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Japan · Kansai

Osaka travel guide

Street food, neon and the nation's kitchen

Dotonbori at night. Photo: Type specimen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

12hflight from London
KIXnearest main airport
26° in Augwarmest month
3° in Jancoolest month

Osaka is Japan's food capital, louder and friendlier than Tokyo. Dotonbori's neon canal is lined with stalls selling takoyaki and okonomiyaki.

Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan are the main sights, and Kyoto and Nara are short train rides away.

Good forFoodNightlifeTheme parksShopping

What Osaka is known for

  • Takoyaki

    Octopus balls from street stalls.

  • Dotonbori

    Neon signs and the Glico running man.

  • Osaka Castle

    A castle in a huge park.

  • Universal Studios Japan

    Including Super Nintendo World.

Top things to do in Osaka

  1. 1

    Dotonbori

    Eat your way along the canal.

    Find tours and tickets
  2. 2

    Osaka Castle

    The museum and park.

    Find tours and tickets
  3. 3

    Universal Studios Japan

    Super Nintendo World and Harry Potter.

    Find tours and tickets
  4. 4

    Kuromon Market

    Seafood and street snacks.

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See all tours and tickets in Osaka

Where to stay in Osaka

Find a hotel in Osaka

Best time to visit Osaka

Best value: May, Oct. Spring and autumn: mild and pleasant.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
2.6 C3°J3.7 C4°F6.8 C7°M12.1 C12°A17.1 C17°M21.1 C21°J25.1 C25°J25.9 C26°A22.3 C22°S16.3 C16°O10.6 C11°N5 C5°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Osaka, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 12h from London to KIX, and flights from most UK airports.

The metro covers the city. Kansai Airport is about an hour away.

Find flights to Osaka (KIX)

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Good to know

  • Osaka is a good base for Kyoto and Nara.
  • Book Universal tickets and express passes ahead.
  • Try kushikatsu, deep-fried skewers.
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Osaka FAQ

Osaka or Kyoto?

Osaka for food and nightlife; Kyoto for temples.

How long in Osaka?

Two days.

More places in Japan

Back to the Japan travel guide + Add Osaka to your bucket list