Tip: Click and drag to move the map

Things to do in Osaka, Japan

The capital of Japan may be Tokyo and Kyoto is where most international visitors head, but in a country steeped in culture and layered formalities, Osaka is an unpretentious (if slightly dishevelled) breath of fresh air. Tokyoites view their cousins to the south-west as talkative and pushy; Osakans see themselves as friendly and witty. It is the only place in Japan where bargaining is possible, queuing is optional and waiting for the little red man to stop flashing is just not the done thing. Ask someone for directions and they'll walk you all the way there; hesitate when the train stops and an 86 year-old granny will shove you out of the way to get on. Osakans take a no-nonsense approach to getting things done, but are amazingly generous with their time and help.

Osaka has long been an important trading centre and was the economic capital of the country right up until the 1970s, when many of the big companies moved north. The merchant tradition has molded the local character and even the local dialect. The greeting mokkari makka(Are ya makin' any money?) is to Japanese what G'day is to English - regional, informal and viewed by outsiders with affection. People here work hard, but are ready with a smile - a gregarious approach is smart business and is part of the social fabric of the city.

Osakans are very proud of takoyaki, a locally-concocted hot snack (or indeed a meal) which is made into spherical dumplings using batter, diced octopus, pickled ginger, plant gel and (if that's not enough) covered with a savoury sauce, mayonnaise and fish shavings. However it may sound to the outsider, it is utterly delectable and you'll find it served in restaurants, kiosks and makeshift food stands everywhere. Not that this is all the average restaurant-goer consumes - in fact, Osaka has more restaurants per capita than any large city in the world with a ratio of one for every 72 people. Pretty impressive, as is the fact that the city has more coffee shops than Marseille and more bridges than Venice. Tell an Osakan any of this and they probably won't even know about it. No reason to boast anyway, they will say - but hey, have you tried takoyaki yet?

Top Attractions in Osaka, Japan

	Dotonbori Dotonbori Street, Shinsaibashi
	Osaka Castle 1-1 Osakajo, Kyobashi (+81) 6 6941 3044
	Tempozan Harbour Village Kaigan-dori, Osakako (+81) 6 6576 5501
	Umeda Sky Building 1-1-88 Oyodonaka, Umeda (+81) 6 6440 3899
	Shitenno-ji Temple Abeno-suji, 1-11-18 Shitennoji,Tennoji (+81) 6 6771 0066
	Festival Gate 3-4-36 Ebisuhigashi, Tennoji (+81) 6 6635 1000
	Universal Studios Japan Universal Walk, Sakurajima (+81) 6 6465 3000

Best Hotels in Osaka, Japan

	Hotel Nikko Mido-suji Avenue, Nishi-Shinsaibashi (+81) 6 6244 1111
	The Ramada Osaka 3-16-19 Toyosaki, Nakatsu (+81) 6 6372 8181
	Hilton Osaka Hotel Yotsubashi-suji, Umeda (+81) 6 6347 7111
	Swissotel Nankai 5-1-60 Namba, Chuo-ku (+81) 6 6646 1111

Hot/hip Bars & Clubs in Osaka, Japan

	Captain Kangaroo 1F Okawa Building, 1-5-20 Sonezaki-shinchi, Kita-ku (+81) 6 6346 0367
	Murphy's Irish Pub 6F 1-6-31 Higashi-Shinsaibashi (+81) 6 6282 0677
	Cinquecento 1F Matsumiya Bldg, 10-1-2 Higashi-Shinsaibashi (+81) 6 6213 6788
	Saza*e 4-16 Chayamachi, Umeda (+81) 6 6486 3388
	The Balabushka 4F Mittera Kaikan,5-9-2, Shinsaibashi (+81) 6 6211 5369
	Grand Café Hachiman-suji, 2-10-21 Nishi-Shinsaibashi (+81) 6 6213 8637

Best Restaurants in Osaka, Japan

	Haya 4F and 5F, Comrade Dohton Building, Dotonbori (+81) 6 6211 3090
	Fu Fu Tei Yakiniku 9F Gour-Cuss Building, Midosuji Avenue, Shinsaibashi (+81) 6 6213 9378
	World Buffet 48F World Trade Center, Cosmosquare (+81) 6 6615 7017
	El Pancho Shinsaibashi-suji, 8F Shinsaibashi Tower (+81) 6 6241 0588
	Kua'aina 6F Namba Parks, Namba 5-chome, Namba (+81) 6 6635 1610
	Asian Kitchen 31F Grandview Building, Hankyu Station, Umeda (+81) 6 6315 1211

Tempting Cafés in Osaka, Japan

	Christon Cafe 4-29 Komatsubaracho, Umeda (+81) 6 6364 6565
	digmeout Art and Diner Hachiman-suji, 2-9-32 Nishi-Shinsaibashi (+81) 6 6213 1007
	Bleu 1-5-23 Minami-Horie, Namba (+81) 6 4391 3477

Shopping Hotspots in Osaka, Japan

	Yodobashi Camera Ofukacho-machi, Umeda (+81) 6 4802 1010
	Namba Parks Namba 5-chome, Namba (+81) 6 6644 7100
	Shinsaibashi Shopping Street Shinsaibashi-suji, from Honmachi to Namba (+81) 6 6211 1114
	Den Den Town Sakai-suji, between Nipponbashi 3-chome and Ebisucho

Airports in Osaka, Japan

Kansai International Airport (KIX) Kansai International Airport Building 1-banchi, Senshu-Kuko Kita, Izumisano-shi (+81) 72 455 2500
Osaka International Airport (ITM) Toyonaka (+81) 6 6856 6781

The city guide for Osaka is Craig Hewer. We do not accept payment or rewards for listing particular businesses on this page.

Home - About - FAQ - Contact - Blog -