Osaka
Bustling metropolis with good food and big smiles
Information about Osaka
Osaka is the center of the country's second largest metropolitan region with 16 million inhabitants and an important commercial city. The city merges seamlessly with Kobe to the northwest and Kyoto to the northeast. The entire region around Osaka is called the Kansai region.
Osaka was already an important center of power with a mighty castle when Edo, now Tokyo, was still a small fishing village and for some time even the capital. The striking turquoise and white castle can still be visited today and should not be missed on any visit to Osaka! Osaka is often seen as the antithesis of Tokyo in Japanese perception. While the capital is rather reserved, people in Osaka are very open, laugh a lot and have a very cordial interaction with each other. This is also reflected in the fact that the city is an important media center, especially the comedy scene (Owarai). The colorful nightlife and entertainment district Dotonbori and the shopping street Shinsaibashi enjoy international popularity with their gaudy neon signs. The city is also known as the "Kitchen of Japan". From okonomiyaki, savory pancakes with cabbage, takoyaki, squid balls to, of course, ramen and sushi, you can find everything your heart desires!
Interesting facts about Osaka
The dialect in Osaka is called "Kansaiben". It is often difficult for foreigners to understand if they are not used to it. The stress and pitch of the individual syllables, the so-called "pitch accent" is sometimes exactly the opposite of standard Japanese.
Also in etiquette, Osaka is often the exact opposite of Tokyo. On escalators here, as in Germany, the rule is: stand on the right, walk on the left. In Tokyo, however, this is the other way around!
Literally translated, Osaka (大阪) means big hill, or big hill. It is surrounded by mountains in all directions.
Pictures of Osaka
