Tips for Riding the Subways and Trains in OsakaAvoid riding subways and trains during rush hours (7.30am-9.30am and 5pm-8pm).
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Especially when visiting large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, you will want to avoid traveling during rush hour. Throughout Japan, rush hour typically lasts from 7 AM to 9 AM each morning, and 5 PM to 7 PM each evening.
You can visit Osaka at any time of year because the weather is temperate. The best times to visit Osaka are the fall (October/November) and spring (March/April/May). Summer (June/July/August) in Osaka is hot and humid. Winter (December/January/February) in Osaka is cold but not too cold for traveling.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to OsakaHigh season is considered to be January, November and December. The cheapest month to fly from the United States is September.
If you want to be at the heart of everything, Tokyo can be your best bet. But, if you want to enjoy a lower cost of living and friendlier neighbors, Osaka can be the better choice. Both cities have something unique to offer, and living in either city can be a fantastic experience.
You can use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica for all trains, subways and buses in Osaka. You can also use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica at many shops, especially convenience stores. You can use Icoca/Pasmo/Suica in other parts of Japan as well. Buy Icoca cards from vending machines at JR stations in Osaka.
With a large number of commuters, it can be extremely busy on train lines during weekdays. It gets so busy during 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. in particular; if you are not careful, you may find yourself swept away in the sea of people (literally)! The morning rush hour generally lasts until about 9:00 a.m.
The JR Pass does not allow you to ride on subways or trams within cities. However, most big cities have a few JR lines that you can use to go around, like the Osaka Loop or Kanjo line and the Tokyo Yamanote line, for example.
Peak SeasonsThe spring months of March through May and the autumn season of September through November are the times that many people choose for their Japan vacation. Temperatures and rainfall are generally mild during these times, and you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing or autumn leaf viewing, respectively.
As you travel around Japan and stay in other cities, you'll find that the prices are less than Tokyo. Even Osaka – another big city – is about 25 per cent cheaper on average. The only main city that isn't necessarily much cheaper than Tokyo is Kyoto, but that's because it is such a popular tourist destination.
How many days should I spend in Osaka? I recommend at least 5 days to see the must-see of the Kansai region, namely Osaka and Kyoto. But it would be better if you could stay for at least 8 days, which will allow you to visit all the best highlights of Kansai: Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Himeji, and Hiroshima.
Cheap street food like okonomiyaki, takoyaki, ramen, soba and udon costs between 500 and 1,000 JPY (4.60 to 9.25 USD). Casual dining in Osaka can cost between 1,000 and 3,000 JPY (9.25 to 28 USD), and restaurants often offer discounted “set menus” during lunchtime.
It's known for having some of the best food in Japan and it offers plenty to do for first-time visitors. If it's your first trip and you don't have a lot of time, then I'd say that 3 days in Osaka is ideal. It'll give you enough time to see the city's top attractions without feeling rushed.
Also, it can be difficult to use Japan's public transport system without cash, as you will almost always need it to recharge your IC card or to purchase a train ticket. That being said, I would say you should bring enough cash so that you have at least 10,000 yen of spending money per day.