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Introduction

Puffer fish eatery

Puffer fish eatery

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Osaka has long been a hub of Japanese economic activity, and at one stage was briefly the nation's capital. Tokyo may have taken this honour, but Osaka remains a key city, forming the heart of the huge metropolitan area of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, home to over 19 million people. Osaka itself is Japan's third largest city and is the capital of the Osaka Prefecture. It is also considered the nation's gourmet food capital.

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Neighbourhoods

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Sights and Activities

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Events and Festivals

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Weather

Osaka has a subtropical humid climate with warm, wet summers and drier but mild winters. Summers last from June to September when average highs are mostly between 28 and 34 °C and nights are between 20 and 25 °C. Winters from December to February see highs of 9-13 °C and lows of 2-5 °C. Almost all of the annual rain falls between March and October, while winters are relatively dry and chances of snow are almost zero (unlike Tokyo for example).

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Getting There

By Plane

1. International flights in Osaka arrive at the Kansai International Airport (KIX), about 38 kilometres from Osaka. After Narita Airport it's the busiest airport in Japan regarding international passengers. Airlines flying from Europe to Osaka include KLM (Amsterdam) and Finnair (Helsinki).

To/from Osaka-Kansai Airport

  • Rail: The lower railroad level of the Sky Gate Bridge R leading to Osaka is used by two railroad operators: West Japan Railway (JR West) and Nankai Electric Railway. JR West operates Haruka, the limited express train services for Kansai Airport Station from Tennōji, Shin-Ōsaka and Kyoto Station. JR West also offers "Kansai Airport Rapid" services for Kansai Airport Station from Ōsaka and Kyōbashi Station, as well as several stations on the way. Nankai operates a limited express train service to Namba Station on the southern edge of downtown Osaka.
  • Bus: Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise and other bus operators offer scheduled express bus services, called "Airport Limousines", for Kansai International Airport.
  • Car: The airport is only accessible from the Sky Gate Bridge R, a part of Kansai Airport Expressway. The expressway immediately connects to Hanshin Expressways Route 5, "Wangan Route", and Hanwa Expressway. Taxis and rental cars are available at the airport and there are thousands of parking places as well.
  • Ferry: A high-speed ferry service operates between Kobe Airport and KIX. The journey takes about thirty minutes.

2. Despite it's name, Osaka International Airport (ITM) serves only domestic destinations, but in total does handle more passengers than Osaka-Kansai!

To/from Osaka International Airport

  • Rail: The only direct rail connection to the airport is the Osaka Monorail, which stops in the northern suburbs of Osaka.
  • Bus: A number of scheduled buses run to and from the airport daily, forming connections to Osaka and Kyoto.

By Train

Osaka can be reached by train from a number of cities, including Tokyo, Kobe, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. For more details about schedules and prices, check the Japan Rail website.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

China:
There are weekly ferries crossing the sea between Shanghai and Kobe and Osaka in Japan. The ferry's destination alternates each week between Osaka and Kobe and the journey takes two days. Another line travels weekly as well between Shanghai and Osaka only.
Russia:
FESCO runs a service from Vostochny Port/Nakhodka in Far Eastern Russia to Osaka.

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Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

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Eat

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Drink

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Sleep

PropertyAddressTypePopularity
Bougainvillea Inn Shin-Osaka3-2-21, Higashi-Nakajima, Higashi-Yodogawa-kuHostel63
Hotel Chuo Selene1-1-11 Taishi, Nishinari-KuHostel81
Capsule Hotel Asahi Plaza Shinsaibashi2-12-22,Nishihinsaibashi,Chuouku,OsakashiHostel79
Flexstay Shinsaibashi Inn1-9-30 Nishi Shinsaibashi Chuo-kuHotel68
For Leaves Inn2-6-21 Nishitanabe-cho Abeno-kuGuesthouse71
Fushio-kaku at Fushio Onsen128-1 Fushio-Cho Ikeda OsakaHostel67
Hotel Aldebaran2-3-6, Takatsu-Cho Chuo-KuHotel73
Hotel Chuo1-1-12 Taishi Nishinari-ku Osaka-shiHostel75
Hotel CHUO OASIS9-15, 1-Chome, Taishi Nishinari-kuHostel89
Hotel Mikado1-2-11, Taishi Nishinari-kuHostel81
Hotel Raizan South3-3-1 Taishi Nisinari kuHostel76
Hotel Shin-Imamiya2-20, Haginochaya 1 chome Nishinari-kuHostel50
Hotel Sun Plaza1-2-22 Haginochaya NishinarikuHostel65
Hotel Sunrise Inn925 Naka Pref 597-0003 KaizukaHotel85
Hotel Sun`Plaza 21-2-20, Taishi, Nishinari-kuHostel60
Hotel Taiyo1-2-23, TaishiHostel77
Hotel Toyo1-3-5, Taishi, NishinariHostel72
J-Hoppers Osaka Central4-22, Fukushima 7-chome, Fukushima-ku, Osaka-CityHostel90
Kameya Ryokan4-1-22, ChikkoHostel44
Kaneyoshi Ryokan, Namba Dotombori3-12, Soemoncho Chuo-kuHostel92
Mystays Inn Sakaisuji-honmachi1- 4-8, Awaji-machi Chuo-kuHotel96
New Capsule Hotel Aldebaran2-9-4 Nishi-Shinsaibashi Chuo-kuHostel64
Osaka GuestHouse KOMA2-3-12 Saiwai-Cho Naniwa-kuHostel83
Osaka International Youth HostelHagoromokoen-Cho Takaishi-City, OsakaHostel93
Osaka Municipal Nagai Youth Hostel1-1 Nagai Koen Higashisumisyoshi-kuHostel80
Park Hotel Rinkai1-19-16 Utsubo-honmachi Nishi-kuHotel50
Peace House Showa2-8-4 Sanno Nishinari-kuHostel80
Pension Lee Osaka City Center2-5-11, Kita-Ku TenjinbashiGuesthouse94
Hostel Raizan Kita, Nishinari Shin-imamiya1-1-3 Taishi, Nishinari-kuHostel75
Shin-Osaka Youth Hostel1-13-13 KOKO Plaza10F Higashi-Nakajima Higashi-yodogawa-kuHostel92
Sumo Backpackers1-11-28, Nakatsu Kita-kuHostel90
Sunplay Inn Nagahori1-10-3,Higashishinsaibashi Chuou-kuHostel90
Weekly Mansion Osaka at Otemae1-3-2 Tokui-cho Chuo-kuHotel88
Yamatoya Honten, Namba Dotombori2-17-4, Shimanouchi Chuo-kuHostel88
Family Inn Fifty's Osaka2-6-18, Edobori Nishu-kuHostel63
Hotel KuramotoShimanouchi 2-11-7 Chuuou-ku OsakaHostel-
Ryokan IshihashiSimanouchi 2-17-22 Chuo-ku Osaka JapanHostel78
Hotel Green Plaza Osaka2-5-12 Nakazakinishi Kita-KuHotel47
Hostel 64 Osaka3-11-20 Shinmachi Nishi-kuHostel92
Guesthouse U-en1-5-8 Uemachi Chuo-kuGuesthouse91
Osaka Mayflower House2-1-15 Izumimachi, Chuo-KUGuesthouse68
Awaza Houseosaka nishi-ku enokojima 1-8 21-502Guesthouse89
Garden House2-8-18 Shimanouchi Chuo-kuGuesthouse90
Tsurumibashi Downtown Hostel3-8-16 Tsurumibashi Nishnari-Ku Osaka CityHostel-
Naniwa Minami Downtown HostelTengachayakita2-2-17 Nishinari-ku Osaka CityHostel90
Bainan Downtown hostelBainan3-8-1 Nishinari-Ku Osaka CityHostel-
Hanazono downtown HostelTsurumibashi 3-8-16 Nishnari-Ku Osaka CityHostel60
Namba Plaza Hotel1-20 Namba Sennichimae Chuo-kuHotel76
Umeda Dormitory531-0076 Aoyagi building, 1-6-13 OyodonakaHostel94
Bonsai Guest House1-4-13 Momodani Ikuno-kuHostel90
Takeyaso Ryokan2-85, Miyauchi-cho amagasaki city HyogoHostel100
New Commander Hotel17-4 Kidacho, Neyagawa City, Osaka 572-0836Hotel-
Namba Weekly2-3-1 Namba Chuoku 5F Azami Namba buildingApartment82
UK OSAKAKitahorie 1-12-9, Nishi-kuHostel88
Osaka Teikoku Hotel2-8-17, Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo-kuHotel100
For Leaves Inn Uehonmachi6-19 higasikouzu-cho tennouji-ku Osaka cityHotel-
Guesthouse Caminoro2F 3F 2-6-7 Nishimikuni,Yodogawa-kuHostel95
Osaka Namba Guest HouseNaniwa-ku Motomachi 2-9-1-101Guesthouse86
TEN Backpackers Osaka4-5 kobaicho Kita KuHostel88
Imazato Guest House1-11-15 Ohimazatonishi HigashinarikuHostel92
Guest House la Kongo1 Higashi - 5-11 Doutonbori Chuuou kuHostel85
Apollo Weekly/Monthly Apt. at Namba Sta.Osaka Shi Naniwa Ku Namba Naka 3-18-1 AP bld. 1st floorApartment94
OEH11-4 Okayamate-cho Hirakata CityHostel-
Momodani House2-7-2 Kiatsuyama-kita IkunokuGuesthouse-
Guesthouse TennojiAdress9-18,kitakawahorimachi, Tennoji-kuHostel92
IM Guest House2-7-2 Katsuyamakita, Ikuno-kuHostel83

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Work

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Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Post

The Japanese postal service is excellent! Domestic and international mail service is very quick and reliable. The prices for sending letters, postcards and parcels vary depending on where you send if from and to which country you send it too, and of course depends on weight as well, so check this calculation page of Japan Post for more details. Post offices generally are open from 9:00am to 5:00pm on weekdays, closing at weekends and also on national holidays, though a few open on Saturdays from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Central post offices are sometimes open until 7:00pm, open on Saturdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm and on Sundays and holidays from 9:00am to 12:30pm. Another thing to remember is that the post office is one of the few places in Japan that is guaranteed to have ATMs that take international cards.

Quick Facts

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Coordinates
  • Latitude: 34.677471
  • Longitude: 135.50325

Contributors

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This is version 20. Last edited at 9:39 on Dec 20, 11 by sleepBot (+930). 80 articles link to this page.

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