$351 Cheap Flights to Osaka

Osaka lies in the southern-central region of Japan’s Honshu Island and is the second-largest metropolitan city in Japan. It is considered to be the gateway to Western Japan and sits conveniently near Nara and Kyoto cities (Japan’s ancient capitals). At present, it serves as the major financial spot in Japan. It houses some major electronic MNCs like Sharp and Panasonic and the Osaka Securities Exchange lies here as well. 

Osaka is known for its distinct enthusiastic embrace which sets it apart from the rest of the country. The city has broad street culture, modern architectural landmarks, and huge underground shopping malls. But the best way to know this city would be to strike a conversation with locals here. Osakans are known to be very friendly and expressive.

But above everything else, Osaka is considered to be the ‘nation’s kitchen’. It is rated as the best place to eat, drink and party in Japan. It serves as the foodie heaven because all the fresh produce from the complete country passes through Osaka as it is a major port. You will find all kinds of eateries here from posh restaurants to cheap and traditional street stalls.  

Tip: For a profitable exchange of money in Osaka, change it on the airport itself. Cash machines will charge a high transaction fee.

Back In Time 

Osaka was once the economic hub of Japan. During the Kofun period (300-538) it was an important regional port and in the 7^th and 8^th century it served as the imperial capital of Japan. Under the Edo period (1603-1857) it witnessed influential economic growth and flourished into a center of Japanese Culture. Under the reign of Emperor Meiji, Osaka underwent fast industrialization and expanded in size. And finally, in 1889, Osaka turned into a municipality officially.

Tip: Google Translate and Google Maps will play an important role while roaming around in Osaka.

Reaching Osaka by Air

OSA stands for the metropolitan area of Osaka. It contains two airports namely Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka International Airport (ITM). Flights to Osaka leads you to which airport, depends on whether you are traveling from within Japan or outside Japan. The KIX Airport mainly handles international traffic and lies 39 kilometers from the city center while the ITM Airport handles domestic flights and few international cargo flights and lies 12 kilometers from the city center. Direct flights to Osaka are served by prestigious airlines like Thai Airways, Tianjin Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Scoot Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Garuda Indonesia Airways, Austrian Airlines, and MIAT Mongolian Airlines. 

Tip: It would be best if you travel through the city via the subway or Osaka Loop Line to avoid traffic.

Transfers Within Osaka

Osaka is known for its efficient transportation system within the city. It has an extensive network of railway lines and connects to nearby cities and suburbs through the JR West Urban Network. There are some prominent private railway lines too!

Then Osaka Metro System is yet another excellent mode of transport in Osaka. It ranks 8^th worldwide by the number of passengers they carry annually. 

The Osaka subway system is the most efficient, fastest and regular mode of transport. There are 9 subway lines in total.

There is also a dense network of regular buses covering the whole city. Some prominent bus operators include Osaka City Bus, Hanshin, Kintetsu, and Hankyu.

Tip: You can roam around the whole city using just two subway lines, the Midosuji Line and the Chuo Line.

Climate Highlight

Osaka lies in the humid subtropical climate zone having four seasons. The winters are mild with January being the coldest month. Snowfall during winters is a rare sight. Spring season starts with mild heat but gets hot and humid towards the end. The rainy season lies between early June and late July. Summers are hot with August being the hottest month.

Tip: This climate information will help you plan your holiday accordingly.

Things To Do In Osaka

The city of Osaka is blessed with some exquisite historical and architectural attractions which are both ancient and modern. Some of the major destinations include:

Shitennōji Temple: This architectural beauty contains 5-storied pagoda and the body of Prince Shotoku is preserved and kept out in the Golden Hall. This temple was originally built in the year 593 and then was reconstructed many times. It is known for its impressive design.

Osaka Castle: This marvelous structure lies within Nishinomaru Garden which houses beautiful cherry blossom trees. This castle was built in 1913 but houses an Ashoka castle which stands tall since a centennial. The castle contains turrets, appealing citadels, moat gates and the views surrounding the castle are truly mindblowing.

The Museum Of History: It lies nearby Osaka Castle and houses chronicles of the city’s history. The museum houses many exhibits showcasing the city’s history from the time when Osaka used to be Japan’s capital and some other Japanese exhibits as well. 

Science Museum: It will be great to visit this museum especially if you are traveling with kids. It contains a planetarium, cinema hall and many floors holding interactive activities for kids.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: It displays different forms of aquatic life along with the Ferris Wheel and the Cruise Ship Santa Maria. It is the largest public aquarium in the world and is worth a visit.

Tip: The most famous festival of Osaka happens on July 24 and 25, known as the Tenjin Matsuri festival in Ikukunitama Shrine.

Shopping Spree

Osaka is famous for a large number of retail and wholesale shops. Most of the shops are concentrated in the Chuō and Kita region. The shops here vary from conventional stores to huge shopping malls. Tenjinbashi-suji is known as the longest shopping street in Japan. On this street, you can find branded showrooms, Japanese cosmetic shops, malls, boutiques, electronic stores with the latest gadgets and departmental stores.

Tip: You should complete your shopping by noon. Else the shops get over-crowded by the evening.

Eateries in Osaka

Osaka is foodie heaven. People travel here from all over the world to enjoy delectable Japanese food. And living up to the reputation the food business is taken seriously here. The sprawling city has abundant snack food places at Dontonbori Street and Oto-Road.

Some of the Japanese dishes you must taste include sushi, udon, okonomiyaki, oshizushi, takoyaki, yakitori, tempura, battera, kushikatsu, and ramen. These are available at every nook and corner of the city.  

Tip: All cafes and restaurants charge an additional service fee in the bill. Giving tips is not customary.

Trip.com has always been an ideal option to book your itinerary. Cheap flights to Osaka along with hotel booking can be done via this platform. It gives you great travel deals and has a 24-hour customer service to help you in the hour of need. It offers quality travel service and provides you apt information about the city of travel. Do book your holiday via the Trip.com.