RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka, located in the vibrant district of Nakanoshima, also known as Osaka’s “City of Water,” the hotel has welcomed global dignitaries and royalty since its 1935 inception. Now reimagined as part of IHG’s rapidly growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio, Vignette Collection, it combines time-honoured tradition with modern hospitality.

The hotel features over 1,000 rooms and suites, including a showstopping 700-square-metre suite, and 18 dining venues. Highlights include authentic Japanese cuisine, French fine dining, and contemporary lounges, while guests can also access a state-of-the-art fitness centre and 56 versatile event spaces. Renowned designer Junko Koshino has lent her artistic touch to the hotel’s stylish new uniforms, fusing fashion with heritage.

The striking jet black reflective facade of the W hotel (designed by the city’s own world-renowned architect Tadao Ando) sets it apart on the horizon. But inside is a very different story, with bold pinks, blues and purples found throughout. It’s located on Midosuji Boulevard and welcomes guests with a giant uplit W sign made up of chrome balls. An indoor glowing infinity pool adjoins a bar and lounge with DJ beats creating a sophisticated party vibe. The living room and restaurant are separated by a white flowing curtain, creating a sense of cohesion yet separating the function of the spaces.

Osaka’s answer to the Champs Elysées, the solubrious Midosuji is the setting for the St Regis property. Each of its 160 bedrooms features Japanese-style bathtubs, Remède bath products, a curated selection of art and ceramics, Kyoto silks and headboards crafted from Kawashima silk. Guests staying here receive the hallmark brand butler service and can experience French flair in a Japanese city – the hotel has a boulangerie and two French restaurants, along with an Italian eatery and a teppanyaki grill. And when it comes to the first meal of the day, you can opt for an American spread, or a traditional Japanese breakfast.

Following The Ritz-Carlton’s British heritage, this hotel has a distinctly Western feel. Pass the doormen wearing top hats and tails and you’ll enter a world of art (over 450 original pieces can be toured inside), cigar and whisky lounges, live piano music and centuries old antiques. Book a bedroom with views of the ocean, tatami mats or futons and an Italian marble bathroom and dine on award winning French, Italian, Chinese, or Japanese cuisine at one of its four restaurants. Its spa offers a range of detox and relaxation treatments, as well as a heated indoor pool, jacuzzis and outdoor hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas.