Osaka is a dynamic city, the largest port city in Japan and home to a plethora of attractions and cultural sites to explore and experience with your family. However, like most places in Japan, finding a hotel that suits a family of four or more can be a little tricky especially if you want space, good breakfast options, and housekeeping. While researching our stay I discovered ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka and promptly added it to our list of places to stay in Osaka.
For us, travelling is a break school and work. It is an opportunity to pack a whole bunch of adventure into our days with the luxury of heading to a spacious hotel room each night which is fully serviced while we are out and offers a relaxing bath and shower. With no beds to make in the morning, and breakfast provided, a good hotel choice sets us up for a good holiday. ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka did not fail to delight.
ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka with Kids
Table of Contents
Image via ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
Arrival and Check in
We arrived at Osaka from Hiroshima. We were keen to get to our hotel quckily and opted to use a taxi, although ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka is quite easy to get to via public transport and offers a FREE shuttle from Osaka Station.
In Japan you can choose to forward your luggage to your next hotel. We had packed our bags and sent them from Hiroshima. To be honest, I was a little anxious about our luggage arriving so was hopeful we would recieve notice of their arrival as we checked in at ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka.
For this stay we were lucky to have a Club Room on one of the higher levels of the hotel. Check in was faultless. Our hosts spoke English and were able to answer all of our questions, and were quick to let us know that our luggage was awaiting us in our room. (I’m convinced now that the luggage forwarding service is a MUST in Japan when travelling with kids).
The Club room boasts quite an array of extras for guests, but at the top of our list was the FREE WIFI and late check out. We had also requested two swipe cards which had been prepared without issue.
The Room
While the ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka does not offer family rooms or even interconnecting rooms, what it does have is the option to book a double room and in addition the option to request a fold out bed. The rooms are quite spacious to begin with so we found this perfect for our family of four.
The ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka bedding is lush with a heavy thread count and western pillows. (Pillows in Japanese accommodation can be a surprise. Many offer a traditional bean filled pillow which can be a little hard for those more familiar with down, latex or woollen pillows).
The bathroom was significantly larger than many of the hotels of a similar standard that we stayed in while in Japan. It was divided into two, with the toilet and basin separated by a wall of glass and door to the bath and shower. The bathroom amenities were plentiful and included hair ties, toothbrushes, sewing kits and a plethora of other items. The soaps, shampoos, conditioner and bath gel were gorgeous too.
We left our bedroom in a state of disarray each morning when we headed out for our daily and adventures and returned every afternoon to a spotless room. Housekeeping were always on top of things and we always had enough towels, bath gowns and toiletries for the night and next day. I think this is worth mentioning as when travelling with kids hotels often forget to include the right number of everything, but on this stay it was perfect.
The minibar was brimming with drinks and snacks. Whilst we typically avoid mini bars when travelling, I do find Japanese Minibar fees quite reasonable. The hotel also provides courtesy water bottles which are replenished each day.
I know that windows can be an issue for some travelling families. Our room at ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka overlooked the river and provided a lovely city scape. The windows can not be opened (thankfully) and have a double row of curtains which provide a good blackout option for those of you whose children wake early if there is sunlight.
A mention of the power outlets is important when travelling especially for those of you juggling multiple devices. I was glad to find that our hotel room had plenty of outlets so we could charge our laptop, Nintendo Switch, camera, GoPro, and phone all at the same time.
The Restaurants
ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka boasts a number of eating establishments including a Michelin Star restaurant. On this stay we chose to try the Cafe in the Park and Club Lounge for breakfast. Other establishments include: DOJIMA Teppanyaki Restaurant, Japanese Restaurant TANKUMA KITAMISE, KARIN Chinese Restaurant, Maison Tateru Yoshino, Shunka Shuto and The Library Bar. As you can see, there are SO manyt options.
Cafe in the Park
On our first morning we headed to the Cafe in the Park which had only just reopened after an upgrade. Until we had kids we had generally avoided the hotel buffet but we quickly learned the virtues of this option when we started to travel as a family who seemed to have quite varying tastes when it came to breakfast options. The Cafe in the Park hit the mark for everyone in our family.
Cafe in the Park offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options, although we only sampled their breakfast offerings. The cafe offers a buffet from 6.00 am to 11.00 am which includes seasonal fruit, savory appetizers, Japanese side dishes, warm vegetables and more. What we loved most was the option to have omelets, eggs and pancakes cooked to your liking by the on-site chef.
Another highlight was the attention that staff gave to our children. Every whim was catered for and none were too difficult for our smiling waiters. It made for a very special breakfast.
Club Lounge
We headed up the elevator to the Club lounge on our second morning to compare the breakfast to that in Cafe in the Park. There was a very similar buffet option with both eggs, omelets and pancakes offered. What the lounge offered that you don’t get downstairs is the view across Osaka and the exclusivity of being in the club. Otherwise, it is much the same with attentive staff and great food.
Maison Tateru Yoshino – A Michelin Star Restaurant
Whilst we didnt feast at Maison Tateru Yoshino it wouldnt be right not to mention this incredible restaurant. It was awarded the start in its first year of opening, and is also the very first Crowne Plaza branded hotel in the world to earn a Star. We did feel that the kids were a little too young to really enjoy the menu so have left this one out until they’re a little older BUT you don’t have to follow suit. Just remember to book in advance!
The Extras
The Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre
We were quite chuffed to learn that the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Osaka has it’s own pool and fitness centre and had packed our swimwear in anticipation of a leisurely swim. However, like all good adventures, after exploring each day we were super tired each night and found up too many excuses why we shouldn’t go for a swim! However, I did go down and have a look as I knew it would be a space that many families are interested in learning more about before selecting their accommodation in Osaka.
Firstly, the ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka’s fitness centre is open 24 hours a day and features Treadmills, Cross trainers, Exercise bikes, Multi-Gym, Adjustable pulley, Weight benches and Dumbbells. The indoor pool and sauna is open from 7:00 a.m.～9:00 p.m each day. There are a number of routines that you need to indulge in before entering the pool including removing your shoes and showering beforehand.
Parking
Whilst most family travellers choose to make use of the JR Pass when travelling around Japan, I know that some like to take the self drive option. ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka has car parking available. The fees are currently set at ¥2,000 overnight or ¥600/30 min. ¥2,000/Overnight Courtesy free parking time is as follows; up to 4H for Banquet and Pool & Sauna, up to 6H for Wedding, up to 1H for Restaurant & Bar (less than ¥3,000), up to 3H for Restaurant & Bar (¥3,000 and more.)
The Neighbourhood
ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka is situated in Kita (北, “North”) district, also known as Umeda (梅田). It is a bustling business district as well as one of the busiest travel hubs in Osaka. The hotel is within walking distance of JR Osaka Station although the hotel’s FREE shuttle bus makes transitioning from the hotel to the station with luggage or vice-versa quite easy.
When it came to dinner, we loved exploring the Kitashinchi District which is less than a kilometre away and offers hundreds of different restaurants to dine at, many with English menus, but without the bustle of other western tourists.
The area also boasts a number of underground shopping precincts and department stores. It’s a safe, fun place to base yourself.
Would we stay at ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka with kids again?
Yes! As we said earlier, finding accommodation to suit a family in Japan can be tricky especially when you want the extras that come with a flash hotel like housekeeping and room service. The ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka ticked all the boxes when it came to accommodating our family and is a great spot to base yourself to access many of Osaka’s attractions.
The details and booking your stay
ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
1 Chome-3-1 Dojimahama, Kita, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 530-0004, Japan
To book your hotel room for a family I recommend approaching the hotel directly so you can organise a double room and fold out bed. Click here to see their latest specials that may suit you and your stay in Osaka.
A huge thank you to ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka for hosting our stay. All opinions are my own.
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Planning a Trip to Japan?
Are you planning a trip to Japan? You may find some of our other articles helpful. They include:
Planning your trip to Japan with kids
Things to do in Hiroshima with kids
Visiting Japan during Cherry Blossom season
10 things you need to know about Tokyo before you visit with kids
or head to our Japan archives for an array of tips and tricks to make the most out of your trip
What a awesome place and post you shared! Lovely pictures you captured. There are so many things to do. Osaka is most beautiful destination and its things are so amazing to enjoy.
Hi!
Thanks for your info on ANA Crowne Osaka. We have just booked our trip to Toyko, through Singapore. We will be spending a few days in Toyko, Hakuba and Osaka, so I was interested in your review of ANA as we will be travelling with two kids too.
When you mentioned the extra bed, did the kids have to share that, or was there four beds in the room?
My kids would not be able to share if we were all to get some sleep! Do the rooms for four beds?
Will read all your other Japan info as well.
Thanks
Bel
Hi Bel
At the ANA Crowne Osaka, you can have up to 3 adults sharing a room, and children sharing beds with their parents. For us, we had a double room + one extra bed (I think this is a comfort room of 31 sqm). My daughter is only small, so she slept with me, my husband had his own bed and my son had the extra bed. For us, it worked.
If you would each like your own bed, you would need to talk directly to them and ask for an interconnecting room.