Osaka  – A captivating city that offers some of the best food, culture and nightlife in Japan. Bright, gaudy and playful: Osaka provides ample amusement with little pretension

Osaka, one of Japan’s leading tourist destinations and an excellent place for anybody visiting Japan for the first time. It is a unique city, different from what most people imagine Japan to be like in a good way. Osaka locals are also friendly and easy to talk to, which is another attractive point to visit this city.

With both retro charm and modern flair, Osaka is a captivating city that offers some of the best food, culture and nightlife in Japan. Culture Trip spoke to people who live and work in Osaka for their take on what makes it such a great place to visit.

Best Time To Go To Osaka
– You can visit Osaka at any time of year because the weather is temperate.
– The best times to visit Osaka are the fall (October/November) and spring (March/April/May).
– Summer (June/July/August) in Osaka is hot and humid.

Osaka have many attractions such as shops, museums, parks and temples, while Tokyo is much bigger and offers sufficient interest for a three- to five-day visit. Osaka is more famous for its vibrant culture and needs only two to three days for its sights.

Osaka is only a short shinkansen ride from Tokyo, but has a very different personality to Japan’s capital city. Hop off the bullet train into an area of exciting nightlife, delicious food and straight-talking, friendly locals. Along with plenty of shopping and modern attractions, Osaka also has a historical side, the highlight of which is Osaka Castle. The castle is a great place to discover more about Japanese history and to wander the beautiful grounds, especially during cherry blossom season in April when the sakura blooms and the weather is often at its best.