Osaka Facts
- Overview
- Attractions
- Events
- Facts
- Kids
Population: Osaka Prefecture:
8,815,757 City of Osaka: 2.6 million.
Time
Zone: The time is 13 hours ahead of EST time in New York City.
Daylight Saving Time is not observed.
Telephone: International country code: + 81 (Japan); Area code: 6
Average
Temperatures:
|
Month |
High |
Low |
|
January |
53F |
40F |
|
February |
53F |
40F |
|
March |
59F |
45F |
|
April |
66F |
54F |
|
May |
72F |
62F |
|
June |
76F |
67F |
|
July |
83F |
75F |
|
August |
85F |
77F |
|
September |
82F |
72F |
|
October |
73F |
63F |
|
November |
66F |
54F |
|
December |
58F |
45F |
Local
Seasons: Osaka has a
relatively mild climate with four distinct seasons. The average daily
temperature, which varies from 42 F in the winter to 86 F in the summer, is 61.3
F. Average precipitation peaks during the rainy season, which is usually between
late June and late July, and in September during typhoon season.
Holidays
January 1
- New Year's Day (Ganjitsu)
The second
Monday in January - Adult's Day (Seijin-no hi)
February
11 - National Founding Day (Kenkoku Kinen-no hi)
March 20
or 21 - Vernal Equinox (Shunbun-no hi)
April 29 -
Greenery Day (Midori-no hi)
May 3 -
Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpou Kinenbi)
May 4 -
National People's Day (Kokumin-no Kyuujitsu)
May 5 -
Children's Day (Kodomo-no hi)
July 20 -
Marine Day (Umi-no hi)
September
15 - Respect-for-the-Aged Day (Keirou-no hi)
September
23 or 24 - Autumnal Equinox (Shuubun-no hi)
The second
Monday in October - Health/Sports Day (Taiiku-no hi)
November 3
- Culture Day (Bunka-no hi)
November
23 - Labor Thanksgiving Day (Kinrou Kansha-no hi)
December
23 - Emperor's Birthday (Tennou Tanjoubi)
Getting
There
By Air
Osaka's Kansai International Airport (KIX; tel. 0724/ 55-2500)
receives both domestic and international flights.
Getting
Around
From
Kansai Airport
Visitor
Information: (At the Airport) The Kansai Tourist Information Center (tel.
0724/56-6025; open daily 9am-9pm) is near the south end of the International
Arrivals Lobby. The multilingual staff can help with general travel information
about Japan and brochures and maps.
Arriving at KIX :
Constructed on a huge synthetic island 3 miles off the mainland in Osaka Bay
and connected to the city by a six-lane highway and two-rail line bridge, this
24-hour airport boasts the latest in technology. Glass elevators carry
passengers to the four floors of the complex in an atrium setting, touch screens
provide information in many languages, and if you arrive on an international
flight, you'll board the driverless, computer-controlled Wing Shuttle to get to
the central terminal. Signs are clear and abundant, and facilities include
restaurants, shops, a post office (2nd floor south, near JAL counter; open daily
8am-7pm), ATMs that accept foreign credit cards, a children's playroom in the
international departure area (free of charge), the Kanku Lounge with Internet
access (2nd floor north; (open daily 9am-9pm), and dental and medical clinics.
Getting
from KIX to Osaka:
Taxis are very expensive. Easiest, especially if you have luggage, is the Kansai
Airport Transportation Enterprise (tel. 0724/61-1374), which provides bus
service to major stations and hotels in Osaka. Tickets can be purchased at
counters in the arrival lobby. Another bus service, the OCAT Shuttle 880 (tel.
06/6635-3030), travels from KIX to the Osaka City Air Terminal (a downtown bus
station for shuttle buses going to the airport
If you're
taking the train into Osaka (stations: Osaka, Tennoji, or Shin-Osaka) or even
farther to Kyoto, walk through KIX's second-floor connecting concourse (baggage
carts are designed to go on escalators and as far as train ticket gates) and
board the limited express JR Haruka, which travels to Tennoji and Shin-Osaka
stations before continuing to Kyoto.. Slower is the JR rapid (JR Kanku Kaisoku),
which travels from the airport to Tennoji and Osaka stations before continuing
to Kobe.
If you a
have a Japan Rail Pass, you can ride these trains for free. Exchange your
voucher at the Kansai Airport (rail) Station on the third floor (open daily
5:30am-11pm).
Next to
the JR trains in the same station at the airport is the private Nankai Line,
which has three types of trains to Namba Nankai Station. The rapi:t a
(pronounced rapito alpha) train reaches Namba in 30 minutes. There is one train
an hour. The rapi:t b (rapito beta) at the same price stops at more stations,
including Sakai, and takes 35 minutes. You can also take an ordinary Nankai
Express Line and reach Namba in 45 minutes.
Itami Airport:
The terminus of domestic flights,.( 06/6856-6781), north of the city. Buses
connect to various parts of Osaka; to Osaka Station, the ride takes 25 minutes.
By
Train: Osaka is 2
3/4 hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet train; tickets are ¥13,240 ($110) for
an unreserved seat (the Nozomi Shinkansen is more expensive). All Shinkansen
bullet trains arrive at Shin-Osaka Station at the city's northern edge. To get
from Shin-Osaka Station to Osaka Station and other points south, use the most
convenient public transportation, the Midosuji Line subway; the subway stop at
Osaka Station is called Umeda Station. JR trains also make runs between
Shin-Osaka and Osaka stations.
If you
haven't turned in your voucher for your Japan Rail Pass yet, you can do so at
Osaka Station's or Shin-Osaka Station's Green Windows (open daily 5:30am-11pm),
as well as at Osaka Station's Travel Information Satellite (TiS) on the main
floor (daily 10am-7pm, to 6pm Sun and holidays) and at the Shin-Osaka Station's
TiS on the second floor (daily 7am-8pm).
If you're
arriving in Osaka from Kobe or Kyoto, the commuter lines, which will deliver you
directly to Osaka Station in the heart of the city, are more convenient than the
Shinkansen, which will deposit you at out-of-the-way Shin-Osaka Station from
which you can take a taxi to the city center.
By Bus:
JR night buses depart from both Tokyo (Yaesu exit; tel. 03/3215-1468) and
Shinjuku (new south exit; tel. 03/5379-0874) stations several times nightly,
arriving at Osaka Station the next morning. The trip from Tokyo takes about 8
hours and costs ¥8,610 ($80). Cheaper yet are JR day buses from Tokyo Station to
Osaka Station costing ¥6,000 ($50), and once-a-night JR buses from both Tokyo
and Shinjuku stations costing only ¥5,000 ($42). Tickets can be bought at any
major JR station or at a travel agency.
Osaka has
many signs and directions in English. The exception is Osaka Station, used for
JR trains, and its adjoining Umeda Station, used by subway lines and private
railway lines Hankyu and Hanshin. Underground passages and shopping arcades
complicate navigation, but someone you meet will speak English and will guide
you in the right direction.
When
exploring by foot, it helps to know that most roads running east and west end in
"dori," while roads running north and south end in "suji," which means "avenue."
By
Subway: Osaka's
user-friendly subway network is easy to use because all lines are color-coded
and the station names are in English (even announcements are in English on many
lines). The red Midosuji Line is the most important one for visitors; it passes
through Shin-Osaka Station and on to Umeda (the subway station next to Osaka
Station), Shinsaibashi, Namba, and Tennoji.
Consider
purchasing a One Day Pass which allows unlimited rides on subways and buses all
day. On the 20th of each month (or on the following day if the 20th falls on a
Sun or holiday) and every Friday, this pass costs less and offers slight
discounts to several attractions. For trips outside Osaka, the Surutto Kansai
Card (Kansai Thru Pass) allows you to ride subways and buses in Osaka, Kyoto,
Nara, and Kobe, with a 2-day pass. Children pay half price.
By JR
Train: A Japan
Railways train called the Osaka Kanjo Line, or JR Loop Line, passes through
Osaka Station and makes a loop around the central part of the city (similar to
the Yamanote Line in Tokyo); take it to visit Osaka Castle.
News
for Visitors
To find
out what's going on in Osaka, pick up a copy of Kansai Time Out, a
monthly magazine with information on sightseeing, festivals, restaurants, and
other items of interest pertaining to Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto. It can be found at
bookstores, restaurants, tourist information offices, and places frequented by
English-speaking tourists, and it's sometimes available for free at major hotels
Consulates: Several embassies maintain consulates in Osaka, including
Australia (tel. 06/6941-9271 or 06/6941-9448); Canada (tel. 06/6212-4910); Great
Britain (tel. 06/6120-5600); and the United States (tel. 06/6315-5900).
Internet Access:
Internet access is available at two locations inside Osaka Station: (1)
Kinko's, on the north concourse, between the east and central passages and
across from JTB (tel. 06/6442-3700), is open daily 7am to 10:30pm (2) Nearby,
up a narrow flight of stairs, is the X-Time Internet cafe (tel. 06/6341-8222).
Mail:
The Central Post Office, or Osaka Chuo Yubinkyoku (tel.
06/6347-8006), a minute's walk west of Osaka Station, is open 24 hours for mail.
For postal service information in English, call 06/6944-6245 Monday to Saturday
9:30am to 4:30pm.
