Osaka

About Osaka

Osaka Prefecture is centered in Kinki on Honshu area only 1,905.26 square kilometers 46th smallest ahead only Kagawa but estimated population 8,758,785 July 1 2026 density 4,597 per square kilometer second densest after Tokyo and third most populous behind Tokyo and Kanagawa, GDP about 43.124 trillion yen 2022 second after Tokyo accounting US 318 billion. Capital Osaka City has 2.77 million people with 12,215 density ward. Geography centers on Osaka Plain surrounded north by Hokusetsu mountains continuing to Tamba highlands 600 meters, east by Ikoma and Kongo ranges bordering Nara creating barrier but Nara convo through, south by Izumi mountains 800 meters bordering Wakayama with Katsuragi peaks, southwest opening to Osaka Bay with Yodo River system including Okawa Dojima Tosabori Ajigawa flowing into bay canal network historic. Osaka Plain includes alluvial and terrace. Historically corresponds to eastern Settsu seven districts all Kawachi and all Izumi collectively called Sekkasen plus very small Tamba part annexed from Kyoto 1958 with Kashida village entire and part Kameoka city former Tamba Kuwa. Origin was Osaka Court established 1868 May 2 from Osaka Magistrate house where Tokugawa direct, integrated Takatsuki and Asada han prefectures 1871 after abolition han, absorbed Sakai Prefecture 1881 including Yamato Province then split Nara 1887 returning to near present boundaries of 43 municipalities. The name changed from Kosaka Osaka in medieval writings referencing Uemachi plateau height to Osaka 1868 with big claiming pun. Climate is Seto Inland Sea type warm relatively dry moderate year round with average temperature 17.6 Celsius annual precipitation about 1,338 millimeter in Osaka City observation 23 meters elevation, rare snow on plains one centimeter few times winter but frequent tropical nights summer due heat island effect over 40 days yearly muggy 67 percent humidity, typhoon season September maximum precipitation. Industry is commerce finance logistics hub Kinki with largest commercial land price Midosuji, birthplace Panasonic Sharp Ezaki Glico Suntory Kintetsu, chemical pharmaceutical companies Shionogi Takeda main plant machinery SMEs clustering Metal Smelting, Namba and Umeda fashion retail entertainment worldwide vibrancy, Universal Studios Japan theme park 15 million visitors Nintendo Super World and upcoming IR casino Expo 2025 site Yumeshima. Food culture takoyaki okonomiyaki kushikatsu as soul food chapter. Sightseeing sites include Osaka Castle Main Tower eight floor 1583 Toyotomi Hideyoshi original rebuilt 1931 concrete symbol plus Osaka Business Park OBP highrise office, Tsutenkaku Tower 108 meters in Shinsekai southern retro district Billiken statue, Dotonbori neon shops Ebisu Bridge Glico running man sign photospot, Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group UNESCO World Heritage ancient burial mounds 49 keyhole shape tombs including Daisenryo Kofun reportedly Emperor Nintoku tomb one largest volume in world 486 m length 35 meter height 5th century mystery royal power, Kishiwada Danjiri Festival middle September pulling 1 tonne wood floats attached 200 meters rope at high speed turning corners thrilling four wheels taxing team, Tondabayashi Jinaimachi preserved Edo temple town Jodo Shinshu plum cloth 16 buildings autonomy. Tenjin Matsuri July 24-25 is one of three great festivals Japan with 100 boats evening fireworks Okawa River mikoshi embark.