Osaka shouldn’t be Tokyo. It has by no means tried to be. Whereas the nation’s capital exudes a buttoned-up magnificence and a cosmopolitan charisma present in solely a handful of world megacities, “tenka no daidokoro,” which interprets to “Japan’s kitchen”—a nickname relationship to the Edo interval when the town was a significant rice-trading hub—has a much more informal attraction: much less pristine and polished, extra energetic and grounded. The legendary meals scene ranges from acclaimed omakase counters to stalls slinging takoyaki in Dotonbori. Of observe, Osaka has 79 Michelin-starred eating places and tons of of “buying arcades” lined with comfort shops, noodle retailers, standing bars and izakayas, the place sake, beer and shochu stream. A brand new crop of cafes serves pour-overs with beans rigorously sourced from around the globe and makes matcha lattes with out the gimmicks of sugary syrup.
Whereas the consuming and consuming tradition stays the first cause many vacationers hop on a Shinkansen, Osaka has emerged past its culinary credentials, changing into an thrilling city hub for arts and design. In 2025, Osaka noticed a report 17.6 million guests. Expo 2025 Osaka, which ran from April to October, introduced hundreds of thousands of abroad vacationers, and spring’s sakura cherry blossom season at all times means an inflow of holiday makers. Western Japan’s largest metropolis was additionally named the highest trending vacation spot within the Tripadvisor Vacationers’ Alternative Awards. Many issues draw vacationers to Osaka—avenue meals, museums, Osaka Citadel—however traditionally, inns haven’t been considered one of them. Up till lately, the lodging scene was extra purposeful than anything; largely business-oriented, mid-tier and finances stays, although with the notable old-school exceptions The St. Regis Osaka, The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka and Conrad Osaka. That every one modified with the opening of 4 Seasons Resort Osaka in August 2024, adopted by the Waldorf Astoria Osaka and Patina Osaka in April and Could 2025, respectively. The Osaka Station Resort, Autograph Assortment, which opened in late July 2024, additionally supplies a swank crash pad at a barely cheaper price level. These new luxurious inns fill the high-end hospitality void by merging up to date design, cultural custom and state-of-the-art wellness, interesting to discerning vacationers and bolstering the tourism profile of Japan’s second metropolis.
