Tracing 90 Years of RIHGA Royal Hotel History vol.6
“Creating a modern hotel for distinguished guests in Osaka”… In response to requests from Osaka’s political and business establishment, the Hotel New Osaka, predecessor of the RIHGA Royal Hotel, was established in 1935 as a project symbolizing the “Great Osaka” era. Since then, the RIHGA Royal Hotel has continually evolved with changing times and built up a tradition. Here we trace its 90-year history.
ROYAL HISTORY vol.6: ～Joining a New Brand at 90: Evolving into a Hotel Loved Across Time～
Honoring and Passing On the Legacy of “Omotenashi”
After hosting the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Osaka meeting in 1995, the RIHGA Royal Hotel became the popular choice for a venue for many international conferences and banquets and has welcomed distinguished guests from Japan and abroad ever since.
The G20 Osaka Summit 2019 marked Japan’s first G20 presidency, bringing numerous VIPs from around the globe to Osaka. The RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka embraced this opportunity to renovate the main lobby on the first floor, the “face” of the hotel. The theme of the design, including the carpet and lighting, is “tradition and innovation.” In particular, the “Manyo no Nishiki” (a brocade of myriad autumn leaves), the carpet that has captivated guests since the opening of the new wing in 1973, has been reimagined with a contemporary flair, proudly displaying its stunningly vibrant autumn leaf motif. The traditional hand-stitched “Yamagata Dantsu” carpet, made by Oriental Carpet, the company that was involved in the production of the original carpet, brightly decorated the main lobby.
During the G20 Osaka Summit, the RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka hosted the leaders and ministers of Russia, Italy, the EU, Vietnam, and the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), as well as bilateral meetings, including the Japan-China meeting. The “Omotenashi” (hospitality) offered varied depending on the guest; for instance, for Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, the hotel prepared abalone soup and porridge for breakfast upon his request. Neither of these dishes was on the room service menu, but the liaison team, formed especially for the delegations and comprised of hotel staff, promptly requested the “Chinese Restaurant Royal Ryuho” to prepare them. The RIHGA Royal Hotel’s “Omotenashi,” refined through its experience in hosting international summit meetings, including the prestigious APEC meeting, enabled the hotel to fulfill its significant responsibilities as the host.
In May 2023, the RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima hosted esteemed global dignitaries for the “G7 Hiroshima Summit,” alongside the significant Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting between Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and President Joe Biden. The liaison team, composed of members from the RIHGA Royal Hotel Group, was established for this occasion to ensure the dignitaries’ security and the smooth execution of their duties.
Carrying forward the legacy of the Hotel New Hiroshima, founded in 1955, and the Hiroshima Grand Hotel, which made its debut seven years later, the RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima has served as the “Guest House of Hiroshima” since its opening.
It is the mission of the RIHGA Royal Hotel, established in 1935 as the “Guest House of Osaka,” to preserve its history and traditions of 90 years and to strive to provide the best hospitality to distinguished guests from around the globe.
Building a Hotel That Guests Want to Return To
Beginning in 2024 and lasting more than a year, the RIHGA Royal Hotel underwent a major renovation. In 2025, the hotel’s 90th anniversary year, it became part of the “Vignette Collection,” IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio.
The hotel has been beautifully transformed to be cherished through the ages, embodying the concept of the “fusion of traditional beauty and water.” This vision combines the legacy of the leading Japanese architect Yoshida Isoya’s Western-inspired “traditional Japanese beauty” with the rich history and identity the hotel cultivated over the years, along with the beautiful riverside scenery of Nakanoshima.
The stunning “Manyo no Nishiki” carpet greets guests as they enter the lobby, blending harmoniously with the gold Maki-e pillars. The newly designed lobby elegantly honors the hotel’s illustrious history while offering a more expansive and revitalized atmosphere.
The reception area is decorated with a “fukurashi-ori” folding screen, created by “HOSOO,” a reputable Nishijin-ori textile company. Furthermore, stunning water-inspired glass art embellishes the reception desk.
The renovation included a complete renewal of not only the lobby but also the banquet halls, restaurants, and guest rooms, elevating the hotel’s facilities and hospitality with opulence.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel, representing Osaka for 90 years, is now progressing toward its next milestone, the 100th anniversary, striving to remain a hotel that guests want to come back to.
Text by Eriko Michida, 140B
RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka, Vignette Collection
TEL +81 (0)6-6448-1121
5-3-68 Nakanoshima,Kita-ku,
Osaka 530-0005 Japan
