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OSAKA : the kitchen of Japan

By Cahaya Asia -


Osaka is the capital of food and fashion

Osaka is dubbed “the nation’s kitchen”, and for a good reason. In addition to delicious food, the city offers endless shopping prospects, amazing sights, traditional culture with monks and monasteries, as well as vibrant nightlife.

Osaka is centrally located, and the bullet train takes you to Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya or Hiroshima in no time. Japan’s intriguing, traditional countryside is also worth visiting, and is only a train ride away. The islands of Kiushu and Shikoku can be reached by ferry.


Where to stay

It’s best to book your accommodation at least one month before your trip, as reasonably priced rooms are in demand in Osaka. Look for accommodation options online and book your room conveniently via e-mail.

The smart way to stay

It is not easy to find cheap accommodation in Osaka, at least not in the city center. There are, however, some good alternatives to expensive hotels.

The cheap...
It is easy to find a place to stay in Osaka, if you are prepared pay up and choose the Ritz or the Hilton, for example. Those traveling on a budget can find a ryokan or a simple business hotel. Capsule hotels are another affordable option.

...and the even cheaper places to stay
For one night, no hotel room is required, as you can order a coffee at a night café and doze on the chair for hours. Another, more peaceful option is to rent a small karaoke room.



Traditional accommodation

Many Japanese hotels are very Western. The best way to experience true Japanese atmosphere is to stay at a ryokan or a minshuku. Prices vary: you can find a good hotel room for only 50 euros per night. In hostels and dormitories you can stay for less than 20 euros per night.

Hotels
Japanese hotels are divided into two main categories: hotels and business hotels. Unlike in Western countries, ‘business class’ stands for simplicity, while the normal hotels offer a wider range of services and room options. Most Japanese hotels have their own spa. One night in a hotel can cost as little as 40-50 euros.

Ryokans
A ryokan is a traditional inn, favored especially by domestic tourists. With their tatamis and paper doors, ryokans are famed for their food and cozy atmosphere. An essential part of the ryokan is the communal ofuro bath. Visitors are provided with a yukata to wear while staying in the ryokan. A night in a ryokan usually costs 50-200 euros per person. Food is always included.

Minshuku
The Japanese version of the bed and breakfast is the minshuku. Minshukus are family-owned businesses that offer a great opportunity to experience traditional Japanese hospitality and experience the local way of life. Most minshukus are located in the country, but there are some in cities as well. One night usually costs 50-80 euros per person, including meals and use of the ofuro bath.

Hostels and dormitories
Hostels are usually cheaper than hotels, and they have recently become more and more popular. A dormitory is practically the same thing as a hostel. You can often get a bed for only 10 euros per night.


Other accommodation

Japan is filled with peculiarities in accommodation as well as in other areas of life. The brave traveler might try a night at a capsule or love hotel; a gaijin house is more suited to a longer stay. Buddhist temples and onsen hotels offer a more peaceful alternative.

Capsule hotels
The efficient Japanese only require a little space for sleeping. That’s why in the bigger Japanese cities, there are hotels where people sleep in capsules. The capsules usually have a small TV, but the bath and sauna facilities, as well as the lounge, are communal. Women are usually not welcome in capsule hotels. The cheapest capsule hotels charge only 20 euros per night. If you’re on a tight budget, you can always ask to sleep in an armchair in the sauna department – just like many locals do!

Love hotels
Apartments in Japanese cities may be rather small or crowded, which means that lovers don't always have a chance of privacy behind locked doors. The hourly-rated rooms in the so-called love hotels are often decorated according to the theme, for instance with a revolving heart-shaped bed. You can also stay the whole night in a love hotel. At the cheapest, a whole night costs less than 50 euros, and you will rarely pay more than 100 euros per room.

Gaijin house – the house of foreigners
If you are staying in Japan for several weeks, you should consider staying at a gaijin house. These are shared apartments meant for part-time workers and students. Kitchen and showers are shared by all residents. Monthly rents usually start from around 300 euros.

Onsen hotels and onsen-ryokans
If you really want to enjoy life, an onsen hotel or an onsen-ryokan is the best choice. Onsens are usually located outside the city, closer to nature. Staying at an onsen means relaxing hot baths and delicious culinary experiences.



Getting around

Osaka’s center is a large area, but it can be navigated by using the subway and the local trains. For shorter distances, walking is certainly the most interesting way to get around. Kyoto is only half an hour away by train.

Travel by rail in Osaka

The subway network in Osaka is wide and efficient. You can purchase a day pass, which allows you to travel freely during one day, for about the same price as five single tickets.

Local trains are also convenient, but require concentration, as the network is dense, train companies are numerous, and there many different kinds of trains. The main railway station, Umeda, is a huge complex, and may take some time to navigate. A Japan Rail Pass can be used on local services.

Move on foot...
Although Osaka is a huge metropolis with a huge center, many central shops, sights, and other points of interest are located near each other. On foot you will experience the city in a way that is very different to seeing it through a car or train window. Walking is especially rewarding in the Namba area, as most streets there are meant for pedestrians.

...or take a taxi
For short journeys, taxis are an affordable and comfortable way to move around. In Japan the meter starts running faster and faster as the time goes by, so long distances and getting stuck in the traffic may cause a slight surprise when its time to pay!



Experience several cities on the same trip

The bullet trains, traveling at over 300 kilometers per hour, are a convenient way of traveling between cities. For example, the trip from Osaka to Kyoto takes only 15 minutes, and the trip to Nagoya less than an hour.

The ancient Japanese capital of Nara is only a short train ride away. The city of Kobe, and the Awaji Island, can be reached by ferry from Osaka.

The Japan Rail Pass is worth it
If you intend to make more than one train trip, buying a Japan Rail Pass is well worth it, since separately-bought tickets can be expensive. The pass allows you to use the bullet trains freely for one week. Please note that you can only purchase the Japan Rail Pass outside of Japan.



Some examples of journey durations:
Osaka-Kyoto: 20 min
Osaka-Nagoya: 51 min
Osaka-Nara: 1 h
Osaka-China: 13 hours by ferry

Get a rail pass
Moving around Osaka is cheap with the Japan Rail Pass or the daily subway pass. Children under the age of six can use public transport free of charge, and children aged 6-11 years pay only half the price.




//finair





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