Osaka Travel Guide - Getting There

By train: Japan's excellent high-speed bullet trains connect Tokyo to Osaka in little more than two hours. Trains arrive at the Shin-Osaka station in the north of the city, from where you can take the subway to the centre. There are services to many other places throughout Japan including Hiroshima, Okayama, Fukuoka, Sapporo and Aomori.

By bus: the cheapest way of travelling around the country is by long-distance bus. There are routes to many locations and the buses are generally comfortable and well equipped. The JR Bus Group is one of the largest operators and tickets for their journeys can be purchased at railway stations.

By air: international flights arrive at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Bay, 40kms to the south of the city. Several airlines operate routes to Europe and North America. Although it handles domestic flights, over half of internal flights use the older Osaka International Airport, otherwise known as Itami Airport. There are regular flights throughout the day from Tokyo, taking approximately 65 minutes.