Destination Profile
A warm Osakan welcome means a frothy beer in a worker's tavern and a plate of Takoyaki tempura balls. That's the way to kick-start any visit to Japan's ancient mercantile city. Its downtown is a neon haze of energy-pulsing blocks, imbued with cookhouses and sushi conveyers, industrial-chic towers and hidden Shinto shrines. Topping the lot off is Osaka Castle. Find it crowning an islet between blossoming cherry trees, oozing tales of the country's hard-fought Shogun clan wars. Wanderlust piqued? Cheap flights to Osaka from USA can go nonstop from Honolulu, LA, and San Francisco, while bargain tickets that include stopovers leave from all sorts of other cities across the stars and stripes.
Old Osaka Castle rises between cherry blossoms to tell stories of Japans feudal wars.
Dotonbori is the buzzing heart of Osaka. It's cut through by canals, lit by neon, and has oodles of shopping and dining.
Shinsekai is an industrial-chic quarter of Osaka where bars and beer halls mingle down alleys.
American Airlines fly direct between the United States of America and Osaka.
Qatar Airways is the best airline to fly from the United States of America to Osaka. If you would like direct flights then American Airlines is best. WestJet is the best budget airline.