HOTEL THE LEBEN OSAKA — Hotel in Osaka

Leben is the 4th hotel I’ve stayed in Japan for this trip. This review is comparison with the previous other hotels in Japan for this trip.

Staying 3 nights at Leben with another 2 to go. Experience on the first night wasn’t too good. Staff weren’t as friendly as all the rest of the hotels. In fact, staff at shopping malls were much friendlier than the staff you will encounter in this hotel.

There are a lot of rules n regulations for staying in this hotel. During check in, the staff will give you one whole list. They will emphasize that you cannot do this, cannot do that. Below are some examples of the rules. It just puts u off a lot and doesn’t make u feel welcome upon check in.

do not wear your own shoes into the room. I do understand that some hotels have this rule. It is just the way that the message is conveyed that I have an opinion to. In fact the 2 previous hotels at hakone and Kyoto that I’ve been to before coming to Leben have the same rule. However the way that they put across the message is much “gentler”. You naturally know that you are not supposed to. They do not put it into your face that you aren’t supposed to.

Leben provides some drinks and facial amenities in the lobby. This is till 11pm. The question is why must there be a time? The hotel I’ve been to in Kyoto provides the same drink counter which is available for 24 hours. You just need to help yourself. So why the time limit? The facial amenities that Leben has are very small disposable packets. If you are providing such a service, why have a time limit. I came back to the hotel slightly past 11. But the counter was already closed. Why not include such stuff in the room itself? These are disposable packets not shared. It felt like the hotel saying: I’m providing you with this “upgraded” service. So come to the lobby and get it for yourself. If u miss the timing, too bad. This is upgraded so dun expect me to put into the room for your convenience. If this is the case, why not remove this entire thing. The way that things are done here puts a bad taste into your mouth.

Guests have to indicate on the rooms what kind of room make-up service they want. A tag is to be placed at the door. I also understand this. But generally in all the hotels I’ve been to, if there is no indication, the hotel will typically make up the room in entirety. In Leben, if you forgot, again, it’s too bad for you. They will not make up the room AT ALL. This is quite ridiculous. I’m a paying guest so why is the responsibility of this made upon me to remember to put the tag on the room door??

We also arranged for luggage transfer from the Kyoto hotel to Leben. It hasn’t arrived when we checked in at 5pm. Concierge staff at the Kyoto hotel told us that it will arrive on the same day by 7pm because the next day is a public holiday and this service will not be available. The Kyoto hotel staff also pre-warned us that if we are going to be using the same service to transfer our luggage from Osaka to the next hotel, to do it earlier due to the holiday. This is very much in contrast to the staff at Leben. When we asked if our luggage has arrived they said no and said maybe it will only arrive the next day. Only when we told them that the next day is a holiday, did they change their tune and say: oh then I guess it will arrive today. Wouldn’t they know this? Since they are locals and work in a hotel? They also did not give anything suggestions on arranging for the next luggage transfer. This is also an example of the difference in service levels.

There are also some good points on the hotel. They include the location which is in walking distance to the subway station, main shopping district. Toilet is also clean and modern.

The main con is the hotel service which has many rooms for improvements. Hopefully they will work on it. The service here is really quite at the bottom when compared to general service...

do it yourself hotel, no service at all Pick up yourself the toiletteries at the first floor (like face cleaning oil, face wash etc) No minibar, just a fridge with a bottle of water Airco remote control in only Japanese, English description written on paper is incomprehensible Just enough coffee or tea for 1 cup, if you need more you need to go to the 1st floor to get coffee or tea from the machine No phone in the room, if you want to call the reception you need to go to the elevator and call with the phone there (where everybody can hear your phone discussion, no privacy at all) If you want to order something you need to do it digital via the television Breakfast is a joke. They don’t have a breakfast room with staff or buffet. You’ll get a breakfast bag which they will hang outside your room door at 7 or 8 AM with a box with prepared foods. Very poor choice. Quality is ok, but f.e. No coffee, just a tea bag, you need to heat the water in your room yourself. So so disapointing. We had a window at the front of our beds, the curtains are blinding but way too short, light is peeping around, so early in the morning you are awakened by the sunlight. And not only that, you hear also the streetnoise, although we were on the 10th floor. Not comfortable at all. The promised city view is a direct and close view on another building with airco’s. Ok, buildings are part of a city, but I expected somehow a view, this is really no view. At last the staff. We asked one of the desk staff if she could recommend us a good rooftopbar, the answer we got was that we should google for it?! OMG, never had such a bad service. We didn’t felt welcome at all and this hotel is defenitely not worth the money. We paid 913 Euros for 2 nights (we had to pay the citytax upfront as well, never did that before and slept in a lot of hotels). There are way more cheaper hotels with way more service, defenitely not recommending this hotel where you are not a guest...

Wanted to write a thank you email but couldn't find their official email. So leaving it here. Hope your team gets it.

"Thanks for the hospitality during my 3 night stay. Your team's help with my numerous luggage needs like luggage service receipt and delivery made a difference to me." For those considering the hotel, do note that the location is about 10 minutes walk from Shinsaibashi station or 3 minutes walk from the green train line (if you can find the right station exit/entrance point). There's lots of eateries around the area for every price point and there are 2 convenience stores close to the hotel. Note that there is no in-house F&B other than the very nice self service coffee and tea area to make drinks and to relax in the lobby.

Most guests "shop" at the self-service room amenities kit counter. I suppose most guests can't help but to take more than they need because it's there. But to the hotel's credit, they restock the counter often.

The room is very comfortable and a good size for those who prefer larger sized rooms. Packed with modern amenities and cleaned daily. Do note that the bar fridge power is cut when you remove the room key for power. There is a bath tub and shower space in the wet area of the bathroom and the WC is a separate space to itself. It's very well designed to allow the same space to be used differently and also facilitates movement very well.

One of the requests from the hotel is to put your shoes aside at the doorway and wear the in-room slippers to prevent outdoor dirt from spreading around the room. It's a reasonable request and quite aligned with the Japanese culture of reciprocal hospitality and respect.

Overall, the experience with the service staff and the quality of the room makes up for the location's inconvenience. The place is perfect for both short and long stay as it grows on you and...