Plan Your Trip to Osaka
Everything to sort out before and right after you land — airports, trains, IC cards, budgeting and picking the right season.
Getting to Osaka
How to get to Osaka by air and rail: Kansai International Airport (KIX), the Haruka Express, the Nankai Rapi:t, and your first moves after landing.
P-02Getting Around Osaka
How to get around Osaka using the Midosuji Line and the wider subway network, ICOCA IC cards, and when the Osaka Amazing Pass is worth buying.
P-03Best Time to Visit Osaka
A season-by-season guide to visiting Osaka: cherry blossom season, the rainy season, summer festival heat, and Osaka's mild, quiet winter.
P-04Osaka Practicalities: Visas, Cash & Staying Connected
Practical basics for Osaka: visa-free entry for many nationalities, why Japan still runs on cash, tipping norms, and getting online with a SIM or pocket wifi.
P-05Japanese Etiquette Basics for Osaka
Everyday etiquette for visiting Osaka — shoes, trains, chopsticks, rubbish, and the one escalator rule that's the opposite of the rest of Japan.
P-06What to Pack for Osaka
A season-by-season packing guide for Osaka — what to bring for spring, summer's heat and humidity, autumn, and Osaka's mild winter.
P-07A 3-Day Osaka Itinerary
A sample 3-day Osaka itinerary covering Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Shinsekai, Umeda and a day trip out to Kyoto or Nara.
P-08Budgeting a Trip to Osaka
A framework for budgeting an Osaka trip across three tiers — backpacker, mid-range and comfortable — covering accommodation, food and transit.
P-09Do You Need a Rail Pass?
Whether a Japan Rail Pass or a regional Kansai rail pass is worth it for an Osaka-based trip, and when paying per ride with ICOCA works out simpler.
P-10Osaka to Tokyo by Shinkansen
Travelling between Osaka and Tokyo by shinkansen — journey time, train types, and whether to fly into one city and out of the other.
P-11Connecting Osaka to Other Cities
How to extend a trip beyond Osaka and Tokyo — shinkansen connections west to Hiroshima and Fukuoka, and limited express options to Kanazawa.
P-12Emergencies and Health Basics
What to know about emergencies and healthcare in Osaka — emergency numbers, pharmacies, hospitals, and why travel insurance matters.
P-13A Long Layover at Kansai Airport
How to spend a long layover at Kansai International Airport (KIX) — from a quick stretch inside the terminal to a short trip into Osaka.
P-14Drone Rules in Osaka
An overview of drone flying rules in Japan and Osaka — restricted areas, permits, and why many temples and parks prohibit drones outright.
P-15What to Pack for Osaka
A practical Osaka packing list covering walking shoes, power adapters, seasonal layers, and the one thing everyone forgets for a Japan trip.
P-16Osaka Weather Guide
Osaka weather month by month — temperatures, rainfall, humidity, and what to actually wear and expect in each season.
P-17The Osaka Amazing Pass: Is It Worth It?
An honest guide to the Osaka Amazing Pass — what's included, what it costs, and a realistic calculation of whether it actually saves you money.
P-18Shopping in Osaka
A guide to shopping in Osaka — Shinsaibashisuji covered arcade, Dotonbori, electronics in Den Den Town, and the best places to find Japanese food gifts.
New plan guides are added every week. See the update log →