Introduction
Have a fried-octopus ball in high-wired Osaka. Famous for its down-to-earth citizens and hearty cuisine, Osaka combines historical and cultural attractions with all the delights of a Japanese urban phenomenon. At night Osaka is live-wired with flashing neon, beckoning with promises of tako-yaki (fried octopus ball), good times and lots of beer.
Often maligned by visitors as 'ugly' and still best viewed under the neon light of night, Osaka is currently undergoing a facelift to woo daytime visitors to its concrete and pachinko city grid. Waterfront developments are restoring Osaka's image as a port town and creating new attractions for tourists.
Osaka is in the heart of the Kansai region in central Japan, about 350km (215mi) west of Tokyo. The city is divided into northern and southern areas. Kita (north), also known as Umeda, is the city's main business and administrative centre. Its biggest train stations, JR Osaka and Hankyu Umeda, are the gateways to K ō be and Kyoto. Minami (south) is the city's entertainment district and contains the hyperactive shopping and nightlife areas of Namba and Shinsaibashi. In between is the peaceful green Nakanoshima Park, on a small island bounded by the Dojimagawa and Tosaborigawatwo rivers. Osaka-wan, the bay area in the west, is home to a number of attractions, including the spanking-new Universal Studios and the excellent Osaka Aquarium.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +9
Area: 221
Coordinates: 34.66667 latitude and 135.5 longitude
Population: 2600000
Languages: Set aside several years if you want to learn to read Japanese. Japan has one of the most complex writing systems in the world, using three different scripts (four if you include the increasingly used Roman script romaji). Fortunately, for visitors to Japan, it's not all bad news. Unlike other Asian languages, Japanese is not tonal and the pronunciation system is fairly easy to master. In fact, with a little effort, getting together a repertoire of travellers' phrases should be no trouble - the only problem will be understanding what people say back to you.
Currency: Yen ( ¥ )
Area codes: 06
Getting There
Osaka's Kansai International Airport (KIX) is a state-of-the-art virtual city built on an entirely man-made island, the first of its kind. 50km (30mi) south of downtown Osaka, KIX handles all international and some domestic flights, while the ageing Itami airport (10km/6mi northeast of Osaka) only handles domestic traffic. All international carriers fly to and from KIX; departure tax is 20.00. The flight from Tokyo (Haneda or Narita airports) is only an hour or so. Limousine airport buses shuttle passengers direct from Itami to Osaka (Namba, Umeda or Tennoji stations). KIX has every known transport possible into Osaka including limousine bus, taxi, ferry, shuttle bus and passenger train, but by far the most convenient and fun is the sleek Nankai Railways Rapito, a great introduction to the joys of bullet-train travel that takes only 29 minutes. It really is the only way to go. Osaka is also on the main shinkansen (bullet train) route through Japan. The Tokaido shinkansen (Hikari) makes the sprint from Tokyo to JR Shin-Osaka in three hours, passing through Yokohama and Shizuoka on the way. Most trains coming from the north of Japan pass through Tokyo on the way to Osaka. For water babies there's a ferry service between Shanghai and Osaka (Nanko International Ferry Terminal).
Getting around
The tongue-twisting names of the city's subway system are a challenge; thankfully it is also colour coded and so fairly simple to use. Wherever you need to go in Osaka the subway system usually has it covered. There is also a JR Loop line which links in well with key subway stations. There is a handy prepaid day card available for unlimited subway and city bus travel. Private and JR train lines also run through town. The names of JR, subway and private railway stations are displayed in both Japanese and English. Although trains are more convenient for getting around, Osaka does have a bus network, which uses the same ticketing system as the subway. There's also a sightseeing bus, with a range of different tours available. It leaves from Umeda train station. Osaka operates a range of ferries and sightseeing cruises around its bay. Most of these originate or stop around the Tempozan Harbour Village (Chuo subway line, Osakako station). The Aqua-bus Aqua-liner travels on the Okawa River in northern Osaka and takes in Osaka Castle, Tenmabashi, Yodoyabashi and Osaka Amenity Park (OAP). Taxi stands can be found in front of most train stations and it's possible to hail a cab on heavily trafficked streets. Having your destination written down in Kanji will be a help as many drivers don't speak English. Whatever you do, don't try to open the left rear door - only the driver has this privilege. There's no need to tip. There are several car rental agencies based at both Itami and Kansai International Airport (KIX). You can hire a car on presentation of an International Driving Permit. Note: Osaka's roads aren't cheap, with steep levies applied on all major tollways through the city. The best means of exploring Osaka's inner-city warrens is on foot. Although cycling in Osaka is very popular with locals (the city is completely flat) there are no bike paths.
Weather
Osaka has a temperate weather pattern; the summers are hot and humid and the winters are cold. Plenty of rain falls over the summer months of June and early July, while the warm weeks of September and early October bring occasional typhoons. The autumn is usually sunny and cool. It seldom snows in the winter, as temperatures rarely fall below freezing.
Events
The highlight of the Osaka calendar is the annual hanami (cherry blossom) viewing in late March to early April. Popular sites from which to view the blossom are Osaka Castle Park and Osaka Amenity Park. Osaka's Tenjin Matsuri has been celebrated for over 1000 years and over a million people come every July to enjoy the festival on the river and marvel at the fireworks display. September's Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is another huge event that attracts large crowds. The Midosuji Parade sends Osaka's citizens into an autumn spin with a huge street parade of marching bands and floats from many countries.
Have a fried-octopus ball in high-wired Osaka. Famous for its down-to-earth citizens and hearty cuisine, Osaka combines historical and cultural attractions with all the delights of a Japanese urban phenomenon. At night Osaka is live-wired with flashing neon, beckoning with promises of tako-yaki (fried octopus ball), good times and lots of beer.
Often maligned by visitors as 'ugly' and still best viewed under the neon light of night, Osaka is currently undergoing a facelift to woo daytime visitors to its concrete and pachinko city grid. Waterfront developments are restoring Osaka's image as a port town and creating new attractions for tourists.
Osaka is in the heart of the Kansai region in central Japan, about 350km (215mi) west of Tokyo. The city is divided into northern and southern areas. Kita (north), also known as Umeda, is the city's main business and administrative centre. Its biggest train stations, JR Osaka and Hankyu Umeda, are the gateways to K ō be and Kyoto. Minami (south) is the city's entertainment district and contains the hyperactive shopping and nightlife areas of Namba and Shinsaibashi. In between is the peaceful green Nakanoshima Park, on a small island bounded by the Dojimagawa and Tosaborigawatwo rivers. Osaka-wan, the bay area in the west, is home to a number of attractions, including the spanking-new Universal Studios and the excellent Osaka Aquarium.
Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +9
Area: 221
Coordinates: 34.66667 latitude and 135.5 longitude
Population: 2600000
Languages: Set aside several years if you want to learn to read Japanese. Japan has one of the most complex writing systems in the world, using three different scripts (four if you include the increasingly used Roman script romaji). Fortunately, for visitors to Japan, it's not all bad news. Unlike other Asian languages, Japanese is not tonal and the pronunciation system is fairly easy to master. In fact, with a little effort, getting together a repertoire of travellers' phrases should be no trouble - the only problem will be understanding what people say back to you.
Currency: Yen ( ¥ )
Area codes: 06
Getting There
Osaka's Kansai International Airport (KIX) is a state-of-the-art virtual city built on an entirely man-made island, the first of its kind. 50km (30mi) south of downtown Osaka, KIX handles all international and some domestic flights, while the ageing Itami airport (10km/6mi northeast of Osaka) only handles domestic traffic. All international carriers fly to and from KIX; departure tax is 20.00. The flight from Tokyo (Haneda or Narita airports) is only an hour or so. Limousine airport buses shuttle passengers direct from Itami to Osaka (Namba, Umeda or Tennoji stations). KIX has every known transport possible into Osaka including limousine bus, taxi, ferry, shuttle bus and passenger train, but by far the most convenient and fun is the sleek Nankai Railways Rapito, a great introduction to the joys of bullet-train travel that takes only 29 minutes. It really is the only way to go. Osaka is also on the main shinkansen (bullet train) route through Japan. The Tokaido shinkansen (Hikari) makes the sprint from Tokyo to JR Shin-Osaka in three hours, passing through Yokohama and Shizuoka on the way. Most trains coming from the north of Japan pass through Tokyo on the way to Osaka. For water babies there's a ferry service between Shanghai and Osaka (Nanko International Ferry Terminal).
Getting around
The tongue-twisting names of the city's subway system are a challenge; thankfully it is also colour coded and so fairly simple to use. Wherever you need to go in Osaka the subway system usually has it covered. There is also a JR Loop line which links in well with key subway stations. There is a handy prepaid day card available for unlimited subway and city bus travel. Private and JR train lines also run through town. The names of JR, subway and private railway stations are displayed in both Japanese and English. Although trains are more convenient for getting around, Osaka does have a bus network, which uses the same ticketing system as the subway. There's also a sightseeing bus, with a range of different tours available. It leaves from Umeda train station. Osaka operates a range of ferries and sightseeing cruises around its bay. Most of these originate or stop around the Tempozan Harbour Village (Chuo subway line, Osakako station). The Aqua-bus Aqua-liner travels on the Okawa River in northern Osaka and takes in Osaka Castle, Tenmabashi, Yodoyabashi and Osaka Amenity Park (OAP). Taxi stands can be found in front of most train stations and it's possible to hail a cab on heavily trafficked streets. Having your destination written down in Kanji will be a help as many drivers don't speak English. Whatever you do, don't try to open the left rear door - only the driver has this privilege. There's no need to tip. There are several car rental agencies based at both Itami and Kansai International Airport (KIX). You can hire a car on presentation of an International Driving Permit. Note: Osaka's roads aren't cheap, with steep levies applied on all major tollways through the city. The best means of exploring Osaka's inner-city warrens is on foot. Although cycling in Osaka is very popular with locals (the city is completely flat) there are no bike paths.
Weather
Osaka has a temperate weather pattern; the summers are hot and humid and the winters are cold. Plenty of rain falls over the summer months of June and early July, while the warm weeks of September and early October bring occasional typhoons. The autumn is usually sunny and cool. It seldom snows in the winter, as temperatures rarely fall below freezing.
Events
The highlight of the Osaka calendar is the annual hanami (cherry blossom) viewing in late March to early April. Popular sites from which to view the blossom are Osaka Castle Park and Osaka Amenity Park. Osaka's Tenjin Matsuri has been celebrated for over 1000 years and over a million people come every July to enjoy the festival on the river and marvel at the fireworks display. September's Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is another huge event that attracts large crowds. The Midosuji Parade sends Osaka's citizens into an autumn spin with a huge street parade of marching bands and floats from many countries.
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