Osaka Travel Tips

Osaka (大阪, Ōsaka), Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area after Tokyo, blends centuries of historical significance with the energy of a modern urban powerhouse. Formerly known as Naniwa, the city served as one of Japan’s earliest capitals—during a time when the imperial seat shifted frequently with each new emperor. Traces of this early prominence can still be found in archaeological sites and ancient shrines scattered across the city. Today, visitors can experience Osaka’s dynamic evolution in neighborhoods like Umeda, known for its sleek skyscrapers and sprawling department stores, and Namba, a vibrant entertainment hub filled with neon lights, street food, and nightlife.

In the late 16th century, warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi elevated Osaka’s status by constructing the grand Osaka Castle — a symbol of national unification and ambition. The original castle grounds once encompassed an immense fortress and palace complex, and while much of it was destroyed in later conflicts, the reconstructed main tower now serves as a museum offering panoramic views and immersive historical exhibits. Although Hideyoshi envisioned Osaka as Japan’s political capital, that vision was reshaped when Tokugawa Ieyasu seized power and established his government in Edo (present-day Tokyo). Even so, Osaka thrived as the “kitchen of Japan,” emerging as the country’s commercial heart and a cradle of merchant culture. Travelers today can explore sites like Shitennō-ji, Japan’s first officially established Buddhist temple; stroll the lively canals of Dotonbori, or delve into the city’s past at the Osaka Museum of History, near the ancient palace ruins of Naniwa-no-Miya.