Travel tips · Osaka · Japan
Osaka travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Osaka grew as a merchant city, and its people are known across Japan for directness, humour and love of food. Manzai comedy duos started here, Yoshimoto's theatres are in Namba, and strangers are more likely to chat than in Tokyo. The Kansai dialect replaces standard Japanese in daily life, and the Hanshin Tigers baseball team inspires real passion.
Key facts
- Language
- Japanese
- Currency
- JPY
- Plugs
- Type A (two flat pins), 100 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency
- 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)
Things to know
- Stand on the right of escalators in Osaka, the opposite of Tokyo, and leave the left side for walkers.
- Do not double-dip skewers in shared sauce pots.
- Queue in line for trains and restaurants, and let passengers off first.
- Keep phone calls off trains and speak quietly on public transport.
- Carry rubbish with you; public bins are rare outside convenience stores and stations.
- Book Universal Studios Japan ahead: Buy dated tickets online in advance; Super Nintendo World can require a timed entry ticket or an Express Pass on busy days.
- Book Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan ahead: Buying tickets online lets you skip the ticket-office queue on weekends and holidays.
- Book Cupnoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda ahead: Hands-on chicken-ramen workshops need advance reservations.
- Osaka hotels are usually cheaper than Kyoto's; many travellers base here for Kansai day trips.
Tipping
Tipping is not practised in Japan and staff may chase you to return the money. Excellent service is part of the price.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ookini | Thank you (Kansai dialect) |
| Maido | Hello / thanks for your custom (Osaka shopkeepers) |
| Meccha oishii | Really delicious (Kansai slang) |
| Sumimasen | Excuse me / sorry |
| Okaikei onegaishimasu | The bill, please |
| Honma? | Really? (Kansai dialect) |
What to wear
Casual, comfortable clothes and good walking shoes suit Osaka; pack light layers for spring and autumn, a warm coat for winter and breathable clothing for the humid summer.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A (two flat pins), 100 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is available in stations and many shops; eSIMs, prepaid SIMs and pocket Wi-Fi are sold at Kansai Airport.
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
Osaka has low crime, though bag snatching and pickpocketing occur in crowded Dotonbori, and some bar touts overcharge. Heat stroke is a real risk in July and August, and typhoons can disrupt trains and flights in late summer.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Japan's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Osaka?
Tipping is not practised in Japan and staff may chase you to return the money. Excellent service is part of the price.
+Can you drink the tap water in Osaka?
Tap water is safe to drink.
+What plugs are used in Osaka?
Type A (two flat pins), 100 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Osaka?
Japanese.