Inconspicuous door hides amazing futuristic bar at hotel in Osaka, Japan
Is Japan is living in the future? This incredible bar will make you think so.
People often joke that Japan is living in the future. This bar had me understanding why.
Hidden behind an inconspicuous door in the main bar on the 32nd floor of the 5-star Centara Grand Hotel Osaka is a smaller futuristic bar called Automata.
Step through the tiled door with a shadowed sign and you become your own bartender, pouring beer, highballs and sours from the tap. You can also request to mix your own cocktails.
Once you have grabbed a chilled glass, used the glass rinser and selected a drink, you can then personalise it with whatever foam art you want by scanning a QR code on the drink printer.
Simply upload a photo or logo and watch the machine print it on your drink.
After watching a demonstration with my mouth slightly agape during a hotel tour, I wondered aloud, “but how do you pay?”.
It turns out guests can purchase a “free flow” ticket for one hour of unlimited drinks. The cost? 4700 yen. That is about $47. Alternatively three drink tickets will set you back $37. (Read about the price of alcohol at supermarkets here).
It is not just the next-level technology that makes the bar special.
While many tourists seek out observation decks and towers in Osaka, the cityscape views from Automata and the rest of the hotel’s restaurants, bars and guest rooms are incredible. I was more impressed with those views than from the iconic Tsutenkaku Tower.
Centara Grand Hotel Osaka is a Thai hotel chain that only opened its first location in Japan last year in Namba, an entertainment and shopping district.
Travellers seeking out futuristic experiences in Japan can book to dine at robot-run hotels and cafes, but even when you are not looking, technological innovation can be found.
Exploring Shinsekai – a neighbourhood that gives you a glimpse of retro Osaka street life – on a food tour, a fairy floss vending machine caught my eye.
For about $5 you could select what shape and colour you wanted your fairy floss, but the best part was the novelty of watching the robot make it.
Other innovations are simple, but highly sought-after, with trying unfamiliar goods now a growing travel trend driven by Gen Z and TikTok.
Expedia Group has listed “Goods Getaways” as a travel trend to watch in 2025, with a survey revealing 39 per cent of travellers visit supermarkets when they are away and 44 per cent seek out local items they can’t find at home.
One of those trends is visiting a Japanese convenience store, which are often described as “next level” compared to those we have in Australia or other countries around the world.
7-Eleven Japan’s real fruit smoothies have gone viral.
At some stores in Japan you can purchase a cup of frozen fruit and yoghurt cubes for about $3, and mix it in the store’s smoothie machine.
One tourist’s TikTok of the smoothie has been liked by 2.5 million people.
Japanese-owned giant 7-Eleven International completed its acquisition of 7-Eleven Australia earlier this year and have flagged big changes are on the cards.
7-Eleven Australia told me, “Hopefully one day soon!”.
Why Japan is so hot right now among Aussie travellers
In the first six months of this year, about 462,000 Australians visited Japan – a big jump on the 327,000 that visited pre-pandemic in the first six months of 2019, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organisation.
Australian budget airline Jetstar told news.com.au the number of people who have travelled or have booked travel to Japan with the airline this year has almost doubled compared to last year.
Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully recently told news.com.au the airline was expecting a “really busy” period of Aussies flying to Japan between December and March for the ski season.
Jetstar operates up to 25 flights a week to the country, flying direct to Osaka from Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney, and Tokyo from Cairns and Brisbane.
This week the airline had a five-day Japan sale starting at $249 one-way (excluding checked baggage). It ended at 11.59pm AEDT on November 1.
The cheapest fares had included Cairns to Osaka from $249, Cairns to Tokyo from $269, Brisbane to Osaka from $299, Brisbane to Tokyo from $319 and Sydney to Osaka from $329.
One factor causing Japan’s popularity to surge among Australian travellers is the dollar being strong against the Japanese yen.
Travel Money Group general manager Scott McCullough explained: “We’ve essentially seen an AUD for 100 yen match when exchanging currency.”
There was even a period mid year where the Australian dollar was outperforming the yen.
“Currently 1 AUD is buying roughly 97 yen. Compare this to five years ago where 1 AUD was buying around 74 yen, and you’ll see why it’s such a great time to take advantage of the exchange rate and head to Japan,” Mr McCullough said.
“To put this into context, if you were gearing up for snow season in 2019 and needed JP¥100,000, it would have cost you AU$1,250, but with today’s rates it’ll only cost you AU$1,031.
“To get the best deal, our advice is always to keep a close eye on exchange rates or talk to a foreign exchange expert so you can load your currency card or exchange cash when the yen is at its best.”
This writer travelled to Japan as a guest of Jetstar
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