RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka, Vignette Collection by IHG — Hotel in Osaka

Staying in Osaka this week this large hotel (1,000+ rooms) looked a good bet - the price was reasonable, the location is central and the hotel has a fine pedigree and appears fondly regarded. Overall, I think this was a good choice.

The check in experience was very smooth - I arrived a day late, due to flight issues, but this was not an issue and the room was ready and waiting on arrival early morning. The staff were polite, explained everything very well and accommodating. A smooth experience. Checking in early meant no queues, no chaos and no hassle. Serendipitous. It was fate I be late.

The room was in the west wing, the hotel’s older part, built in 1965 - I believe this is the lowest standard of room offered. On the 10th floor, I found the room to be of a high standard - it was compact, that is true, but I’ve certainly been in smaller. Double bed, small table and chair. All clean and tidy. The room had clearly been refurbished and was well equipped with plugs - including gasp multiple USB C… The bathroom and shower were also in good condition. Overall the room was comfortable and quiet and the room number divisible by 10; auspicious. Well done.

Breakfast was a buffet in the Remone restaurant downstairs - this was ok, a veritable cornucopia of choice and very well organised. Only had it a couple of days though as I don’t really do breakfast these days and I find buffets in general hard work. I had some profiteroles and some soup dumplings though, a powerful combination… 😆

The wider hotel has a fantastic range of amenities - we ate in two restaurants during the stay, Royal Ryuho Chinese on the 15th floor and the Naniwa Teppanyaki in the basement arcade. These were both absolutely superb and I would go back to each of them. The shrimp in the Chinese…. Wow. There were numerous other restaurants also on site. So many options. Be decisive when you visit as they all sound tempting.

Had room service one night - rare for me - as back late from an event. The later menu here is a lot more limited than a western hotel. The small pizza was ok though and the cheese selection was novel, with its Laughing Cow. Love the fact they bring a card machine and you pay at the room - I wish British hotels did that.

Location-wise, I really liked being in Nakanoshima - you’re right on the river and the hotel is easily walkable to the castle (45 minutes) and to Shinseibashi (30 minutes) - I did both a couple of times. Yes, it is hot, but it’s a reasonable walk. There’s also a taxi rank, Uber is available and a station exists within the belly of the hotel.

A few oddities - the lounge at the back isn’t really that in a western sense, it seems to be mainly for those wanting ‘tea’ - think teapots and fancy cakes, rather than anything else. The cakes look good though. The layout can also take a while to work out as you’ve got multiple towers and annexes, added over time - these sprawl and you must often go down to go up. I suggest walking the building to explore the land.

I’d definitely stay here again, so it has the Deerdog seal of approval....

It’s perfect luxury. ||Japan is the most helpful country in the world — this hotel takes it to the next level. ||Location: |Located on a river bank it is away from the hustle bustle of the commercial neighbourhood — BUT — it’s a 5 min bus drive to the Osaka station and the hotel runs a shuttle every 20min! There is another train line right in front of the hotel which you can use if you’re ok with changing trains. AND the station is connected internally underground with the hotel! Omg wow! ||Check in: can take a little while because of the large groups that come in. But they seat you well, Japan has everything happening by queue and it’s a large space at the reception so no worries at all. ||Room: special thanks to Shigetomi San for his intervention in getting me and my family a room with a great view for the 4 nights we stayed. The hotel takes the “guest experience” very seriously. And will go out of the way to make sure you feel pampered. Shigetomi San is an example of true guest hospitality and excellence. ||The room was in the presidential tower. And oh what a view. HUGE size (we made a booking for a room for 3 adults) unlike the reputation Japanese hotels have for small size rooms. Large beds, seating area, a huge washroom, closet space and walk around space. Overlooked the river. It’s a memory we will cherish forever. ||Food: so many restaurants you won’t know where to start. We stuck to the main restaurant on the ground floor — we are total vegetarians and the chef and team went the extra mile trying to understand what we could eat (since Japan is mostly a non veg place) — and everyday they would come up with new solutions! Takuro kitagawa San and Tatezumi San took extra special care to make sure we got delicious Veg options in our pizza and Pasta and offered to customise dishes to our delight. Amazing work and highly appreciated. ||Sight seeing: taxis are available right at the hotel entrance. Yamada San at the front desk who was so helpful with suggestions for local sightseeing, helping me understand how to travel around, finding places to visit and more. She was exceptional. Well informed. Very kind, forthcoming and always eager to help. She even overstayed despite her shift being over only so I could have all the information I need. She truly epitomises excellence in hospitality. ||- shuttle service is amazing even to universal studious |-spa available even in-room|- health club is free only for some rooms |- many dining options |-breakfast has a huge spread. |-walk along the river bank is surreal ||This is the a truly Great hotel and is a must stay place for anyone...

Deceptive charges and unethical treatment – families beware

This is not just a bad experience—it’s a warning. If you’re traveling with children, do NOT stay at Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka.

I am an IHG Platinum Elite member and stayed here with my family, only to face misleading pricing, unethical practices, and a deeply disappointing level of service.

Hidden Charges for Children Despite accurately entering my children's ages (16, 15, and 13) in the IHG app during booking, I was ambushed at check-in with an undisclosed ¥5,000 per child, per night fee—totaling ¥60,000. This charge was not shown during booking, not disclosed in the confirmation, and is completely unjustified.

After my stay, I reviewed other guest comments and discovered that this exact scam has been reported repeatedly for months. The hotel is fully aware of the issue and continues to exploit families using this deceptive practice. This is not a one-off mistake—it is a systemic tactic to extract more money at check-in. It's dishonest, and it's disgraceful.

Breakfast Scam I paid over ¥40,000 to include breakfast for all five guests in two rooms. At check-in, I was told it only covered two adults. Only after I followed up post-stay did the hotel agree to refund two-thirds of what I paid—despite clear evidence that breakfast was booked for five. It’s a bait-and-switch, plain and simple.

Retaliatory Service and Poor Hospitality Check-in took 45 minutes after over 10 hours of travel.

My King Grand Room, booked for 3 people, had no sofa bed. Staff refused to provide one unless I paid the extra child fees.

I requested adjacent rooms. Initially told both rooms had been upgraded—but after I declined the surprise charges, the rooms were suddenly assigned in separate towers. It felt punitive.

Compare this to our experience at ANA Crowne Plaza Nagoya, where check-in took five minutes, rooms were upgraded without hassle, and staff were genuinely welcoming. The contrast was staggering.

Even my children commented on the unkind treatment we received in Osaka. What was supposed to be a joyful family trip became stressful, frustrating, and needlessly tense—all because of how this hotel treats its guests.

Bottom line: This property is knowingly misleading guests, especially those with children. They are ignoring months of complaints and continuing the same unethical practices. IHG should investigate and intervene immediately.

Until then, I strongly advise all travelers—especially families and loyal IHG members—to avoid this...