On July 16, Greens opened “HOTEL GEOMETIQ Osaka Umeda, an Ascend Collection Hotel” (2-15-23 Sonezaki, Kita Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture) in Sonezaki, Kita Ward, Osaka City.
The hotel has one basement level and 11 above-ground floors. A total of 132 guest rooms are located on floors 3 through 11, with 11 room types ranging from Compact Doubles to Junior Suites. The front desk is on the first floor, and the second floor features vending machines, an ice machine, a coin-operated laundry facility, and a smoking room. There is no parking lot.
The Ascend Collection is a soft brand that does not standardize the names or interiors of its properties; instead, it leverages the unique characteristics of each location and building. Unlike typical chain brands that emphasize common specifications, each hotel in the collection has its own name and design.
At this facility in Umeda, Osaka, the interior design is based on the Art Deco style that became popular in the 1920s and 1930s, incorporating geometric patterns—such as straight lines and circles—throughout the building. “GEOMETIQ” is a coined term combining “GEOMETRIC”—meaning geometry—with “IQ” and “UNIQUE.”
This property is the second in Japan to be part of Choice Hotels International’s “Ascend Collection.” It follows the opening of “hotel around TAKAYAMA” in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture.
When asked why Umeda was chosen as the site for the company’s second domestic location, a company representative cited the fact that it is where Osaka’s premier entertainment district and business district overlap, attracting a wide range of visitors from both Japan and abroad. The company determined that this location would be ideal for implementing its brand philosophy, which aims to encourage guests to engage with the surrounding culture and cityscape rather than confining their experience solely to the accommodation facilities.
Regarding Umeda, he describes it as a neighborhood where the area that has long developed as a center of commerce and culture overlaps with the current urban landscape undergoing redevelopment. He also views Osaka’s cuisine, the surrounding shops, and interactions with people as key elements for understanding this area.
We provide guests with a “City Walking Card” that lists points of interest near the hotel and the estimated walking time to each. The card introduces places within walking distance of the hotel—such as Tenjin Shrine and Nakazakicho—and serves as a guide to encourage guests to explore the surrounding area during their stay.
Artworks by artists with ties to Osaka have been displayed throughout the hotel and in the guest rooms. The first-floor lobby features wall designs inspired by takoyaki makers and kushikatsu skewers. Rather than displaying photographs or text that directly reference Osaka, these elements have been incorporated into the interior design as shapes and patterns.
The target customer base consists primarily of guests staying for tourism and leisure purposes, rather than business travelers. In addition to international visitors, the hotel anticipates attracting domestic families and groups. The specific projected ratio of international to domestic travelers has not been disclosed.
The Superior Twin room is the most common type, with a total of 41 rooms. Each room measures between 17.47 and 18.28 square meters and is equipped with two 110-centimeter-wide beds. Room rates start at 12,000 yen per person and vary depending on the date of stay and supply and demand.
For families, we offer the Family Deluxe, which features three 110-cm-wide beds, and the Family Premier, which features four beds of the same width. The Premier Twin, which accommodates up to four people, features two 140-cm-wide beds.
This time, I tried staying in this Premier Twin room. It measures about 22 square meters and features a unit bath. With two beds in the room, there was enough space for two people to unpack their luggage and move freely toward the window. While the room can accommodate up to four people, if four people are staying, you’ll likely need to consider the amount of luggage you’ll bring and how you plan to spend your time inside.
Water dispensers are installed in the elevator lobbies on each floor. Rather than placing bottled water in the guest rooms, guests are encouraged to refill their bottles as needed on each floor.
What really stood out to me during my trial stay was how convenient the location was. From JR Osaka Station or any of the Umeda stations on the Hankyu, Hanshin, or Osaka Metro lines, you can walk through Whity Umeda and enter the hotel directly through Exit 7-75. If you arrive by train in the Osaka Station or Umeda Station area, you can use the underground mall to get to the hotel without getting wet in the rain.
The area around the hotel is home to Otono Shrine—commonly known as “Ohatsu Tenjin”—and the Hankyu Higashidori Shopping Street, and there are plenty of restaurants. Since no meals were provided during the trial stay, we had dinner in the neighborhood, but we had no trouble finding a place to eat.
In addition to providing access to the JR, Hankyu, Hanshin, and Osaka Metro lines, its location—which offers direct access from the underground shopping arcade—is a major draw.
© Source travel watch