Flying to Osaka brings you into Kansai International Airport (KIX) about twenty miles southwest of Osaka city. Regular direct flights connect Kansai International Airport with more than 60 destinations worldwide. If you’re taking a domestic flight to Osaka from other cities around Japan, there are routes into Kansai International Airport or Itami Airport, a little confusingly sometimes known as Osaka International Airport, which is located about ten miles to the north of the city.
From major airports in the UK, you can fly to Kansai International Airport all year long with a stopover at one of a handful of cities including Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Frankfurt, or Istanbul. Alternatively, booking a ticket for the long flight to either Tokyo or Hong Kong with a connecting flight to Osaka may work for you. If you choose to fly into Tokyo, you could make the connection to Osaka by train instead of plane. The high-speed Shinkansen – or bullet train as it is sometimes known – takes 2.5 hours to get from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka station in the north of Osaka city.
Osaka Castle
With moats and cherry blossoms surrounding this sixteenth-century treasure, it bears witness to the feudal past of the town. Climb up to the top floor for a panoramic view or just stroll Nishinomaru Garden amid the blooming spring season. This site is a sure whack for history lovers and photographers.
Dotonbori
Street food stalls (don't leave without trying takoyaki!), the famous giant neon Glico Running Man sign, and nightlife—Dotonbori, Osaka's neon-lit spectacle, has it all! Here, one can either cruise on the canal or mingle with the crowds; Dotonbori indeed embodies the city spirit of kuidaore (eat-‘til-you-drop).
Universal Studios Japan
Themed zones such as Super Nintendo World and Harry-Potter™; thrilling rides, parades, and character meet-and-greets turn this park into an instant family-fun destination for pop-culture fans. Parents should arrive ahead of the park opening to skip the long queues and maximize their time. Reserve online before the show and start looking for discounted airfares deals to Osaka during the off-season months of January to March to save on travel costs.
Umeda Sky Building
Come and explore this futuristic skyscraper with the Floating Garden Observatory for 360-degree views of Osaka. Sunset will give you a golden view of the skyline, while at night dazzling city lights will greet you. The underground "Whispering Wall" adds a quirkiness.
Shinsekai
A retro district dazzled by the presence of the Tsutenkaku Tower, Shinsekai has this quintessence of old Osaka blended with kushikatsu (fried skewers) joints. The nostalgic arcades call for some good hours of reminiscence while soaking up the Showa-era ambiance-a far cry from the more contemporaneous districts of the city.
These seasonal timeframes are spring (March through May) and autumn (October through November) best defined in Osaka. At the closing of March, there comes that first week when cherry blossom bloom starts, signaling the opening of floodgates for the tourists to enter Japan and closing around mid-April. The weather is nice until May, having many warm sunny days. Summer can be rather hot and humid (June to August), and there is not much in terms of crowds. Middle of June to throughout July sees the beginning of the rainy season. Expect some typhoons and short, intermittent showers, and before setting out, check the weather. However, the positive side is that it does not rain every day all day, and you should still be able to see some sights. October and November are again the most preferable periods to visit as temperatures range from 15 to 20 degrees during the day. Although not snowy, it is the most frigid in Osaka, having single-digit temperatures, between December to February. It is quite quiet as well not much crowd during those days. Osaka is a must-see destination for families and thrill seekers who have booked cheap flights to Osaka.
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