Osaka Travel Guide

Ōsaka (大阪) is the beating heart of Japan's Kansai region and the largest of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto trio of cities, with a population of over 17 million people in the greater metropolitan area. With fantastic food and nightlife, great connectivity and accommodation options in every price bracket, it makes a great base for exploring the entire region.

Kansai International Airport(KIXIATA) is the main international gateway to Osaka (Metropolitan area airport codes:OSAIATA).

If you are planning to travel beyond city limits you might consider using the tickets fromSurutto Kansai. For use in Osaka and other cities in the west of Japan, there are some other useful tickets.

Osaka has a reputation among the Japanese for being crime-ridden, but it is stillremarkably safecompared to any Western city of similar size. However, some areas in the southern suburbs, particularly Shinsekai and Tobita Shinchi, may be a little dodgy at night and the Airin/Kamagasaki area — Japan's largest slum, home to a lot of jobless and/or homeless people — south of Shin-Imamiya is best avoided after dark.

Osaka has a vast range of accommodation, including some of the best hotels in the world. Most of the city's moderate and expensive hotels can be found in Umeda, Namba, Shin-Osaka and Kyobashi, though they also have their share of budget options.