Passport/Visa Requirements: Citizens of Canada and the U.S. need passports but not visas. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.
Languages: Japanese.
Time Zone: 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+9 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.
Voltage Requirements: 100 volts.
Telephone Codes: 81, country code; 06,city code;
| Currency Exchange | Top  |
Japanese banks have finally begun to link up with the rest of the world by making ATMs useful and convenient to foreign visitors. However, it can still be hit or miss, as not all ATMs display the universal symbols. SMBC and a number of MUFG machines accept foreign bank cards. Additionally, Japanese Post Offices have ATMs.
You may have difficulty getting money from ATMs at Kansai International Airport. Currency-exchange counters are located immediately outside the customs halls.
Banks are open Monday-Friday 9 am-3 pm. ATMs generally operate Monday-Friday 8:45 am-7 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am-5 pm. Citibank has a few ATMs that are open 24 hours.
A 5% consumption tax is added to all transactions at stores, restaurants and hotels. Consumption tax must now be included in the prices shown on menus and price tags.
Tipping is not a custom in Japan and is not expected. In fact, most recipients of a tip will view it with suspicion. Some high-end restaurants, particularly those in major hotels, will add a 10% service charge to the bill. No further tipping is necessary.
Osaka summers are hot (up to 90 F/32 C), very humid and simply uncomfortable. The humid season generally runs mid-May to early October. Winters are mild (40-50 F/5-10 C) and bring usually no more than an occasional dusting of snow. The wettest months, the so-called rainy season (tsuyu), are June and July. Typhoon season in Japan is June-November, but rarely do these storms affect the city. April, May, October and November are the best months to visit because temperatures range a pleasant 60-70 F/15-20 C.
| Weather Forecast | Top  |
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| Pressure: | 1007.10453464 Millibars | | Dew Point: | 73 °F/ 23 °C | | Humidity: | % | | Visibility: | 3 Miles / 6 Kilometers | | Wind: | 6 MPH / 10 KPH WSW | | Comfort Index: | 86 °F/ 30 °F | | Last Updated: | 7/3/2008 6:00:00 AM |
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| SAT | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS | 87 °F
31 °C | 71 °F
22 °C | | SUN | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| OVERCAST | 82 °F
28 °C | 71 °F
22 °C | | MON | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| OVERCAST | 86 °F
30 °C | 71 °F
22 °C | | TUE | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| OVERCAST | 86 °F
30 °C | 69 °F
21 °C | | WED | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| CLOUDY | 69 °F
21 °C | 55 °F
13 °C | | FRI | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| SUNNY | 87 °F
31 °C | 73 °F
23 °C |
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| What to Wear | Top |
As a rule, the Japanese are fashion conservatives (youths aside, who are up for anything). Male business travelers would do well in suits and ties; female business travelers should consider suits, dresses and skirts (in that order). Tourists can get by with whatever degree of casual dress they desire (summers get hot and very muggy, so wear loose-fitting cotton or linen). Shorts aren't very common among Japanese adults, so you may feel out of place in shorts and sandals, particularly in the city. Visits to temples and shrines simply require that one be dressed appropriately, but requirements aren't too stringent. (Knees and shoulders don't have to be covered.)
| Communication | Top |
| Internet Access | Top |
Internet access has become very convenient in Osaka. Most big hotels have business centers with Internet access, and several offer access in rooms. Internet cafes aren't clustered in any single area of town, so you may have to look around to find one. You may want to call ahead before visiting a particular Internet cafe, because these tend to come and go.
FedEx Kinko's has computers available with Internet access. Printing and scanning services are also available. The most convenient branches are in Umeda in front of JR Osaka Station in Float Court and in Shinsaibashi on Midosuji Boulevard in the Toyo Building. There are also branches of FedEx Kinko's in Sakaisuji-Honmachi. http://www.english.fedexkinkos.co.jp.
This 24-hour Internet cafe is combined with a comic book and video library. Both Mac and Windows support is available. Computers at one of the counters cost ¥180 per 30 minutes. Printing available but no scanning. Amuza-sen Building, 2-9-17 Sennichimae (nearest station: Namba on the Midosuji subway line), Chuo-ku, Osaka. Phone 6633-5855.
This bright modern shop operated by Internet provider Yahoo BB boasts a score of PCs on the ground floor of the large Yodobashi Camera building opposite the north side of JR Osaka Station. For travelers with laptops, this also is a Wi-Fi hot spot. Daily 9:30 am-9 pm. Yodobashi Camera Multimedia, First Floor, 1-1 Ofuka-machi, Kita-ku, Osaka. Phone 6374-1619.
This brightly lit room houses six computers beneath a glass ceiling and also offers printing services. Daily 11 am-8:30 pm. Closed when the Mio store is closed. ¥300 per 30 minutes. Mio department store, 12th Floor, 10-39 Hidenin-cho (take the Midosuji subway's Tennoji line to Tennoji station), Tennoji-ku, Osaka. Phone 6770-1362.
This station has Wi-Fi. Open Monday-Friday 10 am-7 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am-6 pm. Abeno-ku, Osaka.
This shop offers Wi-Fi. Daily 7:30 am-10 pm. Kintetsu Uehonmachi Station, First Floor, Uehonmachi, Osaka.
| Mail & Package Services | Top |
The central Osaka post office handles mail, package and money-transfer services. Little English is spoken, but there is an English-language phone service out of Tokyo that offers information. The main branch is open Monday-Friday 9 am-7 pm. 3-2-4 Umeda (across from the Hilton), Kita-ku, Osaka. Phone 03-5472-5851.
| Newspapers & Magazines | Top |
There are three daily English-language newspapers:
The Japan Times,
The Daily Yomiuri and the
International Herald Tribune published in conjunction with (and including several pages from) the English-language
Asahi Shimbun paper. Papers can be found in bookshops and hotels, as well as at train and subway stations. These papers also feature daily inserts from leading newspapers from around the world, such as
The Washington Post and
The Times (London).
Kansai Time Out (or KTO) is the definitive Kansai-area events magazine. It also has listings for discount travel agencies and services including shipping, language courses, classifieds and personals. Purchase it in bookshops and major hotels for ¥300.
Kansai Scene is a free monthly magazine that covers theater, movies and restaurants. It also includes well-written articles about local and regional events in Osaka, as well as Kyoto, Nara and Kobe. Find it at major hotels, tourist offices and popular nightspots such as Tin's Hall (Tennoji) and Cafe Absinthe (Kita-Horie).
The much smaller JapanZine publication is also available for free in bars and nightclubs. It has events, restaurant and bar information for the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe), as well as Tokyo and Nagoya.
Public phones are available in Osaka, particularly in and around train and subway stations. An increase in cellular phones (
keitai) has reduced the number of public phones, but they are still fairly plentiful. Green-colored phones are for domestic calls only, but gray ones can be used for international calls as well. You can have English instructions displayed on the phone by choosing the English icon. Calls can be made with coins or phone cards. Purchase cards from NTT offices, convenience stores and newsstands.
When calling internationally, there are several dialing codes to choose from, all of which offer the same exorbitant rates. They include: IDC, dial 0061; JT, dial 0041; and KDDI, dial 001-010. All Japanese phone companies, including the main service, NTT, have come under great pressure to reduce their costs in recent years.
Numbers prefixed by 0120 are toll-free calls. For directory assistance, dial 104. An English-language service is available Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm by dialing 6313-1010. For additional questions, English-speaking NTT operators are available Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm, except holidays, at 0120-364-463.
Softbank, AU and NTT-DOCOMO all offer exceptional coverage for their respective cell phones. Since 2006, 3G or high-speed cell phones have become commonplace and offer good coverage in all but the most remote areas.
| Transportation | Top |
Osaka is a good city to explore on foot for two simple reasons: The major points of interest are in a compact area, and the city is flat as a pancake. However, for those who wish to experience Japan's well-regarded public transport, Osaka has a wonderful network that gets you to virtually every corner of the city quickly, comfortably and safely.
Without question, the best and most convenient choice for getting around town other than by foot or taxi is the combination of subway and the JR Loop.
The mere scope and efficiency of Osaka's public-transportation system is reason enough not to rent a car. Driving yourself is not only unnecessary, but also impractical—the streets are busy and confusing to navigate, and parking is a headache, not to mention expensive.
Several bus companies offer intercity routes to and from Osaka. The main intercity bus terminals are located at Osaka JR Station (directly in front of the main entrance) and Hankyu-Sanbangai Bus Terminal (located beneath Hankyu railway's Umeda Station). Generally speaking, all the bus companies provide high standards of service. Schedules are efficient and buses are clean, comfortable and safe. Going by bus can save you up to 50% of Shinkansen (bullet train) fares.
Provides service to all points in Japan. To purchase tickets, it's best to go in person to the ticket counter in the Hankyu-Sanbangai Bus Terminal. The ticket counter is open daily 8 am-6:30 pm. 1-1-3 Shibata-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka. Phone 6372-1905.
JR's bus service goes mainly to Tokyo, Yokohama and some points in between. Purchase tickets in person at the terminal's ticket counter (daily 5:45 am-11 pm) or at the JTB Travel Center in Umeda Station (daily 10 am-7 pm). 3-1-1 Umeda (the bus terminal is located directly in front of the Osaka JR Station), Kita-ku, Osaka. Phone 6345-0489. http://www.jrbuskanto.co.jp.
We don't recommend renting a car in Japan. First of all, it's expensive: ¥7,000-¥10,000 a day for the rental fee, plus exorbitant parking, toll and fuel costs. Second, you're likely to find Japanese roads confusing to navigate, either in the city or out on the highway. Also keep in mind that the process may prove difficult because rental companies tend not to have English-speaking staff.
However, if you're absolutely set on renting a car, it's better to make arrangements from home and to provide proof of the booking upon arrival.
To drive in Japan, you must have a valid driver's license from home or an International Driver's License. Make sure to read about Japanese road signs and rules before taking to the streets.
Osaka is linked to many points in Japan by ferries. If you have some extra time, a ferry can make a nice alternative to other modes of travel. Ferries to Kyushu take about 12 hours and to Okinawa and Hokkaido about 24 hours. All ferry services provide various types of accommodations.
Ferries dock at Nanko Ferry Terminal on the Nanko Port Town line, Ferry Terminal Station. Most ferry services take cars in addition to walk-on passengers. In general, services operate daily, but not every service will have a ferry leaving every day.
| Public Transportation | Top |
City-operated buses travel Osaka's streets daily. There are about 14 bus companies operating in Osaka Prefecture. Most are owned by railway companies. However, it's unlikely that you'll find good reason to use the buses unless you're visiting an area not served by train or subway—and that's rare. The light-green-and-yellow city buses are hard to miss. You enter from the rear door and exit from the front, paying as you leave. Exact fare is required in the fare box, but there's a change machine next to the driver. Stops are announced in both Japanese and English, and passengers must indicate a stop request by pressing one of the buttons. Buses run 5:30 am-10 pm. ¥200 adults, ¥100 children. Phone 6585-6106.
From Tennoji, the Hankai Denki Railway, known as the Chin-Chin Densha, is an old-fashioned streetcar with a good deal of character. It's most useful if you intend to visit Sumiyoshi Taisha Jinja Shrine. Daily 5:30 am-11:30 pm. ¥200-¥290. The fare is paid directly into the coin box beside the driver when you exit the tram. Between Tennoji-eki-mae and Sumiyoshi-koen stations, Osaka.
Route maps are color-coded, though the individual lines are named: Red is the Midosuji line running north-south through the center of the city, purple is the Tanimachi line, blue is the Yotsubashi line, green is the Chuo line, pink is the Sennichimae line, brown is the Sakaisuji line, yellow-green is the Nagahori-Tsurumi-Ryokuchi line, and light blue is the Nanko Port Town line.
In general, the system is well-marked in both Japanese and Romaji (the romanized version of Japanese), and stops are announced in both Japanese and English. Buy tickets at the automatic ticket machines. Single-journey tickets must be used on the day issued, but there's no time limit. Place your ticket into the slot (any direction, facing up or down) on the right side of the turnstiles and walk through, taking your ticket from the other end as you pass. However, the ticket won't be returned when you're exiting at your destination. There's always a staff member on duty, should you require assistance.
Special one-day travel passes called Osaka Shu-yu-ken are ¥2,000. These allow unlimited travel on all subway lines, private railways, streetcars and buses (but not JR trains) in the central city for a single day. Passes are sold with an accompanying book of coupons that gives free entrance to 24 tourist sites around the city, reduced entrance fees at a further 13 sites and small discounts at more than 1,000 restaurants, shops or hotels. Get them from subway counters and kiosks around station entrances. The eight-line network operates every day, generally 5:30 am-12:30 am. Fares start at ¥210, with discounts available. One-day passes cost ¥850 (¥600 on Friday), allowing unlimited subway travel for that day and discounts at various museums and other sights. Phone 6633-9151.
Local train service within Osaka is provided by the national Japan Rail (JR) railway company, as well as by six privately owned lines. For getting around the city, you'll most likely use the JR, Hankyu, Keihan and Kintetsu lines. The JR Kanjo-sen, or Loop, runs around the city on mostly elevated tracks. It's the line you're most likely to use. You can buy single-journey tickets at automatic ticket machines (return-fare tickets are not available), and these must be used on the day issued. Hours of operation vary by company, but generally commuter and local trains run daily 5:30 am-1 am. Fares are calculated by route and distance, but expect to pay a minimum of ¥120-¥150. Phone 6345-8001.
More international cruises have been calling at Osaka in recent years, though the number is still small. Some of these include the Pacific Princess, Clipper Odyssey and Amsterdam. Most international dockings, however, are ferry services from China and Korea (year-round). Ships dock at Tempozan or SeaSideCosmo, both of which are located in Nanko port district to the west of downtown. They are easily accessed via the Osakako Station on the subway Chuo line and Cosmo Square Station on the Nanko Port Town line, respectively. Further port information is available at: http://www.city.osaka.jp/port.
Taxis are plentiful, safe and very efficient in Osaka. They operate 24 hours a day and can be hailed on the street. Fares are metered, and there's an additional 20% surcharge for service 11 pm-5 am. There are taxi stands in front of all major train stations and along some of the major roads, including Midosuji Avenue. They also wait around major hotels. You can order a taxi by phone, but you'll pay an extra fee—and operators don't speak English.
A red sign in the front window indicates a vacant taxi (kusha). Just raise your hand to signal the driver. Enter the taxi from the rear left: The door will automatically open and close for you. If you don't speak Japanese, it's best to show the driver the address of your destination written in Japanese. We highly recommend getting an English- and Japanese-language map so that you can point out where you want to go.
Osaka is connected to other Japanese cities by the national rail company, Japan Rail (JR). Its main stations include Osaka JR, Kyobashi and Tennoji. The JR-operated
shinkansen, or bullet train, runs to and from JR Shin-Osaka Station to the north of the city (the Midosuji subway line stops there). The private railway lines are as follows: Hankyu (for Kyoto, Kobe, Takarazuka and Senri); Nankai (for Wakayama, Kansai International Airport and Koyasan); Hanshin (for Himeji and Kobe); Keihan (for Kyoto); Kintetsu (for Nara, Nagoya and Yoshina); and Kitasaka-kyuko (for Senri).
Train speeds, from fastest (not including the shinkansen) to slowest, are: Tokkyu (limited express), Kaisoku Kyuko (high-speed express), Kukan Kyuko (special express), Kyuko (express), Junkyu (local express) and Futsu (local).
Tickets can be purchased at any station serving a particular railway company. Information and ticket windows are generally closed after 1 am. Train tickets can also be arranged through JTB Travel Bureau offices. Osaka City Tourist Offices provide timetable information but don't sell tickets. If you're planning to travel across the country, Japan Rail (JR) passes are available for nonresident tourists. There are various types and all of them will save you money. You must purchase Japan Rail passes outside of Japan, before you enter the country.
| For More Information | Top |
| Tourist Offices | Top |
Visitors' Information Center, Umeda: JR Osaka Station, near Midosuji subway line. Phone 6345-2189. (The Umeda location in Kita-ku is the main branch. It's staffed by English-speakers and is open daily 8 am-8 pm.)
Visitors' Information Center, Namba: First Floor, Osaka City Air Terminal Building (OCAT), daily 8 am-8 pm. Phone 6643-2125.
Visitors' Information Center, Tennoji: First Floor, Station Building, JR Tennoji Station. Phone 6774-3077.
Visitors' Information Center, Shin-Osaka: Third Floor, JR Shin-Osaka Station. Phone 6305-3311.
Visitors' Information Center, Universal City: Universal City Walk Osaka. Daily 9 am-8 pm (until 9 pm during busy times such as Saturday, the day before a holiday and summer). Phone 4804-3824. http://www.tourism.city.osaka.jp/en or http://www.octb.jp.