Home of the instant noodle, karaoke and even the ATM, it is said that if a product sells in Osaka, it will sell in Japan. Osaka is a great city to do business in, though a little expensive. Corruption is at a minimum. Business is viewed by most Japanese as a noble endeavor, and doing business is tightly intertwined with Japan’s culture and identity. Business travelers will find everything they require in Osaka, including world-class conference and convention centers, business hotels and a range of advanced technology. If it is new, exciting and runs on batteries, you will see it first in Osaka.

Organizations like the Osaka Business and Investment Centre make a concerted effort to increase foreign investment in the city and its environs. The Osaka prefectural and municipal governments and the Chamber of Commerce started O-BIC through a joint effort in April 2001. O-BIC promotes foreign investment in Osaka and other areas of the Japanese market by offering in-depth assistance and expert advice tailored to the individual requirements of each organization. With such a large spender-base, Osaka is a favorite for foreign companies looking to introduce brands and products into the rather picky Japanese marketplace. A side effect of that investment comes in the form of 210,000 foreign nationals who live and work in the city. O-BIC offers incentives for foreign business including tax relief, government loans and promotion subsidies. This factor, combined with Osaka’s appealing cost of production and living, makes the city very attractive to business-minded people.

Where to Stay

Hyatt Regency Osaka
Situated at Osaka Bay on Cosmo Square,the Hyatt Regency Osaka is a hotel that blends exceptional standards of comfort with the best of Japanese hospitality. The hotel has 500 guestrooms in addition to three executive floors with additional services for business travelers. A business center offers everything from the rental of mobile phones and digital cameras to business-card printing and international courier services.

Hyatt Regency Osaka, 1-13-11 Nanko-Kita

Suminoe-Ku, Osaka 559-0034, Japan
tel 81 6 6612 1234, fax 81 6 6614 7800
www.osaka.regency.hyatt.com

Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka

The Rihga Royal Hotel offers 987 guestrooms,banquet facilities and 21 restaurants and bars. Rooms include the option of broadband or wireless Internet connections and there are business and concierge services as well. A swimming pool, spa and sauna are available, as are a jogging track and massage services: Additional charges apply.

Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka

5-3-68 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku
Osaka 530-0005, Japan
tel 81 6 6448 1121
fax 81 6 6448 4414
www.rihga.com/osaka

Hotel Nikko Osaka

Hotel Nikko Osaka offers small (by international standards, though common in Japan) single rooms with TV, minibar, Internet and double bed, perfect for business travelers on the go. The 32-floor hotel was built in 1982 and has a wide range of dining and drinking options, both Japanese and Western.

Hotel Nikko Osaka

1-3-3 Nishi-Shinsaibashi
Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0086, Japan, tel 81 6 6244 1111
fax 81 6 6245-2432, www.hno.co.jp

Osaka Tokyu Hotel

The Osaka Tokyu Hotel, situated in Kita-ku, offers 336 guestrooms and suites. Rooms include Internet access, satellite television and basic amenities such as shampoo, slippers and shoeshine. A variety of dining venues includes Western dishes at Chez Lierre and Italian cuisine at the Parma restaurant.

Osaka Tokyu Hotel, 7-20, Chayamachi, Kita-ku
Osaka 530-0013, Japan, tel 81 6 6373 2411
fax 81 6 6376 0343

Where to Dine

Japan is well-known for its food — quality is always great and some selections are a bit on the adventurous side. Dining out in Japan can be an expensive undertaking, but the quality, due to local expectations, is the highest in the world.

Aruna Indian Restaurant

Aruna Indian Restaurant has tackled the cultural barrier between Indian and Japanese cuisine. By and large, Japanese don’t favor Indian flavors, but this place has a strong following. It’s also popular with expatriates who need a curry fix. Main dishes cost $9 to $13.

Aruna Indian Restaurant
Aruna Eki Mae San Building B1 Umeda, 1-1-3 Kita-ku
Osaka 530, Japan, tel 81 6 6345 5211

What to See

Universal Studios Japan is a hugely popular theme park covering 135 acres. It is the largest of its kind in Japan and a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Admission is $50.

Hankyu Entertainment Plaza has 11 floors of shopping, several restaurants and five cinemas, three of which are Osaka’s largest. This is a great place for some retail therapy between meetings. Try a river cruise along the Aqualine River. Cruises depart on the hour and cost $14. A nice way to see the city without the crowds and noise.

The Umeda Sky Building is 10-minute walk from Osaka Station and has an excellent view from the rooftop Floating Garden Observatory. Take in a locally produced movie in the basement cinema. Admission to the building is $10.

Osaka Gogoku Shrine was erected in May 1940 in dedication to the Emperor Nintoku and all soldiers from Osaka. A total of 360,000 people volunteered their labor to help build the shrine. Approximately 1,000 donated cherry and paulownia trees to embellish the site.

Osaka Castle is without doubt the city’s most famous sight. Japanese ruler Hideyoshi ordered the castle built in 1583 to demonstrate his power and commitment to Osaka and to attract merchants from all over Japan. Inside the castle, a museum highlights artifacts of the Toyotomi family and historical objects relating to Osaka prior to the Tokugawa Shogunate.

The sightseeing taxi service takes you to famous landmarks and hidden gems, while drivers provide information tailored to your schedule and interests. Themes include “Water Metropolis,” “Trade Capital” and “History.” Cost for a three-hour tour averages $109 per party of four.

Want to Go?

Osaka is strategically located at a point central to many of Japan’s other large metropolitan cities. The Shinkansen (Bullet Train), which runs between Osaka and Tokyo in only 2 and 1/2 hours, transports 500 million travelers each year.

The national carrier of Japan is Japan Airlines, but many airlines fly to Japan from the United States, including All Nippon Airways, Continental Airlines and United Airlines.

Kansai International Airport (KIX)is located on reclaimed land, two miles off the coast of the main island of Honshu and 30 miles from Osaka. From Kansai to downtown Osaka, a taxi costs about $91. Limousine buses make regular departures to various destinations in Osaka, taking between 40 minutes and one hour, depending on the destination. Cost is about $12. Even faster is the express train that connects the airport to Namba for transfer to subway service in 30 minutes. Fare is $12.