Osaka (OSA) Flights as low as

Osaka is widely known as the “nation’s kitchen”. Maybe that’s because in the Dotonbori district there’s a ramen joint on every corner and a restaurant specialising in fugu—a pufferfish that, if not prepared correctly, could make you feel…um…unwell.

Osaka isn’t just a kitchen, though. It’s a place where you can burn off some of those calories by standing guard at a castle, followed by cheering on your favourite big guy at a sumo match.

All that adventure and more is within reach when you book one of lastminute.co.nz’s cheap flights to Osaka.

Getting Around Osaka

Once flights to Osaka land at Osaka International Airport (ITM), get yourself a car hire deal from lastminute.co.nz, because downtown is 17km away and riding the bus with a million other people isn’t fun.

When You Land…

Shake off that early morning sleepiness with a steaming cup of green tea. We’re thinking any of the tea houses in the Kita district should do the trick. Some of them even give you a complimentary kimono so you can sip in silk!

How do you feel about spending the afternoon defending the city from invading samurai? Well, you probably won’t. Those days are long gone, but you can at least cruise the grounds of Osaka Castle. Pick up a stick of chicken yakitori as you view the downtown skyline from the top of the central tower.

If you’re on one of the Osaka flights touching down at night, skip the pleasantries and head straight for the Dotonbori neighbourhood. Take part in what the Japanese call kuidaore, which roughly translates to “ruin oneself by extravagance in food”. Right up your alley, isn’t it?

Here’s your food agenda, by the way: Ramen at Kinryu Ramen. Then fugu at Zubora-ya. And close it out with a plate of takoyaki.

Live Like Local

When booking hotels in Osaka, consider the Namba district. You’ll be close to Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Why is that good? Because it’s where 300-pound sumo wrestlers slam into each other in the centre of a dirt ring. How’s your appetite now?

A food scene that may be one of the best in the world. A 16th-century samurai castle that’s still standing. Sumo wrestlers doing their sumo thing. It’s all here! Just take a peek at lastminute.co.nz’s selection of Osaka holiday packages and get going to “The Land of the Rising Sun”.