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Osaka

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At a glance

Country
Japan
Region
Osaka Prefecture
Population
2.8 million
Best time to go
March to May, October to November
Main airport
Kansai International (KIX)
Coordinates
34.69°N, 135.50°E

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Overview

Osaka is Japan's great merchant city, louder, friendlier and less formal than Tokyo. Its people are famous for their humour and their appetite, summed up in the local word kuidaore, roughly "eat until you drop".

Come hungry. Evenings revolve around the neon canal of Dotonbori and the old-fashioned bars of Shinsekai, and Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Himeji are all within an hour by train.

Things to see

  • Osaka Castle
    Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5

    Osaka Castle

    A rebuilt castle keep rising above moats and huge stone walls, with a museum inside and cherry trees all around.

    Tickets and tours
  • Dotonbori
    Photo: Type specimen, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Dotonbori

    A canal-side strip of giant mechanical crabs, glowing billboards and food stalls, best after dark.

  • Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku
    Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0

    Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku

    A retro neighbourhood around an Eiffel-inspired tower, known for kushikatsu, deep-fried skewers.

  • Umeda Sky Building
    Photo: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Umeda Sky Building

    Two towers joined at the top by a ring-shaped open-air observatory with views across the city.

    Tickets and tours
  • Sumiyoshi Taisha
    Photo: Saigen Jiro, CC0

    Sumiyoshi Taisha

    One of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, with a steep arched red bridge and a distinctive straight-roofed style.

Things to do

  • Eat your way through Osaka
    Photo: 加茂川の民, CC0

    Eat your way through Osaka

    Try takoyaki, octopus balls, and okonomiyaki, a savoury griddled pancake, cooked in front of you.

  • Kuromon Market
    Photo: Mr.ちゅらさん, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Kuromon Market

    A covered market of fishmongers and stalls grilling scallops, wagyu and sea urchin to eat on the spot.

  • Day trip to Nara
    Photo: Wiiii, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Day trip to Nara

    Bowing deer roam the park around Todai-ji, home to a giant bronze Buddha, under an hour away by train.

  • Kaiyukan Aquarium
    Photo: Sakai Yayoi, CC0

    Kaiyukan Aquarium

    One of the world's largest aquariums, built around a central tank holding a whale shark.

    Find tours

Where to stay

  • Namba

    Central and lively, close to Dotonbori and with direct trains to the airport.

    Hotels in Namba

  • Umeda

    The northern hub around Osaka Station, good for shopping and onward travel.

    Hotels in Umeda

  • Shinsaibashi

    Between the two, handy for the shopping arcades and nightlife.

    Hotels in Shinsaibashi

  • Tennoji

    Often better value, with the zoo, Shinsekai and good transport links nearby.

    Hotels in Tennoji

Getting around

The Metro and JR lines reach everywhere; tap an ICOCA or other IC card, or your phone, at the gates. Shin-Osaka station is the stop for bullet trains.

The Nankai express train from Kansai airport reaches Namba in about 40 minutes, and the JR Haruka runs to Tennoji and Shin-Osaka.

When to go

Spring brings cherry blossom from late March, and autumn is clear and comfortable. Summers are hot and very humid, with the Tenjin Matsuri festival of boats and fireworks in late July.

Plan your trip to Osaka

Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.

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