wellbeing.  With soothing hues and curving lines, each space flows into the next as guests immerse in the healing connection of water throughout.  Five spa treatment rooms – including a couple’s room with a private bath – all offer lofty city views.

Signature rituals include a 100-minute, high-performance facial inspired by the legendary Empress Kōmyō, whose name signifies brightness and radiance; and a series of bath experiences harnessing the healing properties of seasonal herbs.  Along with a range of massages, facials and body treatments uniquely created for this spa, busy guests can also choose a mini-treat from a menu of 15-30 minute “Quick Replenishers.”

The All-New Four Seasons Hotel Osaka has arrived in the vibrant Japanese city

Wellness facilities also include ofuro (Japanese baths that have been an important part of daily life in Osaka for centuries) and sauna, a 16 metre (52 foot) indoor pool that appears to spill through windows into the city’s network of waterways, and a 24/7 fitness centre with motivating floor-to-ceiling views across the city.

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About the Author

Nick Walton

Nick Walton is Group Managing Editor of Artemis Communications, a leading boutique magazine and content solution company and publisher of The Art of Business Travel. A former travel editor of the South China Morning Post, he heads up the group's travel and lifestyle magazines, which include Alpha Men Asia, The Edition, Mirandus, Ikhlas, The Journal and Explorer Magazine.