This was my second stay, last was three years earlier.
Little had changed and the hotel being in the Osaka Station City complex is great for shopping and getting around by train, a short tranfer to Shin-Osaka station required to get on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) / national main line.

On my first visit I had a room upgrade but was in a basic room this time, with an inside view. While this wasn't as pleasant there was wired and wireless internet access in the room, a free use basic windows terminal and the usual Japanese bathroom facilities.

The hotel advertise Universal Studios Japan, which was celebrating it's 10th aniversary.

If you are feeling energetic then most sites and shopping are within a 30 to 60 minute, slow walk. Or about 5 to 10 minuntes from thier nearest station, with a trip around the loop line being under an hour.

For transfer to Kansai Airport there is an Express train from Shin-Osaka taking about an hour but I took the local train, and took note that thentrain splits so needed to be in the right set of carriages. The local train took about an hour and a half but with the transfer and scheduled times this was just as quick as geting the express.

Located just above the Osaka JR Station, the Hotel Granvia Osaka is probably an excellent location for travelers who are visiting Japan's third largest city for the first time. The hotel's entrance is not exactly easy to find amid the stations many exits, but it is still slightly easier than getting out of the station and locating a nearby hotel. However, travelers carrying lots of luggage should note that the station has plenty of stairs and hardly any ramps in which you can wheel your luggage, so lugging your stuff from platform to hotel lobby might be hard work.

I stayed in a no-frils "semi-double" room for three nights. The check-in staff was friendly, which was a nice welcome after a 9-hour long trip on the plane and bullet train. A female baggage handler who helped me with my things and showing me to my room, and while she was very professional about her job, I felt bad having a girl to carry my stuff, so I insisted in hoisting my own suitcase.

The room was very simple, consisting a semi-double (larger than single, can sleep two if you're on the slim side) bed, desk and chair. It was a completely no-frills room that I thought was too expensive for its nightly rate. Spartan was the best word to describe this room. The hotel markets itself as a four-star property and what I got was perhaps just slightly better than a 3-star business hotel. Cleanliness was good, I didn't see a speck of dirt anywhere, both the bed and bathroom linen were spotless.

This hotel would be a good stay if you just want somewhere safe, clean and convenient to rest. Like most hotels, there is a convenience store just downstairs and outside the entrance, which is very handy for getting anything from snacks to meals to necessities. The hotel is also just a minute's walk to quite a few shopping centres. However, be prepared for a no frills experience, for a luxury, or even slightly up class hotel this is not.

The location of this hotel is excellent. For first-time travellers to Osaka like my family, this was important because the hotel is in the same building as the JR Osaka (train) station which meant that it was very easy and convenient for us to take the train directly from and to the airport from this hotel.

Apart from the proximity to the JR train station, it is also a short walk away from the subway. Walking underground, you pass an endless stream of shops and eateries, so it doesn't feel like a long walk.

The hotel is located in a building and in an area which is chock-full of eateries and shops. Wonderful for people who are unfamiliar with Osaka as they don't have to travel very far to enjoy good food and shopping.

We had a family unit for 4 persons on the 24th floor. It was a corner room and had great views of the city and a bit of the sea and hills in the distance. I didn't feel that the room was particularly small. I have stayed at luxury resorts in Thailand that felt more claustrophobic. It was a decent size with 4 super-single sized beds for each of us.

That said, the furnishings were basic, like a dormitory - and the room looked as though it had not been renovated since the 70s. The furniture and fittings were dated but it seemed relatively clean.

For more details, you can check out my travel blog about my recent holiday in Osaka at http://audreylovestotravel.blogspot.com.

This is my second visit to the Hotel Granvia, and the difference in the rooms is worth a second review.

The first time, I was in the unrenovated rooms. They were small and desperately in need of a facelift.

This time, I was in the renovated 24th floor. Request it! Surprisingly enough, they've done a great job on the room work. The rooms are no bigger, but feel double the size. Astoundingly, they've done away with the hideous drop-in bathroom and used the space to with something which is actually pretty nice. Internet was quick (but still no WiFi...note that, iPad users!), and the rooms now have a nice big flat screen TV. A big improvement!

Very important - Request a room AWAY from the rail tracks! Firstly, you get a lovely sunrise over the city, but more importantly no rail noise and a much improved night's sleep.

Service remains impersonal and, frankly, annoying. I tried to check in at 1pm (check in time is 2pm). I was told that my room was ready, but to check in an hour early would cost 30% of the night's fee. When I questioned this, I was begrudgingly allowed to check in at 1.30pm instead. Seriously, if the room is ready, why are we quibbling over half an hour?? The desk was also completely unable to change Australian dollars, so keep this in mind if you need some money on a weekend.

Overall, a much improved offering at the Granvia.