Osaka Travel Tips

Banks: 09:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday (larger branches open till 19:00 and on weekend also).
Department Stores and Shops: 10:00 to 20:00, daily, some close for one day during the week but remain open throughout the weekend.
Museums: times vary, check with the facility in question.
Business Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday

Osaka is not renowned for presenting tourists with much in the way of threats to personal safety, however, like any other metropolis it prone to factions of petty crime so visitors are advised to exercise caution with regards to the carrying of cash and valuables. Efforts of pickpockets and bag snatchers can easily be thwarted with a little common sense and mindfulness, while avoiding straying off the beaten track into seedy or sparsely populated areas is a sensible way to avoid encounters with unsavoury local characters.

Pedestrians are also warned that the city has no proper paved walking areas and vehicles are able to go anywhere that people are, making walking something of a dangerous experience.

Health concerns in Japan are few and far between as it is one of the few highly developed countries in this region of Asia. Osaka is a modern city offering restaurants, bars and cafés with high standards of hygiene and few risks of contracting any bacteria-related illnesses. Equally, levels of dangerous diseases are deemed low and there are no epidemics and few opportunities for contracting life-threatening viruses. No specific vaccinations are required to visit the city of Osaka.

Tap water is considered drinkable, but due to differing mineral compositions, it may upset those with weak digestive systems, in which case bottled water would be the preferable option. 

Standards of health care in hospitals are high, but prices are correspondingly high so it’s essential that all visitors have holiday insurance that have sufficient provision for medical treatment. 

Osaka General
Tel: +81 72 821 4781

Emergency services: 119

Japanese is the main language spoken in Osaka although a local variation of the language known as Osakaben is also spoken. Japanese is a difficult language to learn, but since only a very small proportion of the population speak English with any competence, it’s wise to learn a few key phrases to help you while on holiday.

The official currency in Osaka is the Yen which is equal to 100 Sen. Notes come in denominations of 1000, 5000, and 10000 Yen. Coins come in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 10, 5, and 1 Yen.

There is no shortage of ATMs available in Osaka although visitors should be warned that many foreign credit and debit cards are not accepted by these machines and it’s wiser therefore to seek out those located in post offices, department stores and at the airport. Banks offer currency exchange services and usually give the best rates.

Visitors may bring up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco and up to three bottles of spirits (not exceeding 0.76 litres per bottle). Gifts and souvenirs are permitted up to a total value of 100,000 Yen.

Japan, like many Asian countries, has intricate rules of etiquette which can seem a little overwhelming to many western visitors. Basic rules of conduct and politeness are however not so difficult to grasp and for the majority of holiday makers, it is easy to enjoy a vacation free of any cultural faux pas.

Among the essential considerations, visitors should note that a subtle bow of the head is sufficient when meeting someone for the first time, if it’s an important person, then a slightly more exaggerated action is more appropriate. Excessive eye contact is frowned upon, as is physical contact in public places. It’s polite to add san (chan for a young girl or kun for a boy) onto the end of names, but highly inappropriate for you to do the same with your own name.

If visiting the home of a local, be sure to take of your shoes before entering and wear the slippers provided to you by your host/hostess; alternative slippers are provided for the bathroom and should be exchanged before entering and swapped back on leaving. Unlike some other East Asian countries, Japan puts great emphasis on the value of punctuality; visitors should, if anything, arrive five minutes early for a rendezvous and avoid tardiness at all costs, unless circumstances are beyond their control.

The rules of dining etiquette are among the most complicated and differ to some degree depending on whether you are eating at a restaurant or the home of a local.

In restaurants, if you are eating with other westerners, you need to be aware of other diners by avoiding excessively loud or ostentatious behaviour at the dinner table. If dining with Japanese or at the house of a local Osakan then there are a myriad of rules to consider. If entering a room with a tatami floor, it’s essential you take of slippers before doing so.

Chopsticks should never be used with a stabbing action, or for pointing and should you wish to pass a morsel of food to another guest, you should use the opposite end from that which goes in you mouth. You should wait for your host/hostess to begin eating before you do and never pour your own alcoholic beverage. It’s polite to eat everything that is put on your plate and bring a small gift for your host/hostess, preferably something from your home country if possible.

Citizens of the Republic of Ireland, UK, US, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand do not require a visa to enter Japan and may do so for stays of up to 90 days on nothing more than a passport with a remaining validity of at least six months.

The Osaka Tourist Information Centre can be found at: Koruso Shin-Osaka, JR Shin-Osaka Station 3F, 5-16-1- Nakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka City, Tel: +81 06 305 3311