Osaka Living Guide

Osaka Prefecture is located in the Kinki (Kansai) region in Honshu. Nara, Wakayama, Hyogo, and Kyoto are neighboring prefectures, while the southwest side faces Osaka Bay. The climate is warm throughout the year. In the plains, there is almost no snowfall in the winter, and it is extremely hot in the summer.

Osaka is home to many industrial areas and headquarters of large companies. While it is the second smallest prefecture in Japan, it has a lot to offer to its residents and visitors, including delicious food, fantastic tourist destinations, beautiful nature, and more. In this guide, we will cover some of the best cities to live in Osaka, popular tourist spots, etc.

Why Live in Osaka?

Delicious Food

Historically known as the nation's kitchen, Osaka offers a wide range of delicious food including okonomiyaki, takoyaki, kushikatsu (deep-fried skewered food), etc. For a long, Osaka has been associated with the word "kuidaore" which can be translated as "ruining oneself by extravagance in food", showing the importance of food in Osaka people's lives.

Leisure

Osaka is home to many landmarks, lively shopping areas, beautiful nature, and more. It is also famous for its thriving comedy culture and is a fantastic place to enjoy comedy performances at theaters. Whether your interests lie in shopping, visiting historical sites, or hiking, there is so much to enjoy in Osaka

Friendly People

Generally, Osaka people are known for their friendliness. They are not hesitant to strike a conversation with strangers, in contrast to places such as Tokyo, where people are more reserved.

Easy Access to Various Fascinating Destinations

Osaka is not only a prefecture with various fascinations destinations, but it also offers easy access to many popular areas outside of Osaka Prefecture such as Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, and more. Osaka is a fantastic base from which to explore the Kansai region.

>> Attractions and Advantages of Living in Osaka

Best Cities to Live in Osaka

We would like to list some of the best cities to live in Osaka. If you’re considering relocating, be sure to also check out related resources for a smoother transition:

・International Schools in Osaka

・Hospitals in Osaka

・English-Speaking Dentists in Osaka

・Expat Communities in Osaka

Osaka-shi - The Prefectural Capital and the Largest City of Kansai Region

Osaka-shi is the capital of Osaka Prefecture and the largest city in Kansai Region. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2024, it is the 9th most livable city in the world and the highest ranked city in the whole of Asia. Osaka is a bustling city with many developed industries, great transportation access, popular tourist destinations, entertainment district such as Dotonbori, and more.

Key attractions: Osaka Castle Park, Universal Studios Japan, Dotonbori, Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN

Toyonaka-shi - A Comfortable City for Living and Home to an Airport

Toyonaka is a comfortable city for living. It has various parks with rich greenery and offers easy access to Osaka. From Toyonaka station, it takes just 12 minutes to reach Osaka-Umeda Station. The city is also home to Osaka International Airport, also called Itami Airport. While it has "international" in its name, the airport only serves domestic flights.

Key attractions: Open Air Museum of Old Japanese Farm Houses, Hattori Ryokuchi Park

Sakai-shi - Home to the Largest Tumulus in Japan

Sakai is one of 20 cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, along with Osaka. It is known as home to the Mozu Tumuli Cluster, including the largest tumulus in Japan - the Tomb of Emperor Nintoku.

Key attractions: Daisen Park, Tomb of Emperor Nintoku

Suita-shi - A City with Many Parks and Good Access to Osaka

Suita is a city with many parks and convenient access to Osaka. The city has everything for comfortable daily life and is a great environment for raising children.

Key attractions: Expo’70 Commemorative Park, National Museum of Ethnology

Minoh-shi - A Charming City with Rich Nature

Minoh is a charming city with rich nature and easy access to Osaka. Minoh Park is home to one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls.

Key attractions: Minoh Park, Katsuo-ji Temple

Access to Tokyo and Other Areas

From Osaka, you can easily reach various destinations in Japan.

Train Access

From Shin-Osaka Station, you can travel to other areas in Japan by Shinkansen bullet train. Tokyo can be reached in just under 2 hours and a half and Kyoto is around 13 minutes away. Even without taking Shinkansen bullet train, Kyoto can be easily reached from Osaka. There are also many other destinations easily accessible by trains including Kobe, Nara, and more.

Airports

There are two airports in Osaka: Kansai International Airport and Osaka Itami Airport. Kansai International Airport is the only airport in Osaka that handles international flights.

Highway Buses

There are many areas that can be reached by highway buses from Osaka. For instance, an overnight bus from Osaka to Tokyo would take about 8 hours.

Popular Tourist Spots in Osaka

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle is one of the most famous landmarks in Japan and a must-visit spot in Osaka. While the origins of Osaka Castle go all the way back to 1583, it was destroyed by fire twice throughout its history. The current structure is a reconstruction completed in 1931. Osaka Castle is also home to a museum that would be a fantastic place to visit for everyone interested in history. The Osaka Castle Park with its 3000 cherry trees is a very popular cherry blossom viewing spot.
>> Osaka Castle Park

Dotonbori

Dotonbori is a popular entertainment area in Osaka attracting many people with its neon lights and a great variety of eating establishments. The area is exciting place to visit both during the day and night.
>> Official Website The Shopping District of Dotonbori

Universal Studios Japan

Opened in 2001 in Osaka, Universal Studios Japan is one of the most visited theme parks not only in Japan, but in the whole world.
>> Universal Studios Japan

Umeda Sky Building

Umeda Sky Building is a famous landmark in Osaka. From its Kuchu Teien Observatory, you can enjoy fantastic views.
>> Umeda Sky Building

Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN

Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN is one of the largest aquariums in the world and is home to around 30 thousand creatures.
>> Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN

Conclusion

Osaka Prefecture with its bustling capital, friendly people, delicious food culture, history, and popular tourist spots, is a great place to live as a resident and exciting destination to explore as a visitor. If you are interested in learning about the differences between Osaka and Tokyo, please check here.