Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka debuts, marking the introduction of the select-service lifestyle brand in Japan
Chicago (June 13, 2024) –– Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced today the opening of Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka, a dynamic, community-minded hotel in the heart of Osaka, Japan. The 167-room lifestyle hotel features self-activated touchpoints, vibrant social spaces, and a trendy design aesthetic with an unmistakable neighborhood feel.
Caption by Hyatt hotels offer a seamless and efficient guest experience that allows guests to customize interactions on their own terms. DIY touchpoints include self-service check-in, digital keys, Staycast streaming technology, hydration stations on every level, flexible co-working space, and lively social and food and beverage concepts.
In June 2022, the brand made its global debut with Caption by Hyatt Beale Street Memphis in the US. Most recently, Caption by Hyatt Zhongshan Park Shanghai opened its doors in China during April 2024 as the brand’s first introduction to the Asia Pacific region. Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka is expected to be followed by highly anticipated new Caption by Hyatt hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, Sydney and Tokyo in the coming years.
“We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Caption by Hyatt brand hotel in Japan in the heart of Osaka, bringing a brand that combines the design and comfort of a lifestyle hotel with the flexibility of a select-service property,” said Sam Sakamura, vice president, Japan and Micronesia, Hyatt. “Fostering community is a vital part of the Caption by Hyatt ethos and Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka will certainly play a key role in delivering on that within the vibrant Namba neighborhood. This debut will contribute to the growth of Japan’s tourism sector, while leading the way in facilitating stronger, more authentic social connections for all travelers.”
Ideally Located in the Heart of Osaka
Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka is situated in one of Osaka’s leading entertainment districts. Ideally located for exploration, the hotel is easily accessed from Kansai and Osaka International Airports and within walking distance of Nippombashi and Namba Metro stations, as well as two major railway stations.
Only a short walk to the world-famous canal-side entertainment district Dōtonbori—characterized by giant illuminated and mechanical signboards including the legendary Glico running man—and the more than 650-yard-long Kuromon Market dating back to the Edo era (1603–1868). Culture vultures will be enthused at their ability to walk to the National Bunraku Theatre—Japan’s headquarters for bunraku puppetry cited on Unesco’s ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ list—as well as Osaka Shochikuza Theatre, and Namba Grand Kagez, the hub of comedy culture.
Talk Shop: Intentional Social Space that Encourages Connection
As guests arrive at Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka, they will enter ‘Talk Shop’, a reimagined arrival experience unique to the brand. Talk Shop is a lively area with an all-day lounge, workspace, coffee shop, eatery, grab-and-go artisanal market, and cocktail bar all rolled into one. Locals and hotel guests alike are invited to dine, work, socialize, and curate their own experiences.
Hosting creative workshops, open mic music nights, pop-up installations, and book clubs, Talk Shop will be the heart of the hotel, and exude the energy of Namba’s community.
Talk Shop events include:
- Japanese Kitchen Knives History and Production: Osaka is known as the ‘kitchen of the nation’. Learn about the production process and history of traditional Japanese kitchen knives from the craftsmen of a 70 years-old knife shop in the Sennichimae Doguya-suji shopping arcade.
- Food Sample Making Workshop: Originated in Osaka, food sample making goes back 100 years. The food sample making workshop will consist of learning the traditional techniques from craftsmen from the Sennichimae Doguya-suji shopping arcade.
Locally Inspired Design
On arrival, guests are greeted with a welcome drink with soy milk from a 100-year-old tofu shop in Kuromon Market. A knowledgeable Caption by Hyatt emcee is on hand to support guests with self-service check-in, directions, or recommending local must-sees and dos.
Guests can check-in via the World of Hyatt app and head straight up to one of the hotel’s 167 rooms using a digital key. Inside, guests will discover a playful, thoughtfully designed 215–322-square-foot space curated with form, function, and fun top of mind.
The bold colors and locally inspired art running throughout the hotel creates an environment that is vibrant, unexpected, and has plenty of personality. Large picture windows frame views of the city’s most dynamic district, while hardware inspired by samurai swords, kikkō (tortoiseshell) and yagasuri (arrow feather) patterns, and graphic illustrations of Japanese kimonos, emakimono (handscrolls), and kinchaku (drawstring pouches) are subtle nods to traditional Japanese artwork. Above the beds, guests will encounter energetic murals by Osakan artist ZAnPon, inspired by Kuromon Market and its lively scene attracting customers. In the colorful, utilitarian-style bathrooms, clued-up guests will delight in the mural spelling out “nandeyanen”—an iconic Osakan retort meaning “What the heck?” or “You’re kidding.”
Other facilities include 24-hour Fitness Center and Coin Laundry located on the 2F, open around the clock.
Striving to Be a Good Neighbor: Community and Sustainability
The Caption by Hyatt brand aims to expand the definition of wellness to include a sense of belonging, providing a platform for community, and reflecting the neighborhood in which its hotels are situated. Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka endeavors to be a part of the Namba community by hiring locally and partnering with local vendors and organizations.
Sustainability is a focus in the hotel’s operating model. Fridges are stocked with locally sourced ingredients, and initiatives like not using single-use plastics, the use of bulk amenities in the bathrooms, and hydration stations on every floor and in public spaces — all have been implemented with sustainability in mind.
“We are excited to introduce the Caption by Hyatt brand and its belief in caring for people and community to one of Japan’s most dynamic locations,” said Shintaro Fukuda, general manager, Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka. “Our vibrant walls reflect the variety of perspectives and experiences our guests will bring to Caption by Hyatt Namba Osaka, and our hope is for them to make the hotel their own.”
