Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka: a Osaka hotel offering super convenient transportation access

Post date: 2025-10-28 | Categories: Japan Travel

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka was another hotel I stayed at in Osaka last Christmas. There were several reasons for choosing Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka, including the convenience of taking the airport bus directly from Kansai Airport to the hotel, easy access to Universal Studios Japan the next day, and the convenience of picking up a rental car from the nearby Nissan Rent-a-Car office later. Of course, the quality of Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is also quite good, and its proximity to Namba and Shinsaibashi was another reason for choosing it. As Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka performs well in all aspects, it has been included in my list of recommended Osaka hotels.

“Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka” Accommodation Review: A High-Class Hotel Emphasizing Location, Transportation, and Quality

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Hotel Name: ホテルモントレ　グラスミア大阪 (English Name: Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka)
Check-in Date: December 2015

Number of Nights: 2 nights

Room Type: Double Room (ダブル)

Accommodation Cost: Average 16,400 JPY / night

Hotel Website: https://www.hotelmonterey.co.jp/grasmere_osaka/

Booking Channels: Klook | Trip.com | Hotels.com | Rakuten Travel | 日本楽天旅行

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Table of Contents

I. Location & Transportation of Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is located next to the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) shopping mall in Minatomachi, Osaka. However, OCAT’s main function is as a transportation hub; the shopping mall part isn’t very attractive, but there are still many restaurants to choose from inside.

This is the north exit of OCAT. The main entrance of Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is right next to it.

JR Namba Station is located underground at OCAT. The picture below shows the JR Namba Station entrance next to the OCAT north exit.

The station entrance shown above does not have an escalator going down. If you need an escalator, you can also go down from here.

JR Namba Station is the starting point of the JR Yamatoji Line, but it’s not very crowded.

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka Location Map

View Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka Location on a larger map

1. Getting to Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka from Kansai Airport

Although JR Namba Station is located directly beneath OCAT, there are no direct trains from JR Namba Station to Kansai Airport. If you want to take the JR to Kansai Airport or from the airport to Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka, you need to transfer at Tennoji Station, or transfer to the Nankai Railway at Shin-Imamiya Station.

(1) By Train (JR and Nankai Railway)

The method to take the JR from Kansai Airport to Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is: first take the JR Kansai Airport Express from Kansai Airport to Tennoji Station, then transfer to the JR Yamatoji Line and get off at JR Namba Station. The method for the return trip to Kansai Airport is the same: take the JR from JR Namba Station to Tennoji Station, then transfer to the JR for the airport.

Besides the JR, you can also first take the Nankai Airport Express Limited Express Rapi:t Train from Kansai Airport to Shin-Imamiya Station, then transfer to the JR Yamatoji Line and get off at JR Namba Station. The method for the return trip to Kansai Airport is the same: take the JR from JR Namba Station to Shin-Imamiya Station, then transfer to the Nankai Railway for the airport.

(2) By Airport Limousine Bus (Limousine Bus)

In addition to being located above JR Namba Station, OCAT is also one of Osaka’s main Highway Bus Terminals. The bus terminal is located on the second floor of OCAT. Here, you can find highway bus routes to destinations outside Osaka, such as the Nohi Bus Osaka-Takayama Line and the Meiko Bus Osaka-Shirahama Line, which all depart from here.

Of course, the OCAT Highway Bus Terminal also has Airport Limousine Buses to and from Kansai Airport, generally departing every 15 to 30 minutes (schedule here). If you don’t want to transfer on the JR, the best option is to take the airport limousine bus. One of the reasons we chose Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka this time was because it’s right next to the OCAT Highway Bus Terminal, allowing us to take the airport bus directly there.

The fare for the Limousine Bus from Kansai Airport to Namba OCAT is 1,300 yen for adults and 650 yen for children, with a travel time of about 50 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter or self-service ticket machines outside the arrival hall of Kansai Airport, or through platforms like Trip.com, Klook, and KKday. The prices on Klook and KKday are the same as purchasing on-site, while Trip.com offers a 2% discount.

Here are the links to purchase Kansai Airport bus tickets on these three platforms:

Tickets purchased through online platforms generally need to be exchanged at the redemption counter located at Kansai Airport before boarding. Therefore, purchasing tickets online usually only allows you to buy tickets departing from the airport. However, KKday also sells e-tickets that do not require exchange. If you need to purchase tickets from Namba OCAT to Kansai Airport, you can buy them on KKday.

Klook.com

Below is an introduction to our trip from Kansai Airport to the OCAT Highway Bus Terminal by airport limousine bus.

Purchasing tickets at the self-service ticket machines at bays 9-11 outside the first floor (ground level) of Kansai Airport.

The purchasing method is very simple, similar to buying a subway ticket. First, press the passenger number button on the left, then press the desired route on the touch screen. For Namba OCAT, select “なんば(OCAT)”.

After purchasing the ticket, queue at bus stop number 11 to wait for the bus.

Before the bus arrives, staff will help organize your luggage. Each piece of luggage will receive a baggage tag. After you receive the baggage tag receipt, you can board the bus when it arrives.

Arrived at the bus terminal on the second floor of OCAT. The space is a bit cramped.

Departures to the airport also board here. You can purchase tickets at this counter.

After getting off the bus, take the escalator down to the first floor, then head towards the north exit. There are signs on the pillars along the way. Exit from the north exit, and Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka will be on your right.

2. Getting to Universal Studios Japan from Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

If you want to go to Universal Studios Japan (USJ), you can take the JR from JR Namba Station one stop to Imamiya Station, then transfer to Nishikujo Station, and then transfer to the JR Sakurajima Line to Universal City Station. Alternatively, you can take the Hanshin Railway from Hanshin Namba Station to Nishikujo Station, then transfer to the JR Sakurajima Line to Universal City Station.

JR Imamiya Station

JR Nishikujo Station

3. Nearest Car Rental Companies to Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

Another reason for choosing to stay at Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka this time was because we rented a car from Nissan Rent-a-Car. The pickup branch was Nissan Rent-a-Car OCAT Shop, located on the B1 floor of OCAT, right next to JR Namba Station. So, staying at Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka made it convenient to pick up the car later. This is the third time using this branch; the previous two times we stayed at Cross Hotel and Hotel Nikko Osaka, and walking over was quite tiring, so this time we decided to stay closer.

Go down to the B1 floor from the plaza at the OCAT north exit. Enter next to JR Namba Station, and you’ll see the counter for Nissan Rent-a-Car OCAT Shop after about 50 meters. The space is small, and the cars are in the OCAT parking lot behind the counter.

Besides Nissan Rent-a-Car OCAT Shop, if you prefer renting from Toyota Rent a Car, the Toyota Rent a Car Namba Bus Center Shop is also not far from Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka. It’s only about 250 meters walk from the hotel’s main entrance. I also frequently use this Toyota Rent a Car branch.

4. The Underground Shopping Mall Connecting Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka and Namba

The area where Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is located, Minatomachi, is actually on the western edge of Namba, not in the center of the bustling Namba district. If you want to go shopping, you need to walk east to Namba or Shinsaibashi. Under Sennichimae Street in Namba, Osaka, lies an underground shopping mall. The western starting point of this mall is the basement level of OCAT, which is also JR Namba Station. The eastern endpoint is Nipponbashi Station, and it also extends south to the Namba City shopping mall where Nankai Electric Railway’s Namba Station is located. Therefore, the best walking route to Namba is via this underground mall.

Location of Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka relative to Namba, Dotonbori, and Shinsaibashi

There are several different access points from Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka to the underground mall. The most convenient way is to take the indoor escalator directly from the hotel’s first floor, without going outside, so you don’t have to worry even if it’s raining.

You can also use this escalator in front of the hotel’s main entrance to access the underground mall.

Klook.com

There is a supermarket below the hotel, which is a great place to buy drinks and fruit.

This is the western starting point of the Sennichimae Underground Mall.

A view inside the underground mall.

The Sennichimae Underground Mall connects JR Namba Station to Nipponbashi Station. Along this mall, from west to east, are the following stations: Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line Namba Station, Hanshin Railway Osaka Namba Station, Kintetsu Railway Osaka Namba Station, Osaka Metro Midosuji Line Namba Station, Kintetsu Nipponbashi Station, and Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line Nipponbashi Station. The subway station closest to Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is the Yotsubashi Line Namba Station. The Yotsubashi Line can take you to Umeda, but the other stations along the line are not in tourist areas, so it’s less frequently used by tourists. The more commonly used Midosuji Line Namba Station is slightly further from the hotel.

Additionally, Hanshin Railway’s Osaka Namba Station and Kintetsu Railway’s Osaka Namba Station are also not far from the hotel. Taking the Hanshin Railway can take you to Kobe, while taking the Kintetsu Railway can take you to Nara and Kyoto.

Therefore, staying at Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka offers great transportation convenience. It’s not only convenient for airport transfers but also for getting to attractions within Osaka, and even for taking trains to Kyoto, Nara, or Kobe. If your itinerary includes taking highway buses to places like Shirahama or Takayama, staying at Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is even more convenient. (Update: There used to be a highway bus operated by Kintetsu Bus from Namba OCAT to Arima Onsen, but it has been discontinued.)

2. Environment and Facilities of Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

Exterior of Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

Walking to Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka from the North Exit of OCAT

Main entrance to the building

Hotel main entrance

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is only located on the 22nd to 31st floors of this building. Floors 24 to 31 are guest rooms, and the hotel lobby is on the 22nd floor. So after entering through the ground floor main door, you need to take the hotel elevator up to the 22nd floor to check in.

The official website states that Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka adopts a British manor-style design. Although the English flavor in the lobby isn’t very strong, the simple design does have a touch of elegance.

There is also a small English countryside-style chapel next to the lobby.

Christmas decorations in the lobby

The room we stayed in was on the 29th floor. This is the elevator lobby.

There is a gate between the elevator lobby and the corridor on the guest room floors. You need to tap your room card to enter, which provides good security.

3. Rooms at Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

Hotel room key card

This time we stayed in a Standard Double Room, with an area of 19 square meters. The space was just about adequate. However, the room’s appearance and sense of space seemed somewhat different from the photos on the official website.

The entrance area is a bit wider than in other hotels. Opening a suitcase here isn’t too cramped.

There was also space in the room for a small round table and a single sofa.

The desk area is also quite sizable.

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka Guest Room

The official website states the double bed is 160cm wide, but visually it might only be 150cm.

The wardrobe design is a bit old-fashioned and simple, but it’s larger than those in other hotels.

Although the official website says the room design is British manor style, it’s hard to feel it. However, the room lights are more distinctive than those in other hotels.

Although the room’s design makes it hard to feel the English style, the wall pattern in the toilet has a very English wallpaper style.

Bathroom amenities

Other items in the room

The air conditioner in the Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka room is an individual unit, not central air conditioning, so you can adjust it yourself.

Since all guest rooms are above the 22nd floor, most rooms offer views of Osaka city. However, some rooms have partially blocked views due to adjacent buildings, like the room we stayed in, where only half the window had a view.

Finally, let’s look at the free WiFi at Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka. The internet speed of the WiFi network is quite good.

IV. Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka Stay Summary

Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka‘s biggest advantage is its convenient transportation, making it easy to access whether by JR, highway bus, Hanshin Railway, Kintetsu Railway, or subway. Furthermore, the hotel quality is quite commendable. Additionally, Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka offers a variety of family rooms suitable for traveling with children, making it an excellent choice for families. The only drawback of Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka is that it’s somewhat far from the Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi shopping districts. However, taking the underground street route feels acceptable as there are plenty of shops along the way.

Primary website booking links for Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka:

Klook.com

Other Osaka Hotel Recommendations

Besides the Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka introduced in this article, the following Osaka hotels that I have stayed at are also good accommodation choices in Osaka: