Osaka Castle
Reconstructed castle with a white-and-green main tower on tall stone walls, inside a large park and moat. A museum within tells the story of its builder Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the city's history.
Osaka
Universal Studios Japan, Osaka Castle and street food at Dotonbori are what this lively food city is known for.
Attractive locations
Shitenno-ji
One of Japan's earliest Buddhist temples, traditionally founded in 593, with a five-storey pagoda and halls arranged on a straight line. The buildings have been rebuilt several times over the centuries.
Universal Studios Japan
Large theme park on the Osaka bay side with film-based rides and shows, including the Super Nintendo World area. Most visitors spend a full day here.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Big aquarium by the bay, built around a giant central tank. Galleries are arranged as a descent through the marine life of the Pacific Ocean and its surrounding regions.
Umeda Sky Building
Twin-tower skyscraper joined at the top by a ring-shaped open-air deck, the Floating Garden Observatory. It looks over Osaka by day and by night.
Tsutenkaku
Observation tower at the heart of Shinsekai, a retro district known for fried skewer restaurants. Visitors rub the foot of Billiken, a lucky mascot figure, on the top deck.
Abeno Harukas
Tall skyscraper beside Tennoji Station containing a department store, an art museum and a hotel. An observation deck near the top gives open views across the city.
Sumiyoshi Taisha
Shinto shrine among the oldest in Japan, famous for its high arched Sorihashi bridge and its straight-roofed main halls. It is especially busy with worshippers at New Year.
National Museum of Art, Osaka
Museum on Nakanoshima island, largely built underground beneath a sculptural metal structure. It shows modern and contemporary art from Japan and abroad, with changing exhibitions as well as its own collection.
Tennoji Park
Public park with a zoo, an art museum and Keitakuen, a Japanese strolling garden with ponds. It sits beside Shinsekai and Tennoji Station, so it combines easily with other sights.
Dotonbori
Canal-side entertainment street lit by huge neon signs and giant mechanical displays, famed for takoyaki, okonomiyaki and other street food. It is liveliest in the evening.
Shinsekai
Retro district around Tsutenkaku tower, with kushikatsu restaurants, old cinemas and arcades that recall Osaka in the early 1900s.
Airports
Osaka Itami International Airport ITM
It is about 11 km in a straight line from Osaka.
Kobe Airport UKB
It is about 26 km in a straight line from Osaka.
Kansai International Airport KIX
It is about 38 km in a straight line from Osaka.
Getting around
From Kansai Airport
Nankai trains connect Kansai International Airport with Namba. The Limited Express Rapi:t needs an extra limited express ticket and takes about 34 minutes at its fastest, whereas the Airport Express takes about 45 minutes and runs on a normal ticket. JR's Kansai-airport Station, reached by a bridge from the terminal building, offers the Kansai Airport Rapid Service direct to Osaka's Umeda and Tennoji areas and the Limited Express HARUKA direct to Kyoto.
- Source: Nankai Electric Railway: Kansai Airport access and timetable (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: JR West: Usage guide from Kansai International Airport (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Osaka Metro and JR
The subway connects Osaka's two main centres: Kita, around Umeda, and Minami, around Namba and Tennoji. Osaka Metro operates a grid of lines across the city, for example the Midosuji and Tanimachi lines, along with the New Tram. Station codes combine a line letter with a number, with M standing for the Midosuji Line. JR's Osaka Loop Line goes around the city and meets private railways, and Osaka City Bus routes run within the city.
- Source: OSAKA-INFO (Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau): Osaka sightseeing transportation guide (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Osaka Metro: Subway top page and route map (checked 4 Nov 2026)
ICOCA and tap-to-pay
JR West's IC card is called ICOCA; touch it on gates marked with the IC sign. It is accepted on JR, Osaka Metro, private railways and buses. Ticket machines sell it, but not for payment by credit card. At dedicated gate readers, Osaka Metro and the New Tram also accept contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover and UnionPay cards, with no registration. The Enjoy Eco Card covers unlimited Osaka Metro and City Bus rides for one day.
- Source: JR West: Usage guide from Kansai International Airport (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: OSAKA-INFO (Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau): Sightseeing passes and one-day tickets (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Osaka Metro: Contactless payment (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Licensed taxis and white plates
Near airports and sightseeing spots, unlicensed taxis operate, sometimes arranged through overseas car-hire apps, warn Osaka police and the regional transport bureau. Green plates mark licensed taxis; unlicensed cars usually have white plates and no passenger insurance, and passengers may be questioned by police. Stick to licensed taxis, and if you order by app, check the plate of the car that turns up.
- Source: Kinki District Transport Bureau and Osaka Prefectural Police: Beware! Unlicensed taxis are illegal and unsafe (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Kinki District Transport Bureau: unlicensed taxi awareness (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan2.6 °C66 mm
- Feb3.7 °C80 mm
- Mar6.8 °C116 mm
- Apr12.1 °C135 mm
- May17.1 °C159 mm
- Jun21.1 °C213 mm
- Jul25.1 °C220 mm
- Aug25.9 °C178 mm
- Sep22.3 °C225 mm
- Oct16.3 °C192 mm
- Nov10.6 °C93 mm
- Dec5.0 °C76 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Sep.
Costs
Prices here are about 65% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
sport
Grand Sumo tournament (Osaka)
Osaka hosts the sumo tournament held in spring.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 110. Fire and ambulance 119.
local government
Japan Visitor Hotline (Japan National Tourism Organization)
Helps with: Hotline run by Japan's national tourism organization. It gives support in emergencies such as accidents, illness and natural disasters, plus general tourist information, in English, Chinese and Korean, 24 hours a day.
Who qualifies: Visitors to Japan, calling from inside Japan or from overseas.
Phone: +81-50-3816-2787
local government
Police emergency number 110
Helps with: Japan's police emergency number, for reporting a crime or an accident. For less urgent matters, visitors can also go to a neighbourhood police box (koban).
Who qualifies: Anyone in Japan who needs the police urgently.
Phone: 110
local government
Ambulance and fire emergency number 119 (Fire and Disaster Management Agency)
Helps with: Call 119 for an ambulance or a fire. First say whether it is a fire or a medical emergency, then give your location; a nearby building or intersection helps if you lack the address.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Japan; the ambulance service is available to everyone.
Phone: 119
ngo
Japanese Red Cross Society
Helps with: Japan's national Red Cross society. In disasters it sends medical relief teams, sets up aid stations, gives psychological care in evacuation centres and hands out relief supplies such as blankets.
Who qualifies: People in Japan affected by disasters, through its relief work.
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Japan
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Japan it supports migrants through work against human trafficking and help with voluntary return home and reintegration.
Who qualifies: Migrants in Japan, including people affected by human trafficking. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: 03 (3595) 2487
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in Japan (JNTO list)
Helps with: For a lost passport, an emergency or a natural disaster, contact your own country's embassy. This Japan National Tourism Organization page gives addresses and phones, but only for some countries.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each listed country, through their own embassy or consulate.
local government
Tourist Information OSAKA (JR Osaka Station)
Helps with: Tourist information centre in JR Osaka Station, open 7:00 to 22:00 all year, with help in English, Chinese and Korean. The phone number is the Osaka Call Center (9:00 to 17:30).
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Osaka or passing through JR Osaka Station.
Phone: 06-6131-4550
Address: JR Osaka Station 1F Central Concourse, 3-1-1 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0001
local government
Osaka Prefectural Police
Helps with: Police for Osaka. Foreign visitors who come to a police station or police box after a crime, a traffic accident or losing belongings get language help, by phone if needed. Emergencies: dial 110.
Who qualifies: Foreign residents and visitors in Osaka Prefecture who are dealing with the police.
Phone: 06-6943-1234
Address: 3-1-11 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-8540