Osaka
Osaka is Japan's commercial city, known for food, Dōtonbori nightlife and Osaka Castle, with Kyoto and Kobe a train ride away.
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Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region on Honshu and the capital of Osaka Prefecture. It is Japan's third-largest city proper and the core of the Keihanshin metropolitan area, which also includes Kyoto and Kobe. In the Edo period it was known as the kitchen of the nation, a major hub for rice and trade. Its regional dishes include okonomiyaki, takoyaki, udon and battera, a pressed mackerel sushi.
Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583, and its park is a large green space in the city center. Shitennō-ji, founded in 593, is often cited as Japan's oldest Buddhist temple. Dōtonbori, on the canal in Namba, is lined with restaurants and signs. For the sights and food, base yourself in Namba or Umeda, and reach Kyoto and Kobe by train for day trips. Summers are very hot and humid, and the rainy season runs from early June to late July, so spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons.
Osaka in five
- Base in Namba for food, Umeda for day tripsThey are 10 minutes apart on the Midōsuji line, so the choice is about what is outside your door at night.Where to stay in Osaka
- Buy an ICOCA card on arrivalIt works on every train and bus in Kansai and in most convenience stores. Many lines also take a tap of your contactless bank card.Money in Japan
- Kuromon is for tasting, not lunchTry one skewer, then eat properly nearby. The market is priced for visitors; the streets around Dōtonbori are better value.Where to eat when Dōtonbori has a queue
- Castle in the morning, canal after darkThe castle park is calm before 9am. Dōtonbori's neon comes on properly after 7pm.Osaka in 2 days
- Stay here, day-trip to KyotoRooms usually cost less than in Kyoto, and Kyoto is 15 minutes away by shinkansen or about 30 by JR special rapid.Day trips from Osaka
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Osaka, the full guide
Namba
- Best for: First trip, food, nightlife
- To airport: 35–45 min by Nankai
- Price band: $$
- Dōtonbori and Kuromon within a 10-minute walk
- Loud until midnight, quiet two blocks from the canal
- Nankai Namba runs straight to Kansai Airport
Skip if you want quiet streets after 11pm.
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Umeda
- Best for: Day trips, rail passes, shopping
- To airport: About 50 min by JR Haruka from Osaka Station
- Price band: $$–$$$
- JR, Hankyu, Hanshin and three subway lines meet here
- Shin-Osaka and the shinkansen one stop north on JR
- The underground malls take a day to learn, so give yourself extra time
Skip if you want to walk out of the door into street food.
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Need to know
- Airport
- Kansai (KIX). 35–45 min to Namba by Nankai
- Transit card
- ICOCA, or tap a contactless card on many lines
- Hotel tax
- ¥200–500 per person, per night, on rooms from ¥5,000; rises with the rate Read more
- Emergency
- 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance
- Late trains
- Last subway around midnight
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Cold, dryJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dry
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Plum blossomFebruaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Plum blossom
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Blossom lateMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Blossom late
- AprilRain10 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Blossom, mildAprilRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Blossom, mild
- MayRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Warm, Golden WeekMayRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 199 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, Golden Week
- JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 253 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Tenjin MatsuriJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 245 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Tenjin Matsuri
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°HottestAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Typhoon riskSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 215 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Typhoon risk
- OctoberRain11 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Clear, mildOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 198 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, mild
- NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Autumn colorNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Lights, coldDecemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Lights, cold
Average daily high and low in Osaka, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jul Tenjin Matsuri · Aug PL Art of Fireworks · Sep Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
Right now in Osaka
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 13°
- Humidity
- 68%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Osaka
05:06 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today21°13°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed21°13°43%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Thu21°16°86%Thursday: Rain. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Fri21°13°47%Friday: Rain. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Sat14°10°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun15°8°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 2%.
Updated 12:56 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Coming up
Every year
- MayAoi MatsuriKyoto, a day trip
- JulTenjin MatsuriOsaka
- AugPL Art of FireworksOsaka
- SepKishiwada Danjiri MatsuriOsaka
- OctJidai MatsuriKyoto, a day trip
- DecKobe LuminarieKōbe, a day trip
Day trips by train
Day trips from Osaka, the full guide- Kyoto15 min shinkansen, 30 min JRTemples, Gion, Arashiyama. Leave before 8am.Read the guide
- Nara35–45 min Kintetsu from NambaTōdai-ji, the deer park and Naramachi.Read the guide
- Kobe20–25 min JR special rapidHarbour walks, Kitano and a beef lunch.Read the guide
- HimejiAbout 60 min JR special rapidJapan's best original castle.Read the guide
Before you go to Osaka
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Rules for Osaka, checked
- Complete the Visit Japan Web customs declaration before you arrive, and show the QR code at customs.Source
- Check on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site whether your passport needs a visa or qualifies for visa-free entry.Source
- Check whether your prescription medicines are allowed in Japan before you pack them. Confirm the rules with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare first.
- Drug offences carry heavy penalties in Japan. Never carry a bag or parcel for someone else.
All Osaka guides
ItineraryOsaka in 2 days: the south one day, the castle and Umeda the next
Where to stayWhere to stay in Osaka: six neighborhoods compared by trip type
Things to doDay trips from Osaka by train: five options and when to startThings to doWhere to eat when Dōtonbori has a queue: four streets to try instead
Field reportA week in Osaka on ¥10,000 a day, with receipts
Best ofCapsule hotels in Osaka: how to choose by area, and who should skip themOsaka FAQ
Is Osaka or Kyoto a better base?
Osaka, for most trips. Rooms usually cost less, the food and nightlife go later, and Kyoto is 15 minutes away by shinkansen. Stay in Kyoto if you want temples at dawn every day.
Where should I stay in Osaka for a first trip?
Namba. Dōtonbori and Kuromon are on foot, and the Nankai line runs straight to Kansai Airport in 35–45 minutes.
How many days do I need in Osaka?
Two days covers the castle, Dōtonbori and one market. Add a day for each trip to Kyoto, Nara, Kobe or Himeji.
Is there a tax on hotels in Osaka?
Yes. Osaka Prefecture charges ¥200–500 per person, per night, on rooms from ¥5,000, rising with the room rate. Some hotels add it at check-out.
Can I visit Kyoto and Nara from Osaka without changing hotels?
Yes. Kyoto is about 30 minutes by JR special rapid and Nara about 35–45 minutes by Kintetsu from Namba. Both make easy return trips in a day.