Hotel Hankyu International is a luxury hotel in the Chayamachi district of Umeda, the main rail and shopping hub of north Osaka. Its 168 guest rooms occupy the upper floors of Applause Tower, a 34-story building completed in 1992, and every room sits on the 26th floor or higher, so most look out over the city.
Run by Hankyu Hanshin Hotels, the hotel is about three minutes on foot from Hankyu Osaka-umeda Station and from Nakatsu Station on the Midosuji subway line. It suits travelers who want a quiet, classic-style base within walking distance of Umeda's stations, department stores and theaters. Below you will find its history, how to get there, rooms, dining and practical tips.
What Is Hotel Hankyu International?
The hotel opened on November 8, 1992, as part of Chayamachi Applause, a Hankyu development that combines Applause Tower with shops, offices and the Umeda Arts Theater. Its interiors take their cue from old European mansions: dark wood, a library lounge and formal public rooms rather than minimalist design. The official site describes each room as having suite-like qualities, and the hotel is aimed at the upper end of the Osaka market.
Applause Tower rises about 161 meters. The hotel uses parts of the lower floors for its entrance, lobby and restaurants, while the guest rooms fill floors 26 through 34. Over the years the hotel has refreshed its rooms in stages, turning the top floors into luxury and club floors, the latest round adding a club lounge on the 25th floor for guests booked on the club floors.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Opened | November 8, 1992 |
| Building | Applause Tower, Chayamachi Applause complex (34 floors, about 161 m) |
| Guest rooms | 168, all on floors 26 to 34 |
| Address | 19-19 Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0013 |
| Nearest stations | Hankyu Osaka-umeda (Chayamachi exit) and Nakatsu (Midosuji Line), about 3 minutes on foot |
| Check-in / check-out | 15:00 / 12:00 |
| Operator | Hankyu Hanshin Hotels |
Location in Chayamachi and Umeda
Chayamachi is the slice of Umeda just north and east of Hankyu Osaka-umeda Station. Compared with the crowded concourses around JR Osaka Station, it is a calmer grid of fashion stores, cafes, music shops and theaters, with the old wooden houses of Nakazakicho a short walk east. The Umeda Arts Theater, one of Osaka's major venues for musicals and stage shows, shares the same complex as the hotel.
Staying here puts you on the edge of Umeda rather than in the middle of it. You can walk to the big department stores, Grand Front Osaka and the station malls, then return to a quieter street in the evening. For a wider look at what to see in the country, start with our guide to places to go in Japan.
How to Get to Hotel Hankyu International
The hotel's official access page lists the routes below. Umeda's underground passages are large, so allow a few extra minutes the first time and follow signs for the Chayamachi exit.
From Umeda and Osaka stations
- Hankyu Osaka-umeda Station: about 3 minutes on foot from the Chayamachi exit. This is the easiest approach, and Hankyu trains run from here to Kyoto, Kobe and Takarazuka.
- Nakatsu Station (Osaka Metro Midosuji Line): about 3 minutes on foot from Exit 4, one stop north of Umeda.
- JR Osaka Station: about 10 minutes on foot from the Midosuji exit, or about 15 minutes from the underground Umekita exit.
- Shin-Osaka Station (shinkansen): about 10 minutes by taxi, or take the Midosuji Line two stops to Nakatsu or Umeda.
From Kansai International Airport
The JR limited express Haruka reaches JR Osaka Station in about 47 minutes, after which it is a 10 to 15 minute walk. Airport limousine buses on the Kansai Airport to Osaka Ekimae (Umeda) route take about 70 minutes depending on traffic; get off at the Hankyu Sanbangai stop and walk about 5 minutes. A taxi takes roughly the same time as the bus but costs far more.
From Osaka Itami Airport
Itami handles mostly domestic flights. Limousine buses to Umeda take about 30 minutes to the Osaka Marubiru stop, which the hotel puts at about 20 minutes on foot, so a short taxi ride from the bus stop is worth it if you have luggage. Check bus timetables with the operator before you fly.
By car
The nearest expressway exit is Umeda on the Hanshin Expressway Ikeda Line. The building's Applause parking garage has spaces on the basement level and second floor, with a discounted overnight rate for hotel guests and height limits that rule out tall vans.
Rooms and Suites
All 168 rooms are on floors 26 to 34, which is the hotel's main selling point: even the entry-level rooms look across the Umeda skyline. Rooms are generous by Japanese city-hotel standards. The Superior Twin is listed at 42 square meters, the Junior Suite at 67.1 square meters and the corner Executive Suite at 75 square meters.
Standard and luxury floors
The core categories are Moderate Double (with a 160 cm bed), Deluxe Double (with a 2 m bed), Deluxe Twin, Superior Twin and Junior Suite. Luxury versions of the same room types sit on renovated higher floors, along with a Luxury Superior Suite that sleeps up to four. The Moderate Double is the smallest option and works best for a single traveler or a couple who mostly sleep in the room.
Club floors and suites
The top two floors are club floors. Booking a club room gives access to the club lounge on the 25th floor, and the suite list runs from Senior and Executive Suites up to the International, Crown and Presidential Suites. Free Wi-Fi is provided in all rooms, and the guest rooms are non-smoking.
Dining and Facilities
Most restaurants are on the first, second and 25th floors. The hotel's own dining pages list:
- Malmaison (25th floor): the hotel's French restaurant.
- Shun-ran-mon (2nd floor): Chinese cuisine.
- Chayamachi (2nd floor): teppanyaki.
- Night and Day (1st floor): buffet restaurant.
- Andante (1st floor): a bakery and patisserie that moved here from the former Osaka Shin-Hankyu Hotel.
Beyond food, the hotel has a second-floor tea lounge and bar, a library lounge, banquet and meeting rooms, a wedding business and a fitness facility. Opening hours and menus change through the year, so check the official hotel website before you plan a meal around a specific restaurant.
Who the Hotel Suits
Hotel Hankyu International works best for travelers who value space and quiet over the newest design. Rooms are larger than in most Umeda hotels, the high floors keep street noise down, and the traditional service style suits couples, older travelers and business visitors.
- Good fit: travelers arriving by Hankyu train from Kyoto or Kobe, theatergoers at the Umeda Arts Theater, anyone who wants a larger room and a view, and visitors using Osaka as a base for day trips.
- Less ideal: travelers looking for a pool or a resort-style spa, those who want a sleek modern interior, or budget travelers, since rates sit at the upper end of the Umeda market.
- Families: the larger twins and suites can work for small families, but check occupancy limits for each room type before booking.
What Is Nearby
Walking distances below are from the hotel's own access notes and local maps. Umeda is the hub for most of the city's rail lines, so the rest of Osaka is also easy to reach.
- Umeda Arts Theater: in the same complex, for musicals, plays and concerts.
- Grand Front Osaka and the Umekita area: a short walk west, with shops, restaurants and the Umekita green space beside JR Osaka Station.
- Umeda Sky Building: about 15 minutes on foot; its Floating Garden Observatory links two towers high above the city and is a classic spot for sunset.
- Nakazakicho: a few minutes east, a neighborhood of prewar houses turned into small cafes and vintage shops.
- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Namba and Dotonbori: roughly 30 to 40 minutes by subway, using the Midosuji Line from Umeda or Nakatsu.
Hankyu trains from the station next door also make easy day trips. Our Kyoto travel guide covers what to see once you arrive, and if your route continues east, the Tokyo travel guide picks up from there.
Practical Tips for Your Stay
Booking
Compare the official website with the large booking platforms; the hotel's own site handles reservations, cancellations and its members' club. Club rooms make the most sense if you will use the lounge. When booking, confirm bed size, since the Moderate Double has a narrower bed than the Deluxe Double, and confirm whether breakfast is included.
Taxes and fees
Osaka Prefecture charges an accommodation tax per person per night, and Japanese luxury hotels usually add a service charge. Both are often shown separately from the room rate, so read the total before you confirm. Rates are not listed here because they change daily with demand.
Best time to visit Osaka
Spring (late March to early April, when the cherry trees bloom) and autumn (October and November) bring the most comfortable weather and the highest hotel demand, so book early for those weeks. The rainy season usually runs from June into July, and midsummer is hot and humid. Winter is cool but mostly dry and often cheaper. The Osaka Info visitor site lists seasonal events and festivals.
Before you arrive
The hotel occasionally schedules maintenance or building work, including days when it does not take overnight guests. Check the notices on the official site when you book. For more stays across the region, browse our hotel guides and Japan travel articles.
Hotel Hankyu International FAQ
Is Hotel Hankyu International still open?
Yes. The hotel continues to operate under Hankyu Hanshin Hotels at 19-19 Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka. It should not be confused with the Osaka Shin-Hankyu Hotel near JR Osaka Station, a different property that closed in January 2025.
How far is Hotel Hankyu International from Osaka Station?
It is about 10 minutes on foot from the Midosuji exit of JR Osaka Station, or about 15 minutes from the Umekita underground exit. The closest stations are Hankyu Osaka-umeda and Nakatsu on the Midosuji Line, both about 3 minutes away.
How do I get from Kansai Airport to Hotel Hankyu International?
Take the JR Haruka to JR Osaka Station (about 47 minutes) and walk 10 to 15 minutes, or ride an airport limousine bus to the Hankyu Sanbangai stop (about 70 minutes) and walk about 5 minutes. A taxi takes around the same time as the bus.
When did Hotel Hankyu International open?
It opened on November 8, 1992, in Applause Tower, part of the Chayamachi Applause complex built by the Hankyu group. The hotel has since renovated its rooms in several stages, converting the upper floors into luxury and club floors.
Do all rooms have a view?
All 168 guest rooms are on floors 26 to 34 of Applause Tower, so every room is well above the street. The outlook depends on the direction the room faces. If a particular view matters to you, ask the hotel when you book rather than relying on luck at check-in.
Does the hotel have a pool or spa?
The hotel lists a fitness facility, restaurants, lounges and banquet rooms, but no swimming pool appears among its facilities. If a pool or full spa is important to you, look at other Umeda hotels, or confirm current facilities with the hotel directly.
Is Hotel Hankyu International good for a trip to Kyoto or Kobe?
Yes. Hankyu Osaka-umeda Station, three minutes away, is the starting point for Hankyu trains to central Kyoto and Kobe-Sannomiya. That makes the hotel a convenient base for day trips without changing lines.
