RISONARE Osaka is a resort hotel located in the Nanko area of Osaka Bay, one of Japan's major international trading ports. Just a 25-minute shuttle bus ride from central Osaka, the hotel offers serene bayside views. With "Unleash Your Creativity Through Play" as its concept, RISONARE Osaka features guest rooms where you can freely draw on walls and windows with colored pencils, and Japan's largest "Atelier" (studio) designed to stimulate curiosity and encourage various forms of creative expression. In collaboration with Machi no Kenkyusho (City Research Institute), the hotel incorporates the "Reggio Emilia Approach," one of the world's most advanced early childhood education methods, to foster children's creativity during their stay.
Overview
RISONARE Osaka occupies the 23rd, 24th, and 26th floors of the Grand Prince Hotel Osaka Bay, offering 64 guest rooms and a dedicated "Atelier" on the top 28th floor. It operates in partnership with the Grand Prince Hotel Osaka Bay, which provides room and dining services, while RISONARE Osaka offers exclusive activities for its young guests. The hotel's concept encourages guests to explore their creativity through play. The Atelier provides a space where guests can engage with various materials and experiences, fostering curiosity and exploration. This immersive experience aims to help guests discover their individuality, see the world differently, and develop future-oriented thinking skills.
The Reggio Emilia Approach
Featured in Newsweek in 1991 as the "world's most advanced early childhood education," the Reggio Emilia Approach has gained global recognition. It emphasizes "collaboration" and "creativity," encouraging children to learn and explore independently through interaction with peers and the community. The Atelier environment and the presence of "Atelieristas" (art specialists) further support children's creative activities. Notably, this approach has been adopted by preschools affiliated with companies like Google.
*Reference URL: JIREA Official Website https://jirea.jp
Japan's Largest "Atelier" for Cultivating Creative Thinking
Located on the 28th floor with panoramic views of Osaka Bay, RISONARE Osaka boasts Japan's largest Atelier (approximately 470 square meters). Klein Dytham architecture (KDa) designed this vibrant and sophisticated space, inspired by the dynamic landscape of Osaka Nanko's logistics hub. The Atelier offers a diverse range of materials for guests to explore and interact with, encouraging them to discover the identity of each object. By selecting materials and creatively combining them, children can discover new forms of play and develop their thinking skills.
Opening hours: 9AM-12PM, 1PM-6:15PM
Gallery Created by Osaka Artists
The entrance to the Atelier features a gallery showcasing works by local artists, inspiring interest in "objects" and "events." With themes ranging from "gathering" and "flowers" to "sea," "forest," and "nesting," the gallery provides a space for children to encounter art and materials, fostering self-discovery through observation and interaction.
Experiencing Colors and Textures: An area dedicated to "color" showcases bengara-dyed* cloth, leaves that change color with the seasons, and other industrial and natural materials. Guests can explore color gradients and how light affects perception. They can also discover different textures and shapes by touching soft and hard objects. These materials can be combined to create unique compositions.
*Bengara is a pigment derived from soil (iron oxide), also known as "beni-gara" or "bengala," named after the Bengal region in India where it originated. (Reference: http://www.kosyokunobi.com/benigara%20guide/benigara.html)
Encountering Tools: A dedicated space allows children to experiment with various art supplies, including paints and brushes used by professionals. A wide range of colors and brush sizes encourages exploration and new discoveries. Children can express themselves freely on various canvases, including drawing paper, windows, and large sheets of paper spread on the floor.
Full-Body Sculpting: Children can engage in hands-on experiences with clay and sand, kneading, and creating imprints with their feet. Four types of pottery clay, each with different colors and textures, are provided daily. The Atelier also features a light table where guests can draw on sand with light.
Exploring Light and Shadow: A white cloth or wall acts as a screen for projecting images of materials, allowing young guests to explore the properties of light and shadow. Light tables with various materials further encourage creative exploration.
Material Library: A library houses a collection of natural objects, industrial products, and crafts, categorized into five themes: "Fish & Sea," "Insects," "Geology & Stones," "Crafts," and "Industry." This "Shelf of Exploration" stimulates curiosity and provides diverse materials for creative expression.
Project Activities for Children
Through dialogue with Atelieristas, children can participate in projects that encourage creative exploration and self-expression. These projects cover various themes, including space, structure, and visual arts, offering both individual and collaborative activities. By engaging in these projects, children can develop their own inquiries and express themselves freely.
Time: 9AM-6:15PM (60 minutes per session)
Reservation: Accepted up to 2 hours before the session
Eligibility: Ages 3 and above
Fee: Included in the Atelier stay fee
Atelier Rooms: Extending Creativity Beyond the Atelier
RISONARE Osaka offers ten room types, including three "Atelier Room" concepts. These rooms feature red-themed walls with motifs that stimulate creativity, allowing children to draw freely with colored pencils. The "Atelier Room Deluxe" includes a net extending from the ceiling for climbing and playing. All rooms are designed for comfort and relaxation, with a shoe-free environment for families with young children.
Beyond the Atelier: Spaces Designed for Adults
Atelier Cafe (26th floor): The Atelier Cafe's concept centers around the idea that adults, too, can engage with their creativity through play. Mirroring the children exploring the Atelier, the cafe encourages adults to discover new interests and enjoy novel experiences. Intriguing elements are incorporated to spark curiosity. Cabinets display 150 unique specimens of plants, minerals, shells, fish, and insects. Guests are invited to handle these specimens, examining them under the light on a light table or using a magnifying glass to explore the diverse expressions of nature. The Atelier Cafe offers a space for adults to unwind with coffee and sweets while encountering stimulating objects, while children can simultaneously engage in creative expression within the Atelier. Ultimately, it provides an environment where families can collectively unleash their creativity through play.
Opening hours: 9AM-6PM
Fee: Free
Eligibility: RISONARE Osaka guests only
Note: Coffee, tea, and snacks are available. (No permanent staff)
Restaurants: RISONARE Osaka offers a variety of dining options, including a course menu for children at the "Basilico" restaurant. These menus feature appetizers, soup, a choice of four main courses (including colorful gnocchi with traditional vegetables and pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven), and dessert.
Opening hours: 5:30PM-9:30PM (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Price: Child menu - 3,164 JPY (tax and service charge included)
Note: In addition to "Basilico", guests can also enjoy teppanyaki courses at "Sai" and buffet-style meals at "The Cafe."
Club Lounge (28th floor): RISONARE Osaka guests have access to the Grand Prince Hotel Osaka Bay's Club Lounge, offering panoramic views, tea service, and evening cocktails.
Opening hours: Tea service 12PM-5PM ; Evening cocktails 5:30PM-7:30PM (children under 13 until 6:30PM)
Price: 6,215 JPY per adult per night (tax and service charge included)
Note: Offerings vary depending on the season and availability. Separate charges apply for children.
Other Facilities: Guests can enjoy complimentary access to the Grand Prince Hotel Osaka Bay's 24-hour fitness center, indoor pool, and seasonal outdoor pool.
People Supporting the Atelier
Klein Dytham architecture (KDa): Founded in 1991 by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, KDa is a multilingual design office specializing in architecture, interiors, public spaces, and installations. Astrid Klein has also been involved in fostering children's creativity through architecture workshops.
Machi no Kenkyusho (City Research Institute): This institute operates JIREA (Japan Institute for Reggio Emilia Alliance), the Japanese contact point for the international network of the Reggio Emilia Approach. They are involved in early childhood education, creative environment development, and community development focused on children and childcare.
Designer & Atelierista Fumiko Ito: A graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts with experience in design research and conceptual design, Ito specializes in creating creative spaces and activities that explore future possibilities and local values.
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