Experience Osaka: Top recommendations from an expert concierge

Can you tell us about yourself and your role as Chief Concierge at Conrad Osaka?

”I started my career as a concierge in Tokyo after 10 years working in other service industry [roles], such as information assistant at Kyoto Station, restaurants, theater, etc. After seven years working in Tokyo, I moved to Osaka for the opening of another luxury hotel brand and worked [there] for 10 years as Chief Concierge. As I [have] worked in three major cities in Japan, my strengths are [having] the knowledge about those different regions and my language skills, as I speak English, Spanish, and Japanese. I stepped into Conrad Osaka in 2024 as Chief Concierge. My favorite part of the job is that I can be a knot of every section and supplier to open doors to new adventures.”

What are some unique experiences offered at Conrad Osaka that you recommend to guests?

”In Namba, Osaka, there is a Japanese warehouse hidden behind an apartment building where you will never know it exists from outside. A craftsman can teach you how to do Kintsugi (pottery repairing using gold powder) in English. It shows the beauty of Japanese culture that even if something breaks, by using gold to mend it and continue using it, we can learn the spirit of cherishing things more beautifully and for longer. Also, in the south downtown area, there is another extremely hidden restaurant in the alley. Bending down to enter through the low doorway, you'll find only a counter with a custom-made interior. Here, a single chef offers creative dishes using only unique spices and spirits he personally favors and ending up with his specialty dumplings.”

Can you speak to meaningful connections and local experiences at Conrad Osaka?

”Conrad Osaka has a lot to offer to connect our guests to local culture. There is an artist who brings beautiful bonsai to our hotel every Monday who can give you knowledge about the bonsai world, as well as a calligraphy teacher who can come to the hotel and provide a private class in English and guests can take home a special gift with her writing on items. There is also an organization called Japan Tatedo Assosciation is Osaka, and guests can visit the studio wearing a kimono and learn how to handle Japanese swords or the actions of a ninja from the masters. At the end, guests will show all the movements they learned and make a video as a memory of Japan. Also, after touring a knife-making museum in Sakai, guests can learn knife sharpening techniques directly from master craftsmen and experience attaching a handle to a knife they've personally selected. If requested in advance, names or original characters can be engraved onto the knife. Guests of Conrad Osaka can also order a unique knife holder unavailable elsewhere.”