Osaka travel guide — Osaka tourism and travel information

Osaka travel guide

about Osaka

Osaka City (大阪市 Ōsaka-shi) is the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2.7 million. It is located on the main island of Honshu, at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay. The city is one of Japan's major industrial centers and ports, as well as the capital of Osaka prefecture and a central part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.

Osaka geography

Osaka has following wards (ku): Abeno-ku, Asahi-ku, Chuo-ku, Fukushima-ku, Higashinari-ku, Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Higashiyodogawa-ku, Hirano-ku, Ikuno-ku, Joto-ku, Kita-ku, Konohana-ku, Minato-ku, Miyakojima-ku, Naniwa-ku, Nishi-ku, Nishinari-ku, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Suminoe-ku, Sumiyoshi-ku, Taisho-ku, Tennoji-ku, Tsurumi-ku and Yodogawa-ku.

Osaka history

Osaka city was named originally Naniwa, and appears in early Japanese historical documents. The emperor Shomu made this area his capital, and named it Naniwa-no-miya (The Capital of Naniwa). It has always been a vital connection, by land and sea, between Yamato (modern day Nara prefecture), Korea, and China. Settsu, a former province of Japan, consisted of the northern part of modern Osaka prefecture and the seaside part of Hyogo prefecture.

In 1496 the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist sect set up their headquarters, the heavily fortified Ishiyama Honganji temple, in Ishiyama, today a part of Osaka. In 1576, Oda Nobunaga started a siege of the temple that went on to last for four years. The monks finally surrendered in 1580, the temple was razed and Toyotomi Hideyoshi took the place for his own castle, Osaka Castle.

Osaka was called Ōzaka (大坂) from the middle ages until the premodern period. In the beginning of Meiji Era the government renamed the city to Osaka, which remains its name today. In those days Osaka was the second largest city of Japan and economically the most important, because most of the important markets, rice, exchange and so on were there.

The modern city was designated on September 1, 1956 by government ordinance.

Near cities to Osaka

• Higashiosaka travel guide 7.8 km
• Amagasaki travel guide 9.4 km
• Moriguchi travel guide 9.6 km
• Suita travel guide 9.8 km
• Sakai travel guide 9.8 km
• Yao travel guide 11 km
• Settsu travel guide 12 km
• Matsubara travel guide 12 km
• Daito travel guide 13 km
• Toyonaka travel guide 13 km

Near webcams to Osaka

• Okayama - SETO Bridge webcam 140 km
• Kofu webcam 300 km
• Fuji webcam 300 km
• Mt. Fuji webcam 300 km
• Yokohama webcam 390 km
• Yokohama webcam 390 km
• Tokyo webcam 390 km
• Tokyotower webcam 400 km
• Tokyo Tower webcam 410 km
• Kwangju webcam 790 km

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Osaka travel services

cheap flights to Osaka

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Osaka, cheap flights Osaka, also available cheap airline tickets to Japan and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Osaka deals also available.

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Osaka travel insurance

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City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Osaka, accident health Osaka travel insurance, all using our online Osaka travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in Japan. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Osaka real estate

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City Travel Guide comes with Osaka real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Osaka property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Japan, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Osaka.

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Osaka travel books

Osaka travel guide books

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Osaka maps and atlases

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