Why go
- Designated city in Kansai, Japan.
- Served by Kansai International Airport (KIX).
History
Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the second biggest prefectural city, third-most populous city proper in Japan, following the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With an estimated population of 2.8 million as of October 1, 2025 and a population density of about 12,505 people per square kilometer, it is the largest component of the Keihanshin metropolitan area, the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan and the 10th-largest urban area in the world with more than 19 million inhabitants.
Airports
Kansai International Airport (KIX) 39 km to the centre
Osaka, 27, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 51 airlines (All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines Domestic, Peach Aviation, Air China…) · direct flights to 57 destinations incl. Taipei, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Busan… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 51 airlines, 57 direct destinations
- All Nippon Airways NH (737, 767-300, A321, A330-200, 737-800, 777-200…) · 29 routes: Agana*, Bangkok*, Beijing, Dalian, Denpasar, Doha*, Frankfurt*, Fukuoka, Fuzhou*, Hakodate, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Ishigaki, Istanbul*, Jakarta, Jinan*, Macau*, Okinawa, Qingdao, San Francisco*, Sapporo, Seoul*, Seoul*, Shanghai, Singapore*, Taipei, Tokyo, Tokyo*, Wuxi*
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (737-800, A330-200, A320, A330-300, 767, 777-300…) · 24 routes: Bangkok, Busan*, Cairns*, Cheju*, Coolangatta*, Doha, Dubai*, Guangzhou*, Hanoi*, Helsinki*, Ho Chi Minh City*, Hong Kong*, Honolulu, Kuala Lumpur*, Nanjing*, Qingdao*, Sapporo, Seoul, Seoul*, Shanghai, Shenyang*, Taipei, Tokyo, Yantai*
- Peach Aviation MM (A320) · 14 routes: Busan, Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Ishigaki, Kagoshima, Kaohsiung, Matsuyama, Nagasaki, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo
- Air China CA (737-800, A320, A321, 330, 737, 767-300) · 6 routes: Beijing, Dalian, Hangzhou*, Jinan*, Qingdao*, Shanghai
- Korean Air KE (737-900, 777-200, 737-800, A330-200, A330-300, 777-300ER) · 5 routes: Agana, Busan, Cheju, Seoul, Seoul
- Asiana Airlines OZ (A321, 767-300, 777-200, 777-200LR, 74E) · 4 routes: Busan*, Saipan, Seoul, Seoul
- China Airlines CI (737-800, 747-400, A330-300, A340-300) · 4 routes: Kaohsiung, New York, Taichung, Taipei
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A320, A321, 737-800) · 4 routes: Nanjing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Yantai
- China Southern Airlines CZ (A319, A320, A321) · 4 routes: Dalian, Guangzhou, Harbin, Shenyang
- Genesis GK (A320) · 4 routes: Fukuoka, Okinawa, Sapporo, Tokyo
- Cathay Pacific CX (A330-300, 777-300, 777-300ER, A340-300, 747-400, 777-200) · 2 routes: Hong Kong, Taipei
- Delta Air Lines DL (A330-300, 757-200) · 2 routes: Agana, Honolulu
- Garuda Indonesia GA (A330-200, A330-300) · 2 routes: Denpasar, Jakarta
- Japan Transocean Air NU (734) · 2 routes: Ishigaki, Okinawa
- Jeju Air 7C (737) · 2 routes: Seoul, Seoul
- Jetstar Airways JQ (A330-200) · 2 routes: Cairns, Coolangatta
- Jetstar Asia Airways 3K (A320) · 2 routes: Manila, Taipei
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (747-400) · 2 routes: Frankfurt, Tokyo
- Qantas QF (A330-200) · 2 routes: Cairns*, Coolangatta*
- Shandong Airlines SC (737-800, 767-300) · 2 routes: Jinan, Qingdao*
- Shenzhen Airlines ZH (A320, 737-800) · 2 routes: Fuzhou, Wuxi
- United Airlines UA (737-800, 777, 787-8, 737-700) · 2 routes: Agana, San Francisco
- Vietnam Airlines VN (A321, A330-200) · 2 routes: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
- Air Busan BX (A321) · 1 route: Busan
- Air Caledonie International SB (A330-200) · 1 route: Noumea
- Air France AF (777-200, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Paris
- Air India Limited AI (787-8) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- Air Macau NX (A319) · 1 route: Macau
- AirAsia X D7 (330) · 1 route: Kuala Lumpur
- Alitalia AZ (330) · 1 route: Rome
- American Airlines AA (777) · 1 route: Honolulu
- Bangkok Airways PG (767) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Cebu Pacific 5J (A320) · 1 route: Manila
- China SSS 9C (A320) · 1 route: Shanghai
- Eastar Jet ZE (737-800) · 1 route: Seoul
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- EVA Air BR (A321, A330-200) · 1 route: Taipei
- Finnair AY (A330-300) · 1 route: Helsinki
- Hawaiian Airlines HA (A330-200) · 1 route: Honolulu
- Hong Kong Express Airways UO (A320) · 1 route: Hong Kong
- Juneyao Airlines HO (A320) · 1 route: Shanghai
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (777) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- Malaysia Airlines MH (A330-300) · 1 route: Kuala Lumpur
- Philippine Airlines PR (330, A340-300) · 1 route: Manila
- Qatar Airways QR (A330-200) · 1 route: Doha
- Shanghai Airlines FM (A321, 737-800) · 1 route: Shanghai
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (A330-300) · 1 route: Singapore
- Star Flyer 7G (A320) · 1 route: Tokyo
- Thai Airways International TG (380, 777-300) · 1 route: Bangkok
- TransAsia Airways GE (A321, 330) · 1 route: Taipei
- Turkish Airlines TK (330) · 1 route: Istanbul
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM) 9.6 km to the centre
Osaka, 27, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 4 airlines (Japan Airlines Domestic, All Nippon Airways, Ibex Airlines, American Airlines) · direct flights to 22 destinations incl. Fukuoka, Oita, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 4 airlines, 22 direct destinations
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (Embraer 170, CRJ, 737-800, 777-300, 767, 777) · 20 routes: Akita*, Amami*, Aomori*, Fukuoka, Hakodate*, Hanamaki*, Kagoshima*, Kumamoto*, Matsuyama*, Misawa*, Miyazaki*, Nagasaki*, Niigata*, Oita*, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai*, Tokyo, Tokyo, Yamagata*
- All Nippon Airways NH (A320, 735, 767, DH8, 737, 737-800…) · 16 routes: Akita*, Fukuoka, Fukushima*, Kagoshima, Kochi*, Kumamoto, Matsuyama*, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Niigata, Oita*, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Tokyo
- Ibex Airlines FW (CRJ) · 5 routes: Fukuoka, Fukushima, Oita, Sapporo, Sendai
- American Airlines AA (737, 777-300) · 1 route: Tokyo
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Kobe Airport (UKB) 27 km to the centre
Kobe, 28, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 3 airlines (Skymark Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Hokkaido International Airlines) · direct flights to 8 destinations incl. Sapporo, Okinawa, Tokyo, Ibaraki, Kagoshima… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 8 direct destinations
- Skymark Airlines BC (737) · 8 routes: Ibaraki, Kagoshima, Miho, Nagasaki, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo
- All Nippon Airways NH (737, 767) · 3 routes: Okinawa*, Sapporo, Tokyo
- Hokkaido International Airlines HD (735) · 1 route: Sapporo
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) 120 km to the centre
Tokoname, 23, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 27 airlines (All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines Domestic, Delta Air Lines, China Eastern Airlines…) · direct flights to 42 destinations incl. Seoul, Shanghai, Sapporo, Agana, Bangkok… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 120 km from Osaka · All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines Domestic, Delta Air Lines · Getting around Nagoya →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 27 airlines, 42 direct destinations
- All Nippon Airways NH (737, A320, 735, 737-800, DH8, 767…) · 25 routes: Agana*, Akita*, Asahikawa, Bangkok*, Beijing*, Frankfurt*, Fukuoka, Hakodate, Hong Kong, Ishigaki, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Matsuyama*, Memanbetsu, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Niigata*, Oita*, Okinawa, Sapporo, Sendai, Seoul*, Shanghai, Singapore*, Tokyo
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (737-800, A330-300, A321, 777-300, A330-200, A340-300…) · 14 routes: Bangkok*, Busan*, Hanoi*, Helsinki*, Hong Kong*, Honolulu, Qingdao*, Sapporo*, Seoul*, Shanghai, Taipei, Tianjin, Tokyo, Tokyo
- Delta Air Lines DL (747-400, 757-200, 76W) · 4 routes: Agana, Detroit, Honolulu, Manila
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A320, A321, 737-800) · 3 routes: Qingdao, Shanghai, Tianjin*
- China Southern Airlines CZ (A319, A320) · 3 routes: Dalian, Shanghai, Shenyang
- Genesis GK (A320) · 3 routes: Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Sapporo
- Ibex Airlines FW (CRJ) · 3 routes: Fukuoka, Oita, Sendai
- Korean Air KE (737-800, A330-200, A330-300, 737-900, 777-200) · 3 routes: Busan, Cheju, Seoul
- Skymark Airlines BC (737) · 3 routes: Ibaraki, Okinawa, Sapporo
- Air China CA (A319, 737-800) · 2 routes: Beijing, Shanghai
- American Airlines AA (777, 787) · 2 routes: Honolulu, Tokyo
- Cathay Pacific CX (A330-300, A340-300) · 2 routes: Hong Kong, Taipei
- Jeju Air 7C (737) · 2 routes: Seoul, Seoul
- Vietnam Airlines VN (A321) · 2 routes: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
- AirAsia X D7 (330) · 1 route: Kuala Lumpur
- Asiana Airlines OZ (A321, 767-300) · 1 route: Seoul
- Cebu Pacific 5J (A320) · 1 route: Manila
- China Airlines CI (A330-300, 737-800, 747-400) · 1 route: Taipei
- Etihad Airways EY (A330-200) · 1 route: Beijing
- Finnair AY (A330-300) · 1 route: Helsinki
- Japan Transocean Air NU (734) · 1 route: Okinawa
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A340-300) · 1 route: Frankfurt
- Philippine Airlines PR (A340-300) · 1 route: Manila
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (A330-300) · 1 route: Singapore
- Thai Airways International TG (777-300, 777) · 1 route: Bangkok
- Turkish Airlines TK (A321) · 1 route: Seoul*
- United Airlines UA (737-800, 737-700) · 1 route: Agana
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
十三船着場
Ferry terminal · 1.5 km from the centre · 近畿地方整備局淀川河川事務所
堂島浜船着場
Ferry terminal · 1.8 km from the centre
淀屋橋港
Ferry terminal · 2.1 km from the centre · 大阪水上バス株式会社
OAP Pier
Ferry terminal · 2.1 km from the centre
中之島ローズポート
Ferry terminal · 2.2 km from the centre
Fukushima Wharf (Hotarumachi Wharf)
Ferry terminal · 2.3 km from the centre
甚兵衛渡船場
Ferry route
落合上渡船場
Ferry route
Ochiaisimo Tosen
Ferry route
千歳渡船場
Ferry route · 大阪市
千本松渡船場
Ferry route
Tenpozan Ferry
Ferry route
Captain Line
Ferry route · 株式会社キャプテンライン
Funamachi Tosen
Ferry route · 大阪市
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Kansai International Airport (KIX); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: KIX has direct flights to 57 destinations on 51 airlines (incl. Taipei, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Busan…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: 十三船着場, 1.5 km); routes include 甚兵衛渡船場, 落合上渡船場, Ochiaisimo Tosen.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Osaka, Japan. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Metro, bus · Osaka's subway lines and city buses. · Fares: ICOCA IC card · Airport: Nankai Rapi:t or JR Haruka from Kansai airport
Trains & rail
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Charter, management · Gulfstream, Global · Tokyo and Hong Kong business-jet operator.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Tours & experiences
Adventure