Osaka, Metropolis in Kansai Region, Japan
This port city serves as the capital of a prefecture bearing the same name in the Kansai region on Honshu. Several rivers cross the city, which spreads across a flat plain that reaches from the bay to the surrounding hills.
In the 16th century, the site became a major trading center after a feudal lord built his castle here. The city grew through commerce and later through manufacturing into the third largest metropolis in the country.
Street vendors serve takoyaki and okonomiyaki right from their stalls, while locals stand at counters eating between errands or on the way home. In Dotonbori and other neighborhoods, restaurant owners often chat with guests through open kitchen windows while they cook.
The subway system links the 24 wards through color-coded lines that meet at major stations and junctions. Most trains run until after midnight, while signs in English help with getting around.
Beneath the castle there is a network of waterways that once served for defense and transport. Some of these channels still flow under the modern streets and buildings today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
