Upon check-in at the front desk there is no acknowledgement of my Diamond status which isn’t a big deal, but interesting how the check-in process differs from one hotel to the other.

I have been upgraded to a huge executive suite on the 30th floor which has everything from a dining table, king-sized bed, and work desk, with views over the city.

There is a lovely amenity gift placed on the table with a ‘raked’ Japanese temple garden topped with omochi sweets.

I use the gym which is well equipped and the public bath area.

The Executive Lounge is quiet during afternoon tea and busy in the evening, and when I go to the desk for assistance to book a day trip to Arima Onsen, even though there are 3 staff present, Tokunaga-san asks me to wait whilst she is typing something I to her computer. Of course this is fine but the manner in which she tells me to wait with a hand gesture is uncharacteristic of the service one usually receives in Japan, and I am taking aback at the coldness of her request.

In fact the service at a number of touch points in the Executive Lounge and front desk is simply not warm, when compared to Hilton Tokyo and Hilton Nagoya which, in both cases, is exceptional.

Breakfast in the morning at the main restaurant is OK – again there doesn’t seem to be any local Osaka dishes advertised as with the buffet spreads in the other 2 hotels.

I think next time I am in Osaka I will try the new Conrad.