As of September 2023, here is an overview of the hotel development situation in Osaka Prefecture.
Distribution of hotels in Osaka Prefecture
According to Metro Engines Research, the distribution of newly opened hotels in Osaka Prefecture is concentrated in Osaka City. Within Osaka City, there is a concentration in Chuo and Kita wards.
Concentration of Newly Opened Facilities in Osaka City in Chuo and Kita Wards
About 87% concentrated in Chuo and Kita wards
Between 2024 and 2029, 23 new facilities with 9,496 rooms are planned to open in Osaka City, with about 87% (20 facilities with 4,936 rooms) concentrated in Chuo and Kita wards.
Chuo and Kita wards serve as the central urban functions of downtown Osaka. They are economic centers for Osaka City and, by extension, Western Japan, and also serve as international tourist destinations attracting many visitors from Asia and around the world.
| Rank | Osaka City | Number of facilities | Number of rooms (estimated) | Percentage (number of facilities) |
| 1 | Chuo-ku | 12 facilities | 2,424 rooms | 52.2% |
| 2 | Kita-ku | 8 facilities | 2,512 rooms | 34.8% |
| 3 | Naniwa-ku | 2 facilities | 2,060 rooms | 8.7% |
| 4 | Konohana-ku | 1 facilities | 2,500 rooms | 4.3% |
| Total | 23 facilities | 9,496 rooms | 100% | |
Introduction of Some Planned New Facilities in Osaka City
According to Metro Engines Research, the top three new facilities by room number scheduled to open in Chuo and Kita wards between 2024 and 2029 are as follows.
| Rank | Facility Name | Number of rooms (estimated) | Scheduled opening date |
| 1 | Candeo Hotels Osaka Dojimahama (provisional name) | 548 rooms | 2024/07/01 |
| 2 | Hotel Hankyu Grand Respire Osaka | 482 rooms | 2024/11/01 |
| 3 | Osaka Station Hotel | 418 rooms | 2024/07/01 |
Interestingly, all top three are located in Kita ward.
The first place, “Candeo Hotels Osaka Dojimahama” (provisional name), is set to open in July 2024 as the largest and international class hotel within the Candeo Hotels chain. Its most significant feature is the “Sky Spa” located on the top floor (135 meters above ground), which will be one of Japan’s tallest open-air baths. The hotel will have 548 rooms located from the 18th to the 31st floor, offering splendid views of Osaka City from all rooms. This hotel is being prepared as the flagship hotel of the Candeo Hotels chain, complete with restaurants, bars, and fitness facilities that meet international standards.
Second place, “Hotel Hankyu Grand Respire Osaka,” is an upscale hotel under the “Respire” brand operated by Hankyu Hanshin Hotels. It inherits the concept of providing “quiet healing (REST) and energy for tomorrow (INSPIRE)” while adding “GRAN” to its name for an even higher quality of comfort. The hotel plans to feature approximately 482 rooms centered around 23 square meters each, located from the 5th to the 28th floor. It also plans to open exclusive lounges for guests, club floors, restaurants, bars, and fitness facilities, with construction starting in December 2020 and development progressing towards a soft opening in the summer of 2024.
Third place, “Osaka Station Hotel,” will be operated by JR West Hotels (Kyoto) in partnership with Marriott International (Maryland, USA), opening in the summer of 2024 under their new brand. It will be the fourth hotel in Japan under Marriott’s “Autograph Collection” of independent luxury hotels, named “Osaka Station Hotel” as it will be built on the site of the original Osaka Station opened in 1874 (Meiji 7). The hotel plans to have rooms centered around 40 square meters each, located from the 30th to the 38th floor, along with banquet halls (7th floor), restaurants (29th floor), and fitness clubs (30th floor).
New Facilities Aim for International Standards of Luxury Hotels
The newly opened hotels introduced here are all flagship hotels of their respective brands, aiming for international standards of luxury. This trend is partly influenced by the “Osaka/Kansai Expo” scheduled to be held from April 13 to October 13, 2025.
The “Osaka/Kansai Expo” will be hosted on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Konohana Ward, Osaka City, expecting 28 million visitors and an economic impact of 2.52 trillion yen. The event is anticipated to have a significant spillover effect on inbound tourism, with around 3.5 million international visitors estimated. Further, if large-scale events and international conferences are held in the Kansai region in conjunction with the Expo, extended stays and additional tourism could result in an economic impact of 2.91 trillion yen. This presents significant expectations for the tourism industry.
While Japan has been noted for its shortage of accommodations targeting the affluent among the growing number of international tourists, events like the “Osaka/Kansai Expo” are expected to stimulate the supply of hotels that meet international standards. This could further promote inbound tourism and have a ripple effect on the economy through tourism in surrounding areas, playing a role in revitalizing Japan’s economy in the future.