Flights to Osaka

Osaka means "large hill" and that description of this major economic power still fits. Blessed with a superb natural harbor, Osaka has always been a center for commerce and trade, and by the late nineteenth century it was known as "the Manchester of the Orient" for its industrial prowess. Today, Japan's second largest city is the seventh largest metropolitan economy in the world and home to international companies like Sharp and Panasonic.

There's a lot of history in Osaka. The noble Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century, is a magnificent architectural specimen of feudal Japan. Once the largest of its kind in the country, the castle's museum and gardens make it an ideal first stop for newbies. Shitennoji Temple, the oldest in Japan and built over 1,400 years ago, offers another window into the city's glorious past.