Kansai · western Japan
Osaka
Loud, friendly and built around food — the easiest city in Japan to talk to strangers in.
Best seasonAll year; best March–May and October–November
How long to stay1–2 days
AreaKansai · western Japan
Why go
- Dotonbori at night, with the running-man sign and the canal full of reflections.
- Osaka Castle, and the park around it, which is a good place to walk off a long flight.
- Kuromon market for street food, and the Shinsekai district for the older, rougher version of the city.
- A natural base: Kyoto, Nara and Kobe are all under an hour away.
Practical notes
- People in Osaka talk to tourists far more readily than in Tokyo. Use it.
- Most street food is seafood or meat-based — ask before assuming. There is a solid Indian restaurant scene around Namba.
- Stand on the right of the escalator here. Tokyo stands on the left; Osaka is the exception.
Getting there
Kansai International Airport, with direct trains to the centre in under an hour.