The boldly design-led hospitality concept of W Hotels has taken root wide and far across the Asia-Pacific region, but strangely, not in Japan. Well, until now that is. Avoiding the saturated upper segment of Tokyo‘s hospitality market, the hotel brand has picked a top location in downtown Shinsaibashi area of Osaka, the country’s second biggest city. Occupying a soaring 27-story tower, clad in black glass and designed by acclaimed Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the property’s 335 guest rooms and public spaces feature an interior design by Amsterdam-based design practice Concrete. With its playful chic interiors, the W Osaka is a new phenomenon without any equal in the city, spicing up the staid upper segment in this harbour city along the way. The rooms come in seven different categories, ranging from the modest-sized Cozy and Wonderful guest rooms, to the signature and lavish WOW and the Extreme WOW Suites with a separate living room, dining room and a soothing garden room full of lush potted plants for those who love to live large—mind you, the latter measures a whopping 200 sqm. (2,153 sq.ft.). Obviously, all rooms meet the modern standards of today’s discerning travelers, featuring a king size bed, an LCD TV, wireless internet, bathroom with bath tub, kitchen unit and more, but W Osaka also comes with a string of cool facilities that’ll easily make a guest’s stay a memorable one. The Oh.lala restaurant aims to be a destination in its own right for savvy gourmets, serving an array of refined international dishes by chef Yusuke Takada of renowned fine dining restaurant La Cime, but for those with a palate for local delicacies, Teppanyaki restaurant Mydo and Sushi restaurant Ukiyo are readily available. Last but not least, there’s Living Room. As an all-day diner, this place is always buzzing, and at night, it shifts into a clubby lounge with with live music gigs and other events. You fancy just drinks? Check. For a casual daytime meet MIXup offers not only specialty coffees and tees, but also freshly baked pastries, but also select alcoholic beverages. Oh, did we mention yet that the pool has a cocktail bar? Guests can work off any indulgences at Fit, a 24/7 gym with swimming pool and yoga room with a view, or for the soft approach, the Away Spa comes to the rescue wit its five treatment rooms.