Third largest city in Japan (2,691,000 inhabitants for the city itself within the city walls) after Tōkyō and Yokohama, Ōsaka symbolizes the dynamism of the Japanese archipelago.It is not as attractive as Kyōto or Nara from an architectural point of view, but it has a charm that is unique, raw and very urban. The city is mainly composed of large modern avenues and towers. At nightfall, everything lights up and the city plunges into an electric atmosphere. The streets come alive, filled with restaurants and bars. The motto is: "Eat until you fall. "It's the kui-daore.The people of Ōsaka speak their own language or dialect, ōsaka-ben. They are very pragmatic and direct in their daily talk. ōsaka-ben is a form of Kansai-ben, the language that is spoken in a very wide area around Kyōto-Ōsaka-Kōbe.Ōsaka is a very dynamic city economically. The city alone produces a volume of business that exceeds the gross national product of Australia as a whole! The city has been an important centre since the 16th century, when Hideyoshi Toyotomi forced the inhabitants and merchants of Sakai to settle there. Nowadays, it is used as a base for the large industrial area called Hanshin. Heavily bombarded during the last war, Ōsaka rebuilt itself as best it could, accumulating prefabricated buildings, without resorting to a coherent urban planning plan.History. In the 7th century BC, Emperor Jimmu ran aground at the mouth of the Yodo-gawa River after an odyssey on the inland sea (setonaikai). The name of the place was inspired by the brutal and dangerous waves (naniwa) that bathed the coast. A port was founded, designed and developed by the emperor Richū, in the 4th century AD.The Koreans landed there in 538 with the first Buddhist images and Chinese writing. During the reign of Temmu (622-686) the site was chosen as the capital, under the name of Naniwa.The emperors, whose palaces were burned down many times, succeeded each other for two centuries, before the capital was transferred to Shigaraki-n-miya and Heijo-kyō.

What to visit Ōsaka?

When to go to Ōsaka?

When to go to Japan? Spring and autumn are the high tourist seasons in Japan, so it is during this period that hotel rates are the highest and since accommodation is the most important budget expense in Japan, it can be interesting to go out of season to save money. In order to avoid the most crowded periods and to pay less, the best time to travel to Japan is at the end of November-beginning of December, at the end of February-beginning of March, or at the end of May and June, i.e. during the low tourist season. If you go to Japan in spring, you will be able to attend the Hanami, the festival of the sakura cherry trees in bloom. A national event. May 5 is the children's festival. In autumn, we celebrate the blaze of maple trees and ginkgo bilobas. It is Momiji. In any season, you can find an old apartment for rent at a reduced cost. Western tourists will appreciate its retro charm. Avoid winter, however, because in old housing, the heating is sketchy. At the end of July is held in Ōsaka one of the largest festivals in Japan: Tenjin matsuri. And it is a parade of boats on the great river of Ōsaka, carrying miniature temples and shrines and large spectacular fires. On the occasion the city is decorated with a multitude of torches and lanterns. It is a very popular, festive and family event.

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Weather at the moment

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Weather all year round

With 7,000 islands and islets, spread over 3,800 km, Japan has multiple climates, not to mention the significant variations in the mountains. Boreal in the north of Japan and tropical in the south, the climate in central Japan is more temperate. Spring and autumn enjoy pleasant temperatures and constitute the high tourist season. The rest of the year is generally the low tourist season in Japan, especially in Ōsaka where it is very hot in summer, quite cold in winter.

Budget

Most of the budget is spent on accommodation, which is rarely cheap. On the other hand, you can eat for a very good price. Public transport is more expensive than in France, especially the high speed train. We pay more often in cash than by credit card, not always accepted. The currency is the yen, the exchange is easy. To withdraw yen, go to the ATM of the 7/12 supermarkets. No tip in Japan, perceived as an insult!

Procedures

No visa is required for a stay of 90 days or less. All you need is a passport valid for the duration of your stay, a round-trip air ticket and enough money to support yourself while in the country. Checks are possible. Politeness and citizenship rules are inherent to the country. Always be charitable and do not outlaw yourself. You can travel with a regional Japan Rail Pass with the high-speed train to Kyōto, for example. You can buy it there now, but it will cost you less if you buy it in advance, in your country.

Health

In summer, pollution and heat are to be taken into account for the fragile persons. There is no malaria in Japan, and no vaccine is required to enter the country. Vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis and hepatitis A are recommended in Japan. The country has a remarkable hospital structure. It is advisable to have a mutual insurance company that reimburses your medical expenses. They are high in Japan. Embassies also have their own attached doctors. Wearing a protective mask is common. It is advisable to wear it if you are sick, to avoid being contaminated by others or in case of pollution peak.

How to go to Ōsaka? Our advice & tips

To Japan, the offer is very wide. You will be offered the combined discovery of Kyōto and Ōsaka, for example. Contrary to popular belief, small budgets can find a package for a stay in Ōsaka, in freedom, at a decent price, with accommodation in a small room. Big budgets have the choice of stays in luxury ryokans.

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Ōsaka is 3 hours from Tōkyō by Shinkansen, the high-speed train, and 1 hour by air. In addition, its international airport hosts daily direct flights from Europe. Traveling alone in Japan is not a problem, as Japan is a very safe country and the Japanese are always ready to help you. The only problem is the language. Japanese people rarely master English. Bring a lexicon or Google translation. Book a few nights in a hostel before leaving. On the spot you will make contacts and find accommodation at good prices.

In Ōsaka you have a choice of transportation: cab, subway or train. For the cab, write down the address of your destination in Japanese on a piece of paper in advance, as not all drivers know English. Public transportation is efficient. If you travel a lot, it is better to buy passes. The city is served by 9 subway lines, 6 major train lines and 10 regional lines that connect the city to its suburbs.

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Pictures and images Ōsaka

Le vélo fait partie du quotidien de nombreux Japonais, Osaka. shutterstock - RPBaiao
Vue sur Ōsaka. cowardlion - Shutterstock.com
Okonomiyaki d'Osaka. Mathieu BARON

Discover Ōsaka

When to travel?

When to go to Japan? Spring and autumn are the high tourist seasons in Japan, so it is during this period that hotel...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

With 7,000 islands and islets, spread over 3,800 km, Japan has multiple climates, not to mention the significant vari...
Read more about it

Budget

Most of the budget is spent on accommodation, which is rarely cheap. On the other hand, you can eat for a very good p...
Read more about it

Formalities

No visa is required for a stay of 90 days or less. All you need is a passport valid for the duration of your stay, a...
Read more about it

Health

In summer, pollution and heat are to be taken into account for the fragile persons. There is no malaria in Japan, and...
Read more about it

How to travel by yourself?

Ōsaka is 3 hours from Tōkyō by Shinkansen, the high-speed train, and 1 hour by air. In addition, its international...
Read more about it

How to get organized?

To Japan, the offer is very wide. You will be offered the combined discovery of Kyōto and Ōsaka, for example. Contr...
Read more about it

Getting around

In Ōsaka you have a choice of transportation: cab, subway or train. For the cab, write down the address of your dest...
Read more about it

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