After a few days visiting rural towns boasting the traditional accommodations of Western Japan, seeing a familiar hotel brand in Osaka was an oddly comforting sight. My first thought upon pulling up to the Sheraton Miyako Hotel: It’s possibly the largest hotel I’ve seen since arriving in Japan.

We rolled up, checked in and were heading to our 10^th-floor rooms in a few minutes. The room was spacious and efficient, including a plush, cozy, queen-sized bed and a great view of the city. Once I set my bags down, I was just as quickly back out the door to see the sights.

After hopping in a cab, hailed by a friendly and helpful Sheraton staff member, we arrived in a great high-end shopping area in less than 10 minutes. We explored the Amerikamura neighborhood and the famous Dōtombori canal — reminiscent of New York’s Times Square — and walked around the city.

We realized our hotel was closer to all the action downtown than we thought; as it turned out, the couple blocks surrounding the hotel were deceivingly quiet. After walking back, we went to the rooftop for a nightcap. The bar was just about closing by 11 p.m. so we had time for one drink before an early breakfast in the morning. The views alone were worth the quick visit.

The entire staff was incredibly friendly and helpful through every step of the stay. Having the comforts of a familiar brand with the added local flair of the city was a nice touch, and a must for business travelers.