Osaka Traveler Essentials
- Safety rating
- 9.3/10
- Best time to visit
- Spring (late March–April) for cherry blossoms and autumn (October–November) for foliage and mild weather.
- Population
- 19.3M
Overview
Osaka is Japan's exuberant kitchen, a warm, gregarious metropolis famous for street food, neon-soaked Dotonbori, and a love of good times. Less formal than Tokyo, it pairs a grand reconstructed castle with buzzing arcades and comedy culture. Its motto might as well be 'eat until you drop.'
Getting around
An efficient subway and JR loop line, plus walkable entertainment districts, make the city easy to navigate.
Local etiquette
Stand on the right side of escalators (opposite Tokyo), don't eat while walking, and slurping noodles is perfectly acceptable.
Safety
Osaka is extremely safe with very low crime; just stay aware in the nightlife districts of Dotonbori and Shinsekai late at night.