Overview
Take a trip to Osaka on your Japan Vacation
Osaka is located in central Japan on the main island of Honshu. Osaka is the capital city of Osaka Prefecture, and although the prefecture is Japan’s second smallest in area, Osaka has one of the largest population densities in all of Japan.
Formerly known as Naniwa, Osaka was Japan’s capital from 683-745 AD. Given its ideal location, approximately 40 minutes travel time between Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe, Osaka is an important commercial centre and point for land and water transportation, as Osaka Bay is situated to the west of the city. Once referred to as the ‘nation’s kitchen’, Osaka was Japan’s trading centre for rice.
Osaka is surrounded by mountains to the north, south, and east. With canals and rivers running through the city, Osaka features over 800 bridges.
Osaka was a major target during World War II, having bombs continually being dropped on its industrial districts during the last year of the war. Facing enormous devastation, Osaka’s resilience was demonstrated when it quickly rebuilt its infrastructure after the war and regained its status as a major industrial and cultural centre.
With Osaka Castle being the city’s most well-known structure, Osaka also features many museums, galleries, parks, temples and shrines, and various cultural venues to be enjoyed during Oska tours on a Japanese vacation. As well, it boasts having Japan’s longest shotengai (Japanese-style street shopping arcade).
Known for its cuisine, Osaka is considered a food lover’s paradise. Its central location makes Osaka a prime city to visit and experience Japanese culture, history and life.
Osaka was a major target during World War II, having bombs continually being dropped on its industrial districts during the last year of the war. Facing enormous devastation, Osaka’s resilience was demonstrated when it quickly rebuilt its infrastructure after the war and regained its status as a major industrial and cultural centre.
With Osaka Castle being the city’s most well-known structure, Osaka also features many museums, galleries, parks, temples and shrines, and various cultural venues to be enjoyed during Oska tours on a Japanese vacation. As well, it boasts having Japan’s longest shotengai (Japanese-style street shopping arcade).
Known for its cuisine, Osaka is considered a food lover’s paradise. Its central location makes Osaka a prime city to visit and experience Japanese culture, history and life.
At a Glance
Languages
JapaneseCurrency
Japanese Yen (JPY)What do the experts say?
You should try a Zen meditation session. Imagine slipping into a silk kimono for the day—carefully tied by an expert dresser, every fold precise, every colour chosen to suit the season. It’s a ritual that feels as personal as it is timeless.
What do I love about Japan? In a word - EVERYTHING. The incredible contrast that Japan offers - new/innovative vs old/traditional, the warm and welcoming people, the incredible rich culture, the culinary wonders awaiting around every corner, the cleanliness, efficiency and safety. It's one of the best places to visit in Asia in my opinion.
Every season offers something to fall in love with, but autumn feels especially magical—fewer tourists, crisp weather, and foliage that rivals the famous blossoms.
Osaka's entertainment and nightlife district
The Osaka Castle is always a popular inclusion ...
Faces representing people from around the world
The dense skyline of Umeda District
Japanese castle architecture
Most Popular Time to Travel
Know when to go.
Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
OsakaLight Rain
25°C / 77°F
72mm / 2.8"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
-
Travel Stories
Get inspired about Your Trip to Japan
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,164 ReviewsOur first trip with Goway was a total joy. Shalini worked with me to plan a trip for 5 adults to Portugal. She is a gem! Always responded quickly and offered great suggestions for activities, worked with our preferences and created an ideal itinerary for a week in Porto and Lisbon. The tours were excellent with engaging local guides. The food tour in Lisbon was a highlight. Everything was top notch - flight schedule, hotels, activities, even the weather! PatriciaIt is with the utmost pleasure and heartfelt appreciation that I share my exceptional experience working with Taha Colombowala, Goway's distinguished Groups Specialist. Our journey together began in October 2023, when Taha took the helm in orchestrating what was to be a remarkable group trip to Ghana. When unforeseen circumstances necessitated a change in plans, Taha demonstrated his extraordinary expertise by recommending Morocco as an alternative destination — a suggestion that proved to be nothing short of absolutely brilliant!
From the very first interaction to the final farewell, Taha has been a consummate professional in every sense of the word. His lightning-fast response times, encyclopedic knowledge of destinations, and remarkable ability to pivot seamlessly under pressure are truly second to none. What sets Taha apart, however, is not only his professional acumen but also his warm, patient, and genuinely enthusiastic attitude
toward accommodating the unique needs and personalities of every member of our group.
Taha Colombowala is, without question, a shining star within the Goway family, and an extraordinary ambassador for everything the brand represents. I cannot recommend him highly enough — he has exceeded every expectation and then some. Working with Taha has been an absolute privilege, and I look forward to many more incredible adventures ahead!DESIREE DUCKETTWe recently completed a custom Vietnam tour organized by Goway, and it was everything we asked for and more. We would definitely choose Goway again. The true highlights of our trip, however, were our two guides: Vu Dang and Thien. They truly made our experience unforgettable. Both were incredibly knowledgeable, thoughtful, and kind. Their pride in their Vietnamese heritage shone through in every conversation, making our learning experience both deep and engaging. We learned so much in such a short time, and it was always fascinating. I would highly recommend these two guides to anyone visiting Vietnam!Laura DerbyshireEverything was expertly planned, from the drivers to the hotels to the tours to the flights. We particularly enjoyed Hobart and the animal sanctuary, Adelaide and the trip to Kangaroo Island, Melbourne and the evening tour with dinner and drinks, and Sydney with the private boat cruise of the Harbour. We will definitely use Goway again.SARA WiebeThere were 4 travelers on this trip. All of us were in our late 70's. We started planning this trip 6 months prior to our travel date and had a lot of questions regarding this trip. Our Goway Travel Specialist, Karen Larrota, always answered our questions in a timely and complete manner. We traveled to Quito, Ecuador, the Galapagos, The Sacred Valley in Peru, Machu Picchu, and Cusco in Peru. Not only were the destinations and accommodations excellent, but every tour guide and driver were beyond excellent. The entire trip went smoothly every step of the way, which was amazing given the fact that there were numerous flights and hotels included in our package. We found out that the tour company that Goway used, Condor Travel, checked on us with our guide to make sure we were doing OK which we thought was very nice but also amusing as we are fairly fit older adults. Would also like to mention that we did a cruise thru the Galapagos on the Galapagos Legend which was arranged thru Go Galapagos - Kleintouurs. This portion of our tour was also excellent as were the wildlife guides and staff. We continue to discuss how wonderful this trip was with our family and friends and how wonderful this experience was. Would definately use Goway for our travel needs in the future.DianneAfter spending some time with our agent, we felt that she understood exactly what we had in mind as far as the level of service, etc, we were hoping for. The trip exceeded our expectations. Lori kept us busy(not too busy!) and we had many, many very exciting experiences. Bruce BelshawAylin is an exceptionally proficient advisor. Coordinating my clients simultaneously often feels like herding cats, but she has remained patient and accommodating through every modification and delay. Goway continues to be my go-to for complex itineraries, and they never disappoint.Nick Cron, ACCMahalo Goway Travel for helping in planning our group Japan's trip. Lawrence was very helpful & patient with all the changes & additions we did. Also, mahalo to Natasa who helped planned my Australia trip past November. The planning from transportation to tours to hotels worked very smoothly. I'll continue to use Goway travel for all my International trips. I'll also will recommend to my friends & family to use Goway...MahaloTanya LaguatanMaria Spitman was wonderful to work with. She was very helpful in designing our trip to Japan and equally wonderful when we had to cancel it. I loved the service she gave us.Sandy WarrenMy daughter and I had a wonderful 2 weeks in New Zealand! The country is so beautiful and the people so friendly. Our destination specialist did a great job with planning and organizing the itinerary, choosing our hotels, and organizing transportation. The hotels were absolutely beautiful and we had great views. We felt right at home and found all of the staff to be friendly and accommodating. There were no issues with our itinerary and our excursions we were always on the list. Our transportation was always ready and waiting for us.
We want to thank Goway Travel for their hard work and patience with us in planning this trip. Any changes that needed to be made were communicated timely. We also want to thank you for the beautiful weather during the entire 2 weeks it was perfect every day 😀.
It was a memorable trip that we will never forget and we will think of Goway when we plan our next adventure. Because it was not just a vacation; it was an adventure!Connie Wenhardt
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified