Overview: Courtyard Osaka Honmachi | Prince of Journey

Throughout a visit to Japan, I spent two nights in Osaka to get to know a brand new a part of the nation. I used to be on the lookout for a resort that had a pleasant steadiness between price and amenities, and got here throughout the Courtyard Osaka Honmachi as one of many choices.

I’m fairly acquainted with the hit-and-miss Courtyards of North America and Europe, however this turned my first time with the model in Asia. Many members of the Prince of Journey crew and the Miles & Factors group have spoken extremely of Courtyards in Asia, and I used to be eager to verify one out for myself.

Courtyard Osaka Honmachi – Reserving

I used to be lucky to attain an business charge at this resort, which was one among a number of choices obtainable within the space.

Common money charges on the property begin at round ¥15,000 ($150 CAD) and rise as much as ¥40,000 ($400 CAD) throughout peak durations. If you happen to’re reserving at the least just a few months upfront, anticipate to pay ¥15,000 ($150 CAD), which is certainly a gorgeous worth.

If you happen to plan on redeeming Marriott Bonvoy factors, anticipate to half with 35,000–45,000 factors per night time, with most dates falling someplace near 40,000 factors.

There isn’t a really compelling purpose to redeem factors right here, particularly for those who can e-book charges for round 15,000 ($150 CAD) per night time. You’re prone to get a lot lower than our goal valuation of 0.9 cents per level, and also you’re possible higher off saving your factors for a extra priceless redemption.

When you’ve got a spare Free Night time Award kicking round, you may nonetheless get respectable worth out of it, particularly if the money charges run a bit greater than the norm.

After all, remember to check out any company codes that you’re entitled to, as it might convey down the nightly price even additional.

Courtyard Osaka Honmachi – Location

The Courtyard Osaka Honmachi is conveniently situated in Central Osaka, near lots of the metropolis’s points of interest, transit hubs, and enterprise areas.

The resort is noticeably adjoining to a most important thoroughfare, Chuo-dori Avenue. Regardless of the hefty degree of site visitors, I didn’t discover any noise from contained in the resort.

Osaka Fortress is a leisurely half-hour stroll from the resort, or alternatively, a few 10-minute drive. It’s an important spot for a run from the resort, for those who’re into that form of factor.

To get to the bustling Dotonbori district, it takes round 10 minutes by automobile, quarter-hour by transit, or 25 minutes by foot. There are many eating places and bars alongside the way in which, do you have to get hungry sooner or later alongside the journey.

Heading northward, you’ll arrive at Nakanoshima, a three-kilometre lengthy sandbank the place many authorities buildings, industrial places of work, and museums are situated, in round 5 minutes by automobile or transit, or round quarter-hour by foot.

Shin-Osaka Station is round quarter-hour by automobile or 20 minutes by transit from the resort. 

Kansai Worldwide Airport is round an hour by transit or half an hour by automobile from the resort, and Itami Airport is round an hour by transit or 25 minutes by automobile from the Courtyard Osaka Honmachi.

Courtyard Osaka Honmachi – Examine-in

I arrived on the resort from Shin-Osaka Station by the use of the Midosuji Line. Navigating my approach from the prepare station to Honmachi was straightforward, which was a little bit of a aid after an oddly delayed Shinkansen experience from Tokyo. 

The resort’s exterior blends in to lots of the surrounding buildings, and I nearly walked proper previous the doorway.

Upon coming into, I famous that the resort seemed to be fairly fashionable, and walked by way of a hallway with green-leaf paintings and a divider with Japanese writing.

The foyer lounge has just a few seating areas for visitors, however it isn’t a very huge or inviting house to take a look at. 

I headed over to one among three check-in desks, and was warmly greeted by the affiliate. I arrived within the early night, and there weren’t too many individuals within the space.

My Platinum Elite standing was acknowledged, and I used to be knowledgeable of the entire resort’s amenities and facilities that I’d have entry to. There wasn’t actually a lot of a degree of “suite-talking” right here, since many of the rooms are very comparable.

I thanked the affiliate for the thorough clarification of what to anticipate, after which headed as much as my room on the eighth ground of the resort.

Courtyard Osaka Honmachi – King Consolation Visitor Room

I wasn’t anticipating my room to be fairly as fancy as what I’d skilled on the Mesm Tokyo the night time earlier than. Nevertheless, I used to be pleasantly shocked to discover a fashionable room with every part I’d want for a keep that was a mixture of each work and leisure.

Upon coming into the room, there’s a brief hallway that leads previous the toilet and into the bed room.

Within the hallway, there’s an open closet with a spot to hold your jacket, a shoe tray, some drawers, and a few Japanese pajamas.

Every little thing within the bed room is pretty compact, however it had sufficient house to maneuver round comfortably. The mattress takes up the vast majority of the room, and I discovered it to be fairly snug and nice for a strong night time’s relaxation, as I used to be nonetheless battling jet lag.

There are aspect tables on both aspect of the mattress, with lamps, retailers, an alarm clock, and lighting controls.

Mounted on the wall reverse from the mattress is the room’s flat-screen TV, which is positioned optimally for viewing from the mattress.

Between the mattress and the window is a small desk with a chair. I spent a while working right here throughout my keep, and located it to be snug for brief stints of labor, however not a lot for longer durations of time.

In opposition to the window is a padded bench, which I suppose would possibly make for a pleasant spot to learn a e-book.

The view from the room wasn’t particular by any means, because it simply seemed out onto the neighbouring constructing and the busy street close by.

Within the nook of the room is a closet, which is the place you may grasp extra clothes. There’s additionally an ironing board inside.

On the opposite aspect of the bench is a small pantry, with a tea kettle on high and a mini-fridge tucked beneath. As an alternative of a espresso maker, there have been nifty single-use drip espresso packets, which I hadn’t encountered earlier than.

The toilet is tucked into the nook of the room between the mattress and the door. Inside, you’ll discover a single LED-backlit vainness, a Japanese rest room, and a walk-in bathe with a bench inside. 

It’s price noting that there’s a window from the bathe to the bed room, however you may pull down a blind for those who’d like a little bit of privateness. The rain bathe had wonderful water stress.

Total, I used to be pleasantly shocked by the room. Whereas it wasn’t probably the most luxurious room I’ve stayed in, it was fashionable, clear, useful, and comfy.

If you happen to’re in Osaka for work or as a vacationer, you’ll have every part you want in your room; nonetheless, for households, it may be a bit cramped.

Courtyard Osaka Honmachi – Breakfast

Breakfast is served in STITCH, the resort’s most important eating venue, from 7–10am every day. I loved complimentary breakfast as a part of my Platinum Elite advantages, however it in any other case prices ¥3,800 ($38 CAD) per particular person.

There may be an exterior entrance to the restaurant, because it’s additionally open for lunch from 11:30am–3pm, and for dinner from 5:30–11pm. It’s price noting that you simply’ll get a ten–20% low cost on lunch and dinner, relying in your standing.

STITCH is kind of small in comparison with your normal resort restaurant, with quite a lot of tables arrange throughout two rooms on the second ground of the resort. The very best seats are by the home windows, however there isn’t actually a lot of a view to soak in.

I used to be very happy with the buffet unfold on the Courtyard Osaka Honmachi, which was certainly significantly better than many North American buffets at higher-end accommodations. 

The overwhelming majority of the choices obtainable within the buffet had been Japanese delicacies, which I actually didn’t thoughts in any respect. For decent gadgets, there was an udon noodle station, dumplings, grilled fish, dumplings, Western- and Japanese-style eggs, karaage, minestrone soup, sizzling canines, and recent tofu.

For chilly gadgets, there was a collection of baked items, yogurts, smoked salmon, chilly cuts, cereals, a full salad bar, and recent fruits.

Higher but, there was a complete desk on the rear of the buffet space devoted to native and seasonal specialties, together with takoyaki, kushi katsu, and rather more.

On the southward-facing aspect of the restaurant is the beverage space. There was a pleasant collection of juices, smoothies, teas, and low obtainable.

I completely loved the breakfast every morning, and wound up treating two buddies from Edmonton who occurred to be in Osaka on the similar time. They remarked that the breakfast served on the Courtyard Osaka Honmachi put the one on the Moxy Osaka Honmachi to disgrace.

Courtyard Osaka Honmachi – Different Services

On the prepare into Osaka, I used to be studying up on the resort and its amenities. One merchandise that significantly caught my eye was the open-air public bathtub, which I hoped only a great distance of claiming that there’s an onsen (Japanese sizzling spring) on-site.

Thankfully, my suspicions had been right, and there are separate female and male onsens situated on the second ground of the resort, simply down the corridor from STITCH. 

As you might recall from earlier opinions and articles, I’m very a lot a washing fanatic, and I wound up spending fairly a little bit of time within the onsen. It’s open every day from 5–10am, after which once more from 2pm–1am. 

Tub and face towels can be found on the entrance, and also you received’t actually need to convey the rest other than slippers. You’re anticipated to be nude whereas utilizing the amenities, as is typical in onsens in Japan.

As soon as inside, you’ll have the choice of bathing indoors or exterior. On one morning, it was raining exterior, and I discovered it to be significantly refreshing to soak within the sizzling pool whereas cool raindrops splashed round.

There are additionally bathe cubicles close by for laundry up after you’ve had a soak, in addition to hair dryers and facilities within the change room.

One resort profit that I’ve by no means encountered earlier than, however hope to once more, is complimentary bedtime ramen (I’m not kidding).

So long as you’re a Marriott Bonvoy member, you may pop by STITCH from 10:10–10:50pm for a free bowl of ramen, which is meant that will help you sleep properly. There’s a restricted provide of ramen obtainable, and once I confirmed up at 10:05pm, I used to be promptly turned away and requested to return 5 minutes later.

Inside, you’ll discover the toppings, bowls of noodles, water for boiling noodles, and ramen broth arrange alongside the breakfast buffet counter.

The ramen was fairly tasty, and I loved the expertise of sitting in a quiet room listening to a refrain of slurps whereas I loved my bowl. I can’t say if I slept so properly that night time due to jet lag or the ramen, however I feel it’s secure to say that each labored properly in my favour.

Within the foyer, there’s a separate seating space which capabilities as a enterprise café to the again, often called M18. It’s reserved for visitors with Platinum Elite standing or greater or who pay an additional payment (¥1,000 ($10 CAD)) per hour.

I attempted to get some work executed right here someday, however discovered it to be fairly noisy, and the complimentary espresso, tea, and gentle drinks weren’t sufficient of a draw to maintain me down there.

From 5:30–9pm, it’s presupposed to operate as a bar; nonetheless, this has been closed indefinitely.

The health centre is situated on the basement ground of the resort. It’s open across the clock, however you’ll must make a reservation with the entrance desk and get a separate entry key.

The world is kind of small, and has a restricted however enough vary of apparatus to be used. Inside, you’ll discover a few treadmills, an elliptical machine, some free weights, and a strength-training tower.

I popped in a few instances throughout my keep to stretch after a run or do a body weight exercise. Except for having some points with the entry card, I discovered it to be superb for my functions.

Simply down the corridor from the health centre is a 24/7 self-serve laundry facility, which is a unbelievable amenity for long-term visitors. You’ll must have some ¥100 cash helpful, which you’ll be able to change on the entrance desk.

A wash cycle prices ¥300 ($3 CAD), and every quarter-hour of drying prices ¥100 ($1 CAD), which is a wholly cheap price to pay at a resort.

Conclusion

For my two-night keep in Osaka, the Courtyard Osaka Honmachi was an important spot to make use of as a base for work and testing a number of the metropolis’s most important sights. With its central location and handy entry to transit, it’s an important spot for those who’re on the lookout for a snug place to remain for enterprise or leisure.

Whereas the rooms aren’t extraordinarily spacious, they’ve every part you want, and the resort is good and quiet. The remainder of the resort is kind of fashionable, and the workers with whom I interacted had been all courteous {and professional}.

The Courtyard Osaka Honmachi additionally has a wonderful breakfast, in addition to some pleasant surprises with its onsen, laundry amenities, and complimentary bedtime ramen.

When paired with a really cheap worth level when booked upfront, I wouldn’t hesitate to advocate it as an important choice if indulging in luxurious isn’t your high precedence.