Osaka/Kansai in Japan
Osaka/Kansai (also known as the Kinki region) hosted the 2025 World Expo and remains a must-visit destination in Japan.
As a licensed guide in Japan, I’d like to briefly explain what Osaka and the Kansai region are.
Osaka Prefecture:
Japan consists of 47 prefectures, and Osaka Prefecture is one of them. It has a population of over 8 million people and an area of nearly 2,000 square kilometers, making it the second smallest prefecture in Japan by area.
Osaka City:
Osaka City is one of the 43 municipalities within Osaka Prefecture. With a population of approximately 2.6 million, it ranks second among Japanese cities after Yokohama, which has about 3.6 million residents. (Tokyo is not included in this ranking, as it is not officially classified as a city.)
Osaka is located about 500 km (300 miles) west of Tokyo, the current capital of Japan.
The Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo travels at speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph) and reaches Osaka in approximately 2.5 hours.
What is Kansai?:
Kansai refers to a region that generally includes six to eight prefectures.
It typically consists of Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga, Nara, and Wakayama Prefectures.
In some cases, Mie, Tottori, and Tokushima are also included, depending on how the term “Kansai” is used.
The region was historically also known as Kinki. However, because the word can sound similar to “kinky” in English and may cause misunderstanding, the term Kansai is now more commonly used in English.
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
Kansai International Airport opened in 1994 on reclaimed land in Osaka Bay. It is located about one hour from Osaka City by car or train.