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The great journey
Caught between worlds

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Osaka - a brief overview
Neon-lit streets, an idiosyncratic food culture and plenty of ancient culture behind the glass facades of skyscrapers. Osaka is one of Japan’s hottest cities. Root around and you’ll find a town that’s a far cry from Tokyo, with a more laid-back vibe despite its reputation as a business capital.
Whether you’re touring around its hulking castle or guzzling a bowl of noodles in one of the tiny restaurants nestled beneath the main train station, Osaka will surprise you at every turn. If you’re a foodie, party lover or museum fiend, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained.
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Top 10 sights in Osaka

Osaka Castle
540-0002 Osaka
Japan
Tel: 06 6941 3044
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Opening times:
Daily 0900-1630
A 20th-century rebuild of the 16th-century original, this huge castle was originally built to mark the unification of Japan. Full of fascinating pieces on the history of Osaka and the castle’s own development. The observation deck offers excellent views of the city.
Spa World
556-0002 Osaka
Japan
Tel: 06 6631 0001
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A fancy version of Japan’s fantastic onsen, this spa claims to be the world’s largest. It’s split over two floors, along with a rooftop area where you can channel your inner kid and take to waterslides and other fun-filled attractions.
Museum of Oriental Ceramics
530-0005 Osaka
Japan
Tel: 06 6223 0055
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Opening times
Tue-Sun 0930-1630
The exquisite ceramics on show here are sourced mainly from nearby Korea and China. The museum’s collection extends to almost 3,000 pieces, although only around a 10th of them are on show.
Amerika-Mura
542-0086 Osaka
Japan
Tel: 06 6245 2512
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The streets of Osaka’s ‘American Village’ are the place to come if you want to see Japanese youth culture in full effect. Think extreme fashion, places to pick up anime and a small replica of the Statue of Liberty, and you get the idea.
Osaka Aquarium
552-0022 Osaka
Japan
Tel: 06 6576 5501
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Opening times:
Daily 1000-1900
The biggest aquarium in the world has a fascinating array of themed areas, where you can gaze at exotic sea life from around the world. The Deep Sea zone is particularly good. A must if you’re travelling with kids.
Osaka Museum of History
540-0008 Osaka
Japan
Tel: 06 6946 5728
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Opening times:
Sat-Mon, Wed-Thurs 0900-1700
Fri 0930-1930
Detailed exhibits take you through the history of Osaka, from its samurai days up its modern-day position as one of Japan’s, and Asia’s, premier cities. Housed in the same building as the NHK broadcast company.
Shitennō-ji Temple
543-0051 Osaka
Japan
Tel: 06 6771 0066
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Opening times:
Daily 0830-1630
The original buildings of this Buddhist temple no longer survive, but the stone torii gate, built in 1294, is still standing. One of Japan’s oldest temples, dating back to 593, this temple is a must-visit.
Umeda Sky Building
531-6023 Osaka
Japan
Tel: 06 6440 3901
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Opening times:
Daily 1000-2200
This striking skyscraper is arguably Osaka’s best sight. Wander beneath its soaring arch to get a great perspective on the unique architecture, before zipping to the floating garden observatory for unbeatable views of the city below.
Universal Studios Japan
554-0031 Osaka
Japan
Tel: 0570 200 606
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Opening times:
Various (check website for details)
Osaka’s popular Universal Studios theme park, one of only two outside of the USA, includes Harry Potter, Spiderman and Jurassic Park rides, as well as guided tours, themed restaurants and countless shops.
Flight and accommodation
Country information
Country overview
Japan is swathed in natural beauty, from the snow festivals and lavender farms of the northern isle of Hokkaido to the sun-drenched beaches and turquoise waters of the subtropical islands of Okinawa. Whether climbing volcanic Mount Fuji, wandering the pine forests of Mount Koya, taking in
the springtime beauty of the sakura cherry blossoms or the spectacular maple leaves in the autumn, a journey to Japan is a wealth of unforgettable natural landscapes. In recent years, the powdery snow of Japan’s ski fields has also been attracting international visitors.
Geography
The archipelago of Japan is separated from the Asian mainland by 160km (100 miles) of sea and split into four main islands: Hokkaidō, Honshū, Shikoku and Kyushū. About 70 percent of the country is covered by hills and mountains, a number of which are active or dormant volcanoes, including Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak, reaching 3,776m (12,388ft). Japan sits on major seismic fault lines and is susceptible to frequent earthquakes.
A series of mountain ranges runs from northern Hokkaidō, to southern Kyushu. The Japanese Alps (the most prominent range) run in a north-south direction through central Honshu.
Lowlands and plains are small and scattered, mostly lying along the coast, and composed of alluvial lowlands and diluvial uplands. The coastline is very long in relation to the land area, and has very varied features, for example, the deeply indented bays with good natural harbours tend to be adjacent to mountainous terrain. Many of Japan’s major cities are located on the coastline, and have extremely high population density.
General knowledge
Key facts
Population: 127,5 Million (estimate 2018)
Capital: Tokyo
Language
Japanese is the official language. Some English is spoken in Tokyo and other large cities but is less usual in rural areas. There are many regional dialects and there are distinct differences in the intonation and pronunciation between regional variations.
Currency
Japanese Yen (JPY; symbol ¥). Notes are in denominations of ¥10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of ¥500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1.
Electricity
100 volts AC, 60Hz in the west (Osaka); 100 volts AC, 50Hz in eastern Japan and Tokyo. Plugs are flat two-pin plugs.
Public holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2019 – December 2020 period.
Note: Holidays falling on Sunday are observed the following Monday. When there is a single day between two national holidays, it is also taken as a holiday.
2019
New Year’s Day: 1 January 2019
Coming of Age Day: 14 January 2019
National Foundation Day: 11 February 2019
Vernal Equinox: 21 March 2019
Showa Day: 29 April 2019
Constitution Memorial Day: 3 May 2019
Greenery Day: 4 May 2019
Children’s Day: 5 May 2019
Additional Public Holiday: 6 May 2019
Marine Day: 15 July 2019
Respect for the Aged Day: 16 September 2019
Autumnal Equinox: 23 September 2019
Health and Sports Day: 14 October 2019
Culture Day: 3 November 2019
Additional Public Holiday: 4 November 2019
Labor Thanksgiving Day: 23 November 2019
Emperor’s Birthday: 23 December 2019
2020
New Year’s Day: 1 January 2020
Coming of Age Day: 13 January 2020
National Foundation Day: 11 February 2020
Vernal Equinox: 20 March 2020
Showa Day: 29 April 2020
Constitution Memorial Day: 3 May 2020
Greenery Day: 4 May 2020
Children’s Day: 5 May 2020
Additional Public Holiday: 6 May 2020
Marine Day: 23 July 2020
Health and Sports Day: 24 July 2020
Respect for the Aged Day: 21 September 2020
Autumnal Equinox: 22 September 2020
Culture Day: 3 November 2020
Labor Thanksgiving Day: 23 November 2020
Emperor’s Birthday: 23 December 2020
All information subject to change.
Flight and accommodation
Japan – Caught between worlds
Japan has a polarizing effect. On a five-day trip from Toyko to Osaka we are treated to a fascinating mix of people and customs: a women’s diving cooperative, a peaceful bonsai school in the middle of flashy Tokyo, an enterprising master firework maker and two Dutch girls who love to dress up.
Half an hour is all it takes in Tokyo to get from the world’s largest intersection to a green oasis of tranquility. At Shibuya Crossing doors open automatically and we climb into a taxi driven by a woman sporting white gloves and a chauffeur’s cap. Soon we are standing in an inner courtyard amid hundreds of bonsais, overwhelmed by the serenity of the scene. A stream splashes softly into a pond, where koi circle dreamily. Sensei Kunio Kobayashi pours us green tea. He has been working with bonsai since 1976 and is a grand bonsai master today, teaching the art of shaping bonsai and welcoming visitors from Japan, Italy and Australia almost every day. Some of his students stand absolutely still, firmly gripping their secateurs as they contemplate the fine twigs. Kobayashi has chalked a bonsai consisting of three elements onto a board: a stand, a plant pot and a tree.
Ideally, a bonsai should express – in miniature – the harmony between humans and nature. Kobayashi sighs. “Shaping a good student is more difficult than shaping a good bonsai.” The master shows us his most beautiful trees, one of which is 800 years old and worth a fortune. “Love is the key,” explains Kobayashi, “One has to devote many hours every day to a bonsai.” He tells his students to watch their tree instead of watching television. Kobayashi walks over to a small altar where a dried-up tree is lying on the floor – the bonsai graveyard. “Bonsai can sense when we neglect them,” he says, closing his eyes. The distant din of the city of millions drifts in over the walls. Silently, Kobayashi asks the dead bonsai for forgiveness.
Mount Fuji is shrouded in cloud and only its snowy peak is visible. A recorded loudspeaker message brings us a woman’s monotonous warning to “Drive carefully, there have been many accidents recently, drive slowly.” We are sitting outside at a rest stop, spooning noodle soup with mountain vegetables, having left Tokyo via the ring expressway, which is frequently the scene of illegal nighttime races. The countryside is growing hillier, the air fresher, the leaves gleam red-brown in the sunshine. “Kōyō” is what the Japanese call the season when the foliage turns. They celebrate it with a variety of festivals just like they do the season of spring blossoms. Hiroto Kamijoo makes his living from such festivals. Kneeling in front of a pile of gunpowder balls with his son Rioji, he strikes a match. A loud bang resounds and through a dense swathe of smoke, we see five different colors as five layers of powder burn.
Mr. Kamijoo looks pleased with himself. “I loved watching fireworks in the sky as a boy,” he says, “and there comes a time when you want to do it yourself.” He has been igniting tiny bombs with gusto for over 30 years and was one of the 12 master firework makers entrusted with firing the rockets at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Nagano in 1998. At his warehouse, protected by double steel doors, stout walls and a round-the-clock security guard, six employees pour powder into balls; the wider their diameter, the longer they burn. The closest building is half a kilometer away. He and his team make up to 20 000 bombs year. Does he enjoy what he does? “What, you noticed?,” Kamijoo replies with a broad grin.
In the morning, we are met by Mikoko Nakajo, landlady of a ryokan at the foot of the Japanese Alps. Her 120-year-old guesthouse draws water via a wooden pipeline from thermal springs located kilometers away in the mountains. “My only fear is that an earthquake could destroy the line,” says Nakajo. Twigs hang from high ceilings, calligraphy adorns the walls and her guests sleep on futons. Automatic, heated lavatory seats and flatscreen televisions are the only nods to the 21st century here. Outside, steam rises from the onsen, hot pools of healing mineral water. Her husband monitors their quality every month. She herself does not particularly like them, says Ms. Nakajo, smiling politely: “Too hot and too many people.” Foreign visitors often extend their stay into a relaxing break; Japanese visitors usually only come for a night.
“We Japanese find it more difficult to let go; very few of us take a vacation,” explains Nakajo. She herself enjoys traveling, especially to Baden-Württemberg in Germany, where her children went to university. She loves German buildings, grandfather clocks and church bells. In fact, the only thing she had a problem with was the food: “The huge portions, awful, dumplings this size!,” she exclaims, shaping her hands to encompass an imaginary soccer ball. She and her husand would travel across the border to France to eat. She is interrupted by a gong striking 6pm. Guests in kimonos and slippers come to kneel at the low tables. This ryokan is famous for its food: fish with roe inside, raw octopus in seaweed, yuba rolls made of tofu skin, sea anemones, marinated mushrooms. Ms. Nakajo beams.
After breakfasting on fish, we go down to Wajima harbor. A few fishing boats are still coming in, but most of the fleet has already been tied up along the pier and unloaded. The air is filled with the smells of salt and diesel oil, gulls squabble over shrimp scraps, and it’s drizzling. Harue Aochi surveys the sea.
She is an expert at reading the currents; she knows the waves and the wind. Aochi works literally in the sea all year round. She is one of around 200 amas, the women divers of the Noto Peninsula in the Japanese Sea. There are nearly 1000 divers like her in the country. After the Second World War, very few men returned to Noto and many were no longer able to work. Forced to provide for their families, their wives went fishing or diving for mussels and snails.
Aochi sails out every morning with eight other amas and a captain to one of the islands off the coast. The weather determines where they head. Aochi has been gathering abalone and turban snails from the sea bed for 40 years. Delicacies like that fetch up to 10 000 yen (over 100 dollars) a kilo at the fish market. On a good day, the divers haul between 20 and 30 kilos on board.
The women are organized as a cooperative and share their profits equally, regardless of how many mussels and snails each one of them collects. If someone is sick, she still gets her share. “The young women dive further down and bring up more than the older ones,” explains Aochi, “but someday they, too, will be old and profit from the young.” An ama’s skills are handed down from generation to generation. Aochi’s mother taught her her craft under water and showed her the good spots; Aochi in her turn trained her cousin, who dives with the cooperative, too.
The women can hold their breath for two minutes and dive down 18 meters without oxygen bottles. They always dive in pairs, taking it in turns to stay at the surface and keep watch while their partner is down below, filling the baskets. They use sign language to communicate with each other, and only women do this kind of work. “Men are too impatient,” says Aochi with a smile, “they feel the cold quickly because they have no body fat.” Her husband is standing beside her, two heads shorter and quite a bit slimmer.
We head southwest along the coast, past pagoda villages, rice terraces and rocky beaches. Now and then, we come upon a racing cyclist, but otherwise the streets tend to be deserted. Many Japanese express a longing to return to nature and the simple life in the country, far from the crowds and the fast pace and noise of the city. Not Leyla Cavusoglu from the Netherlands. Cavusoglu left Europe to live in a Japanese city. “The secondhand stores in Osaka are fantastic,” she says, peeping out from under her false eyelashes. She is looking for new Lolita fashions, a variation on “cosplay,” the costume trend exported from Japan along with the manga boom in the 1990s. “In cosplay, you play a different role, but as Lolita, you keep your own character,” explains Leyla, today in a black-and-red costume. Her friend Danchelle Heijnen is all dolled up in baby blue and pink, right down to the bow in her hair, in an outfit worth around 1000 euros.
The pair of Lolitas are inside a Hello Kitty store. Outside, jostling masses fill the shopping malls near the Glico Man, one of several garish neon signs and a landmark of Dotonbori, a district famous for its nightlife. Young people pose for photos, suited business types sit in sushi bars, and girls match high boots with short skirts, wearing their iPhones like jewelry around their necks.
A cacophony of sounds pounds from the Gamecenter, where boys dance to light patterns that keep on changing at breakneck speed. Friday night is a dazzling, neon time of the week. The two Lolitas are off to a party. As they disappear into the crowds, Leyla turns back, her purse describing a semicircle, and calls out, “I just love Japan!”
Flight and accommodation
Nightlife in Osaka
Osaka neon-lit streets throb late into the night, its bars and clubs renowned throughout Japan.
Nightlife centres on the Dotomburi area, although late-night action can be found away from its garish streets.
Grand Cafe
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Japan
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Achingly hip (and with handy English signage), this is one of Amerika-Mura’s hottest spots.
Tavola 36
542-0076 Osaka
Japan
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An upmarket bar on the 36th floor of a downtown skyscraper.
Tin’s Hall
543-0054 Osaka
Japan
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A lengthy happy hour and a huge beer selection keep this place jumping.
Rock Rock
3F 1-8-1 Nishishinsaibashi
Chuo-Ku, Osaka
542-0086 Japan
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The name’s a bit of a giveaway. Rock music and a celeb crowd head to this great bar.
National Bunraku Theatre
542-0073 Osaka
Japan
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Don’t fancy drinking and dancing? The traditional puppet show at this theatre is a great alternative.
Flight and accommodation
Restaurants in Osaka
Eating is a way of life in Osaka and no other Japanese city is as obsessed by meal times.
Okonomiyaki, takoyaki and steaming bowls of udon are all local favourites, with hundreds of places to try these specialities.
Fujiya 1935
540-0027 Osaka
Japan
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Price: Expensive
A three-Michelin-star joint serving Italian food using locally sourced ingredients.
Hajime
550-0002 Osaka
Japan
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Price: Expensive
Another place graced with Michelin stars, this conceptual restaurant will leave your taste buds buzzing.
Mizuno
542-0071 Osaka
Japan
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Price: Moderate
Few places in Japan, let alone Osaka, serve a better okonomiyaki (savoury pancake).
Usami-Tei Matsubaya
539-0000 Osaka
Japan
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Price: Moderate
Head here to taste thick udon noodles and deep-fried tofu.
Ootako Takoyaki
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Japan
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Price: Budget
Arguably the best takoyaki (fried octopus balls) that Osaka has to offer.
Flight and accommodation
Calendar of events
Shitenno-ji 'Doya Doya' Festival
January 2019
Venue: Shitenno-ji Temple
A festival where two groups of lightly clad (headbands and loincloths only) young men compete for possession of an amulet.
Toka Ebisu Festival
January 2019
Venue: Imamiya Ebisu Shrine
One million people pass through the sixth century Imamiya Ebisu Shrine during the three-day January festival to pray to Ebisu (or informally, ‘Ebessan’), the god of business and wealth. The shrine maidens sell lucky bamboo fronds (fukusasa) loaded with lucky charms and coin talismans. Their offer is: ‘Buy a frond and your business will prosper’. It’s certainly a profitable time for the frond sellers. The highlight of the festival is ‘Toka Ebisu’ (10th Ebisu) when colourful palanquins bear geisha and other celebrities through the lantern-lit streets.
Cherry Blossom Festival
April 2019
Venue: Osaka Castle Park
The cherry blossom (sakura) season is celebrated throughout Osaka during the colourful month of April. Families gather in parks for picnics or visit the beautiful grounds at Japan Mint Osaka, which opens to the public for a week during the cherry blossom season.
Shoryo-e Bugaku
April 2019
Venue: Shitenno-ji Temple
This festival features gagaku court dance and music on a stone stage in the Kame-no-ike pond at Shitenno-ji Temple as a memorial service for Shotoku Taishi, the temple’s founder.
Osaka Sumo Basho
10 -24 March 2019
Venue: Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
Osaka Sumo Basho is one of the six annual big sumo wrestling tournaments in Japan which attracts huge crowds of sumo fans. Tickets can be purchased on the day if you arrive early in the morning.
Aizome Matsuri
June – July 2019
Venue: Shoman-in Temple, Tennoji area
One of Osaka’s bigger festivals, this is a Buddhist memorial service during which young women in yukata (light kimono) ridekago palanquins up the route from the station to the temple, shouting encouragements along the way.
Tenjin Matsuri
24 – 25 July 2019
Venue: Temmangu Shrine to Tenjin Bridge
Osaka’s annual Tenjin Festival sees a spectacular procession of thousands of people in traditional costumes carry exquisite portable shrines from Temmangu Shrine to Tenjin Bridge. There they board more than 100 ornamented boats and barges to proceed from the Dojima River to the Okawa River. Nightfall finally brings a dazzling fireworks display. This enormous and dramatic festival dates back to the 10th century and is one of the largest events of its kind in Japan.
Sumiyoshi Matsuri
30 July – 1 August 2019
Venue: Sumiyoshi Taisha Grand Shrine
An ancient summer purification festival starting at the Sumiyoshi Taisha Grand Shrine and including a procession all the way to Sakai city.
Shinno-sai
November 2019
Website
Venue: Sukunahikona Jinja Shrine
Osaka’s Shinnosai Festival is dedicated to the guardian god of Doshomachi, Osaka’s medicine district, and to Shinno, the divine founder of medicine from China.
All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.
Flight and accommodation
Hotels in Osaka
Business is the order of the day in Osaka and as such, hotels are largely geared up for those visiting town to thrash out deals.
As with the rest of Japan, budget rooms are not easy to come across in great numbers.
Inter Continental Osaka
530-0011 Osaka
Japan
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Category: Expensive
Rooms blend western and Asian style in this large, luxury hotel in the heart of the city.
The Ritz Carlton
530-0001 Osaka
Japan
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Category: Expensive
A blow-the-budget option, with fantastically appointed rooms and great views across Osaka.
Flight and accommodation
Best time to visit
Today: Thursday, 21.02.2019 18:00 UTC

overcast
temperature
7°C
wind speed
3.125 mph7 days forecast
Saturday
23.02.2019
12°C / 8°C
Sunday
24.02.2019
13°C / 5°C
Monday
25.02.2019
13°C / 6°C
Tuesday
26.02.2019
13°C / 7°C
Wednesday
27.02.2019
13°C / 5°C
Thursday
28.02.2019
14°C / 8°C
Friday
01.03.2019
14°C / 8°C
Climate & best time to visit Japan
Except for the Hokkaido area and the subtropical Okinawa region, the weather in Japan is mostly temperate, with four distinct seasons. Winters are cool and sunny in the south, cold and sunny around Tokyo (which occasionally has snow), and very cold around Hokkaido, which is covered in snow for up to four months a year. The Japan Sea coastline also often receives heavy snowfall during winter.
Summer, between June and September, ranges from warm to very hot with high levels of humidity in many areas. Typhoons, or tropical cyclones, with strong winds and torrential rains often hit Japan during August and September, but can occur through May to October. Strong typhoons often affect transport systems, causing rail and air services to be stopped, and there is a danger of landslides in rural areas.
Spring and autumn are generally mild throughout the country, and offer spectacular views of pretty sakura cherry blossoms and colourful autumnal leaves, respectively. Rain falls all over Japan throughout the year but June and early July is the main rainy season. Umbrellas are a daily essential during this season. Hokkaido, however, is generally much drier than the Tokyo area. For weather updates, including information of when and where cherry blossoms are expected to bloom and typhoon trajectories, check the Japan Meteorological Association website (www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html).
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Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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absolute max | absolute min | Ø absolute min | Ø absolute min | relative humidity | Ø precipitation | days with deposit > 1mm | sunshine duration | |
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Jan | 18 °C | -7 °C | 9 °C | 2 °C | 62 % | 46 mm | 5 | 4.5 h |
Feb | 23 °C | -6 °C | 9 °C | 2 °C | 62 % | 60 mm | 6 | 4.5 h |
Mar | 24 °C | -5 °C | 12 °C | 4 °C | 61 % | 102 mm | 9 | 5.2 h |
Apr | 29 °C | -2 °C | 19 °C | 10 °C | 62 % | 134 mm | 11 | 5.9 h |
May | 31 °C | 3 °C | 24 °C | 14 °C | 64 % | 139 mm | 10 | 6.4 h |
Jun | 34 °C | 8 °C | 27 °C | 19 °C | 69 % | 206 mm | 11 | 5.1 h |
Jul | 37 °C | 14 °C | 31 °C | 23 °C | 71 % | 157 mm | 10 | 5.9 h |
Aug | 38 °C | 13 °C | 32 °C | 24 °C | 68 % | 95 mm | 8 | 6.7 h |
Sep | 35 °C | 10 °C | 28 °C | 20 °C | 69 % | 172 mm | 10 | 5.1 h |
Oct | 32 °C | 3 °C | 22 °C | 14 °C | 67 % | 108 mm | 8 | 5.1 h |
Nov | 27 °C | -2 °C | 17 °C | 9 °C | 66 % | 65 mm | 7 | 4.8 h |
Dec | 22 °C | -4 °C | 11 °C | 4 °C | 63 % | 34 mm | 5 | 4.6 h |
year | 38 °C | -7 °C | 20 °C | 12 °C | 65 % | 1318 mm | 100 | 5.3 h |
Flight and accommodation
Phone calls & Internet
Telephone/Mobile Telephone
Dialing Code: +81
Mobile Telephone
The Japanese mobile network uses PDC (Personal Digital Cellular System) technology, which is not compatible with GSM or other mobile services. Modern smartphones will ususally work, though. Visitors can hire handsets at the airport from companies such as bemobile (bmobile.ne.jp), Softbank Mobile (softbank-rental.jp/e/) and NTT DOCOMO (nttdocomo.co.jp). Coverage is generally good.
Internet
Internet is widely available; there are many internet cafés in Tokyo and in the main cities in Japan. Most hotels have Wi-Fi internet access. Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots, too. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking credentials entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.
Flight and accommodation
Shopping in Osaka
Key Areas
Umeda and Namba are the key areas for those looking to spend a day indulging in some retail therapy. Den Den Town is where it’s at for cheap (and expensive) electronics. Amerika-Mura is rammed with alternative clothing and accessories shops.
Markets
Malls and shopping centres are the order of the day in Osaka. But Kuromon Ichiba is great for foodies. This produce market is excellent for people-watching, while its food stalls serve up tasty snacks to keep your energy levels up.
Shopping Centres
Shinsaibashi Suji is one of Osaka’s oldest arcades. Its 600m (1,969ft) stretch houses international stores as well as local boutiques for stocking up on clothes you won’t find back home. Amateur chefs should check out Doguya Suji for cool kitchen gadgets. Rinku Town, near Kansai Airport, is a new place dedicated to global brands.
Flight and accommodation
Traveller etiquette
Social Conventions
Japanese manners and customs are vastly different from those of Western people. A strict code of behaviour and politeness is recognised and followed by almost everyone. However, Japanese people do not expect visitors to be familiar with all their customs but do expect them to behave formally and politely.
A straightforward refusal traditionally does not form part of Japanese etiquette, and a vague ‘yes’ does not always mean ‘yes’. (The visitor may be comforted to know that confusion caused by non-committal replies occurs between the Japanese themselves.)
When entering a Japanese home or restaurant, shoes must be removed.
Bowing is the customary greeting but handshaking is becoming more common for business meetings with Westerners. The honorific suffix san should be used when addressing all men and women; for instance Mr Yamada would be addressed as Yamada-san.
Table manners are very important, although the Japanese host will be very tolerant towards a visitor. However, it is best if visitors familiarise themselves with basic table etiquette and use chopsticks. Exchange of gifts is also a common business practice and may take the form of souvenir items such as company pens, ties or high-quality spirits.
Flight and accommodation
Health
Main emergency number: 119
Food & Drink
If travelling to the area near the Fukushima nuclear accident it is advisable to take supplies of food and water. Produce from the area near the Fukushima nuclear accident, which is still being sold in some supermarkets nationwide, should be avoided due to the lack of a centralized testing system in Japan for radioactive contamination in food, and discrepancies between Japanese and international standards for safe levels of radioactive substances in food. Tap water in Tokyo was declared not safe for consumption after the accident, although the government has since stated otherwise. Nevertheless, if travelling with children it is advisable to take precautions. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website (www.mhlw.go.jp) has updates on contamination levels in tested food. In other parts of Japan, food and drink are generally considered safe.
Only eat raw fish, seafood and meat from recognised establishments, and be aware that there is a risk of parasitic infection and toxins if these foods have not been prepared properly. E-coli food poisoning outbreaks tend to occur in Japan during the warmer months (June-September), and it is advisable to take precautions when consuming perishable foods at outdoor summer festivals, where refrigeration may be an issue.
Other Risks
You should make sure you are up to date with routine vaccinations. Influenza and measles epidemics have occurred in recent years and precautions should be taken. Tuberculosis and hepatitis B occur and vaccination is sometimes advised. Typhus occurs in some river valleys. Japanese encephalitis may occur. Vaccination is recommended for long-term travel (greater than one month) in rural areas. All normal precautions should also be exercised to avoid exposure to sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
If spending prolonged periods outdoors during the summer months when heat and humidity can be extreme, make sure to have plenty of fluids on hand to avoid dehydration and wear hats and other protective clothing to avoid heatstroke.
Contractual physician of Lufthansa
Dr. Sato, MotohikoMeisei Hospital
2-4-8 Higashinodamachi
Miyakojima
5340024 Osaka
Japan
Tel. +81-6-6353-3121
Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it bear the cost of any treatment.
Flight and accommodation
Visa & Immigration
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