🇯🇵 Osaka,
Japan
#472
Nomad Score
7.3
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34.6937569, 135.5014539
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ESSENTIALS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏙️ City | Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Kansai Region, Japan |
| 👥 Population | Approx. 2,750,000 (City), 19,000,000 (Metropolitan) |
| 💻 Internet Speed | High (Avg: 150-300 Mbps; Fiber optics widely available) |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | Japanese Yen (JPY). 1 USD ≈ 150 JPY, 1 EUR ≈ 162 JPY |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Safe to drink/Potable |
| 🔌 Power | 100V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (Flat two-pin) |
| 📶 SIM Card | Mobal, Sakura Mobile, or U biglobe (Available at Kansai Airport KIX) |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | Sony Bank (English support), Wise, Shinsei Bank |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Monthly Mansions (KaguAruoo), Airbnb, Live in Osaka |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Improving: PayPay and Suica/Pasmo cards widely accepted; cash still needed for small temples/izakayas |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb, Oakhouse, MetroResidences |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi (Approx. ¥3,500/night) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Namba or Shinsaibashi (Dotonbori area for food and nightlife) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Horie or Kita-Horie (Trendy, quiet cafes, walkable to Namba) |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | The Hub Osaka Shinsaibashi (¥2,200/day) |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | Brooklyn Roasting Company Kitahama (Great river views, fast Wi-Fi) |
| 💼 Networking Events | Osaka Digital Nomads & Expats Meetup (via Meetup.com) |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | WhyNot Japan Parties (Regular mixers in Shinsaibashi) |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | GO app, Uber (Uber usually summons local licensed taxis) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Hubchari / Docomo Bike Share (¥165 per 30 mins) |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Nishiki-no-hama Beach (45 mins via Nankai Line) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | Peach Aviation (Based at KIX) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | Japan Airlines (JAL), ANA |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | Hanshin Expressway (Connects Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto) |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | JR Osaka Station / Umeda Station |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | ICOCA Card (Reloadable), Enjoy Eco Card (¥820 day pass for subways) |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | JR West Shinkansen (to Tokyo/Hiroshima), Hankyu Railway (to Kyoto/Kobe) |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏥 Best Hospital | Osaka University Hospital or Rinku General Medical Center (English available) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Studio Yoggy Osaka (Umeda) |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Anytime Fitness (Multiple locations, ¥8,000/month), Gold's Gym Namba |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Coin Laundry Pierre (Multiple 24/7 locations, ¥400-¥1,200) |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | UberEats, Wolt |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Takoyaki (Octopus balls) at Wanaka Namba (¥600 for 8) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Paprika Shokudo Vegan (Shinmachi) |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Rikuro Ojisan no Mise (Cheesecake, Namba) |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Don Quijote (Dotonbori), Kuromon Ichiba Market |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Amazon Japan, Rakuten |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | Aeon Online Shop, Rakuten Seiyu Netsuper |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Ura Namba (Hidden gems) and Shinsaibashi Neon district |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Minoh Beer (Award-winning local craft beer) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | Tasogare Wine Stand (Shinsaibashi) |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Dotonbori Waterfront (Glico Sign area) |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Critters Burger (Shinsaibashi) - American style |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Osaka Castle (¥600 entry) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | National Museum of Art, Osaka (Nakanoshima) |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | Shitennoji Temple (One of Japan's oldest) |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | Sumiyoshi Taisha (Unique Shinto architecture) |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Tenjin Matsuri (July 24-25, one of Japan's top 3 festivals) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | Shinsekai (Retro 1900s vibes with Tsutenkaku Tower) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | National Bunraku Theatre (Traditional puppet theater) |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Kuromon Ichiba Market (The 'Kitchen of Osaka') |
| 🎼 Music Scene | Billboard Live Osaka (Umeda) |
| 🎨 Street Art | Amerikamura (Graffiti and youth fashion district) |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Eat Osaka (Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki classes near Tsutenkaku) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | Tezukayama Gallery (Contemporary art) |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | Osaka City Central Public Hall (Neo-Renaissance style) |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | Kuidaore Culture (Philosophy of 'eating until you drop') |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Minoo Park (Waterfalls and wild monkeys, 30 mins away) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Setonaikai National Park (Accessible via ferry/train) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | Yodo River Park (Long flat paths for cycling) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden (¥1,500) |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Nanko Bird Sanctuary |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Palm Garden Maishima (Designated BBQ and camp areas) |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | Yamato Transport (Kuroneko) or Sagawa Express |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | Apple Store Shinsaibashi, PC Clinic Umeda |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Star Table Tennis Club (Namba) |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Arc Academy Osaka |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | Nakanoshima Library (Stunning architecture, quiet study rooms) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Osaka International House (i-House) |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | e-sports Hotel BASK (Dotonbori) |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Round 1 Stadium Sennichimae (Arcades; Casinos currently unavailable, pending Yumeshima resort completion) |
BUSINESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. ¥1,100,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = ¥27,500,000 / $183,000) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. ¥650,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = ¥16,250,000 / $108,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. ¥1,000,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = ¥45,000,000 / $300,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. ¥550,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = ¥24,750,000 / $165,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. ¥950,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = ¥66,500,000 / $443,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. ¥480,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = ¥33,600,000 / $224,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | Approx. 30.6% (Effective rate including local taxes) |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 20.42% (Standard rate for non-residents) |
| 🏦 Tax System | Residence-based (Worldwide income for permanent residents after 5 years) |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 45% (Over ¥40M income) |
| 🧾 VAT | 10% (Standard); 8% (Groceries/Takeaway) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | Yes, comprehensive anti-tax haven rules apply |
| 🏠 Property Tax | 1.4% Fixed Assets Tax + 0.3% City Planning Tax annually |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | Approx. 3-4% (Real estate acquisition tax) plus registration fees |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | New 6-month Digital Nomad Visa (April 2024 launch) allows remote work under tax treaty conditions (no local income tax if staying under 183 days) |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING OSAKA