Osaka, Japan
71%
71%
What's Hot
Getting Around, Shopping, Eating Out, Value For Money
Getting Around, Shopping, Eating Out, Value For Money
What's Not
Chilling Out, Culture, Things To Do, Weather
Chilling Out, Culture, Things To Do, Weather
Also Check Out …
Sightseeing
Restaurants
Bars
Osaka Reviews ( 50 reviews )
| Osaka Reviews |
by philippe1186
| 2 Apr 2007 | 100% |
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No much to visit at Osaka, but fine to get around (Himeji, Koyasan, Nara). Better place to stay than Kyoto where there is no fun. |
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by dragonfl
| 24 Nov 2006 | 60% |
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I'm not sure why you'd want to go to Osaka if you're a tourist. It has bigger shopping and drinking districts than most Japanese cities, but how many stores do you need that sell the exact same socks or hair accessories? How many bars do you need to go to that only have Asahi on tap? If you live in Japan, it'll do the trick for a Big City Fix, but if you're a tourist, stay in Kyoto for an extra couple of days instead. |
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by fishfoot
| 25 Aug 2006 | 60% |
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Big city but great train/metro system to get around. You will need at least a week to see everything but in a weekend you could squeeze in great food,shopping,temples and parks easily. |
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by Laylac
| 28 Aug 2006 | 80% |
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Loved it here, loads of fun. Hard to go out drinking if you're not loaded though, but plenty of other things to do instead |
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by ismael5123
| 14 Sep 2006 | 60% |
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was just one day so we couldnt see hardly anything...but im sure if you have a guide and all the stuff its gonna be great |
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by james2147
| 16 Jan 2007 | 40% |
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Really need to summon up the courage to use the communal bathing, the limited time slots of which isn't ideal - would prefer morning than evening. The hostel is also adjacent to the seedy end of town. but hey - it's cheap |
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by kt6005
| 12 Aug 2006 | 100% |
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I loved visiting Osaka - I wanna move here !! Its fab. Went to Nara for the day and shopped and did sightseeing other days - this place has it all. I lived in Tokyo for 2 years and thought that was THE city ... Osaka`s up there too ... :D |
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by emily9689
| 22 Aug 2006 | 80% |
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very friendly people, great food, excellent shopping, hot weather, but not much to see, and not many places except coffee shops to relax. |
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by gtaske
| 17 Aug 2006 | 80% |
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Towards the end of August Osaka was in the middle of a high humidity heat wave. When getting around it was to get out of one shop and head for another to get out of the heat. I find the people in Osaka lower in the friendliness scale compared to Koreans but not unpleasantly so. They are more westernised than Korea. The cost of living is quite high but there are surprising bargains to be had for those prepared to look around. In general prices are on a par with most western countries. Many Japanese restaurants have a full mockup of the menu on offer so you can see what you will be getting if you order. For an English speaker it is simply a matter of pointing at the desired meal and sitting in the place the waiter puts you. As most meals are also priced, you know what you will be paying before you eat. Currently meals can be enjoyed from just below 500Yen (US$5) upwards. Consider McChuckers at 650yen for a medium meal for an idea of value. Oh and make sure you know how to use chopsticks. No western utensils provided unless you BYO. Homeless people can be found lying on street sides in some places. I noticed some at the entrance to FestivalGate the first night I was there. I also observed in the same area a garage with a Rolls Royce, Jaguar and BMW so there can be a big contrast. In general I would say that Osaka is a developed city. i.e. it ranks up there with the likes of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne where I have been. The drivers have a good respect for pedestrians. Just be careful when you walk on the foot path as you can get ten-pinned by the millions of cycle riders who ride the footpaths of the city. Do not make any sudden change of direction as you walk down the footpath if you want to avoid getting hit from behind by cyclists. If Computer geeks visit the Den Den electrical market and the other big one in Osaka proper they will probably think they have died and gone to Geek heaven. There is plenty of computer gear for them to drool over. And video and digital cameras as well. I still think there are better prices to be seen in Yongsan computer market in Seoul. |
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by Bouncyon
| 5 Oct 2006 | 20% |
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Osaka is definately worth a day or two - there is quite a bit to see and make sure you ehad down to the bay and visit the the biggest ferris wheel in the world |
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by ryanbu136
| 15 Sep 2006 | 80% |
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Aquarium very cool. Castle OK but not nearly as good as Himeji. The Umeda Sky City Garden Observatory had great views! |
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by Kyles2939
| 1 Mar 2007 | 80% |
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The train sytem is really difficult to navigate through. I got lost any time I went off the Osaka Loop Line and I didn't find people there particularly helpful. |
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by sophiea1298
| 13 Nov 2006 | 60% |
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We only stayed one night but there seems to be lots to do here. Quite a few people recommended a castle that is nearby, unfortunately I dont have the name to hand but its like a fairytale castle. Or so I am told. |
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by kimlo7897
| 28 Apr 2007 | 80% |
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friendly city, very easy to get around once you work out their subway network. |
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by jondar560
| 23 Dec 2006 | 100% |
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We loved Osaka and it is now our favorite city in Japan. We both want to live here and will come back soon. |
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| 31 Mar 2007 | 80% |
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Osaka is a city of unrelenting grey. Try to go to Kyoto or Nara instead. I speak from years of living in Osaka! If you must be in Osaka, try visiting Ryokuchi-koen Park (MIdosuji Subway line). It has a lovely musuem in its grounds of rescued old Japanese farm houses. It`s really quite charming. |
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by iammu7804
| 24 Nov 2006 | 80% |
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Well all i can say is that taxi's are expensive so avoid them. Very very nice drifting scene in Osaka tho! |
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by misdonn
| 3 Dec 2006 | 60% |
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Don't get me wrong Osaka was fun and I have little to go on considering the length of my stay but... it just wasn't what I expected. The cost is relatively high, actually really high for the oddest things ie. the subway, which is suppose to be a cheap method of transportation and things like Soda. Your meal will be 540 yen and your drink is 450...strange. Also I found it hard to find a range of restaurants. I know the saying goes when in Osaka....but sometimes you just want some good ole pub food. I found the english restaurants very few and far between. I visited on a Monday so the party scene was slow but the bars I visited we're pretty rockin and I could only imagine what it would be like on a weekend. Other than that the shopping is amazing and if you look you can find some good deals. |
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by Noelle7652
| 20 Feb 2007 | 80% |
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Although initially very hard to find (the directions given are very poor), the ryokan itself was very nice to stay at. The owners were wonderful in giving advice on how to get around the city & were extremely thoughtful during our stay. Just be warned the ryokan is in a red light district so don't be surprised to see various characters around the streets at night. It is however still very safe to walk around. |
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by Skibur
| 17 Dec 2006 | 100% |
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Well I lived here for 10 months last year, so I love the place! It's become a sort of second home. |
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by schlumpf153
| 21 Jan 2007 | 40% |
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Very dirty, strange people, many playing zones. Curious nightlife! Only sightseeing building is Umeda Sky Building, very nice, but seen in half an hour. This city is not worth more than one day. |
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| 11 Jan 2007 | 40% |
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pretty cool nightlife but not alot to really see in regards to nature or temples or even historic sights |
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by tipylkka
| 13 Jan 2007 | 100% |
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The city is expensiiiiiiiive! But the Japanese people are probably the frendliest nation! You will make friends even without trying;) Things to visit are Osaka Casttle, Shitenno-ji Temple and Floating Garden Observatory. |
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by bigastarwa
| 14 Apr 2007 | 60% |
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Osaka is a nice city with some interesting features. However, there is not a whole lot to do here and is worth only one or two days visit. |
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by jimmie360
| 10 Apr 2007 | 80% |
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Osaka is a nice place to visit if you want to get away from the hectic streets of Tokyo. If you are a technic geek like myself visit Nippon Bashi, Namba and Den-Den Town! |
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by joeyfo312
| 21 Jan 2007 | 20% |
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so much to do and see on every street ^ eat, drink, shop, play on arcades and the best movie collectorshops i:ve ever seen. bring money! |
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by antlo6816
| 7 Feb 2007 | 40% |
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More than we expected, a 3 persons room was really value for $, especially in Jap, so spacious that it could have 3 separate rooms, of which 1 was japanese! Separated bath room and wash room, well equipped kitchen with more than enough utensils...it really was a good choice in Osaka! |
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by shinobi2070
| 17 Feb 2007 | 80% |
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i'll keep this short and sweet. apart from a couple of museums, osaka castle there isnt much else i went to see. however, you're not too far from hiroshima, nara, kyoto and kobe, all have more to see! if you like night life, then you're in luck. den den town and shinsaibashi are 30mins walk or a subway trip away! den den is more for the anime/manga fans but shinsaibashi is lively and has PLENTY of shops, amusements, bars and restaurants |
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by Diane2
| 11 Feb 2007 | 100% |
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I personally would prefer staying in Osaka longer than Tokyo because it almost carries the same characteristics, but with a much less population and is way more cozy than Tokyo. Kyoto and Himeji are very close by Osaka too, so then it was easy to travel to many traditional Japanese places without spending too much time on the train. |
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by joannecheong
| 19 Feb 2007 | 80% |
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The cities around osaka , especially Kyoto is really great. Food is superb in osaka! |
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by ondrej3369
| 17 Feb 2007 | 60% |
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rainy night in osaka, but there were plenty of bars available to hide in. Metro and trains stop at midnight, plan a taxi trip back. Guinness was 800-850Y a pint |
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by jennie5467
| 28 Feb 2007 | 100% |
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when you are in Osaka, dont forget to get a Kansai thru pass and go around the nearby cities such as Kyoto, Nara and Kobe... Kansai is a great place in Japan. If offers great sceneries, good food and real people ! |
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by jalujawara
| 11 Apr 2007 | 80% |
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Many backpacker stay around shin-imamiya and this is the one which good value in money. It near the train station and easy to find |
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| 14 Apr 2007 | 80% |
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Tokyo is Japan's capital, but one might call Osaka its anti-capital. The people in Osaka are more friendly and have a unique character. |
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by mariorivs
| 5 Nov 2007 | 80% |
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Being first-time travellers, Osaka was a fine first choice. The people were very helpful & go out of their way to help you in getting around the city. Food was magnificent! Even the cheapest ones taste way better than what we sometimes have here in HK. |
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by elkhad3730
| 3 Nov 2007 | 100% |
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The nicest, most Western Hotel we stayed in while in Japan. Very CHEAP but GREAT, clean place to stay! |
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by dwittman
| 14 Nov 2007 | 80% |
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If I had to recommend one Japanese city to visit, Osaka would definately NOT be it! It is okay to see once or twice, see the cool buildings and temples, but I much prefer other cities in this beautiful country. Also, Osaka \"slang\" is a bit more difficult to understand than other cities. |
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by TommyStone
| 16 Nov 2007 | 80% |
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Osaka is a working city, without the attractions of nearby Kyoto. But it does have some bustling areas for good food and drink. Go to Dotonbori, Namba, and Shinsaibashi. In an hour of walking, you can loop through the three neighborhoods. I wouldn\'t go to Shinsaibashi at night, as it\'s a sketchy part of town after dark, but during the day it is a busy bazaar with some good and inexpensive places to eat. Look for Kushikatsu (grilled stuff on skewers). |
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by KanagawaGuy
| 20 Nov 2007 | 100% |
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This is my second trip to Osaka and I have to say, it\'s just as great as I remember it. I spent a lot more time seeing the sights and a lot less time partying at night this time around. Tuesday-Thursday are very slow days for tourism. It\'s great for people who want to avoid the crowds, but I personally enjoy meeting new people. |
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| 2 Nov 2007 | 100% |
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This place has that \"real\" feel to it. Its no so stupidely big that your forever lost in the city, but the place knows how to party. Its a work hard, play hard kinda town and I really loved the vibe it had. |
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by talis57
| 1 Jan 2007 | 80% |
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REALLY great bed & breakfast! Simple room, but great hosts and wonderful breakfast. :) Location is nice- right at the corner before entering a temple area, close to shops, groceries and the subway stop. WELL worth the stay and highly recommend! |
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by jemskywa
| 1 Nov 2007 | 40% |
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Nothing much to see here except the covered shopping street but what a sight ! And the food here is great. |
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