One reason why Osaka is a good place to go to is it’s not far from a few good places in Japan, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara are all within an hour of Osaka.  It’s quieter than Tokyo yet it still has almost everything Tokyo has – plenty of restaurants, cleanliness, civility and politeness, good shopping, parks and some nice attractions.  If you’ve been to Tokyo a few times and you loved it but maybe want to try something different, Osaka should be your next stop.

It’s Japan’s second biggest city but it’s got a much more laid back atmosphere (for the most part) than Tokyo and getting around at least appears to me to be much easier than Tokyo.  Tokyo is almost exactly like you imagine it to be if you’ve see it in the movies or in photos, at least in the city.  Osaka doesn’t have the hustle and bustle like Tokyo and it’s a city I could very easily live in. If you’re going as a tourist, which is pretty obvious if you’re here, you could spend 7-12 days here, do some day trips to the nearby aforementioned cities (Nara, Kobe, Kyoto) and still have things to do.

The Intercontinental Hotel Osaka is by far the best hotel we’ve stayed in Osaka.  It’s also the best area, next to the Grand Font mall and loads of other restaurants and shops.  You could spend a few days just around this area alone. It’s a bit pricey but worth it so if you’re not on a budget, this is the place to stay.  Check out our things to do and places to visit on our Osaka Map, most of the things mentioned in travel guides are worth doing but I didn’t rate Osaka Castle that highly. (You can check that out in Things to Do in Osaka)

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