Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Birdwatching Locations
- Nanko Bird Sanctuary
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Palm Garden Maishima (Designated BBQ and camp areas)
- 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)
Essentials
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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')
Other Services and Amenities
- 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
- 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)