Osaka Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 21 November 2024

In Osaka, Japan’s bustling metropolis, visitors can discover historic sites such as Osaka Castle, savour street food in Dotonbori, and enjoy exciting attractions at Universal Studios Japan.

Overview

How many people visit Osaka each year?

Over 15.6 million international tourists visited Osaka in 2023.¹

In 2019, Osaka welcomed 15.8 million international visitors, marking the highest number of recorded visitors in history.

When the pandemic began in 2020, this number dropped by 87% to 2.1 million visits.

By 2021, Osaka experienced an 86% decrease in international tourists (274,860).

Inbound tourism began to rise with 1.8 million visitors in 2022 and continued to recover in 2023 with 15.6 million visitors. However, this was still 1.2% less than 2019 (pre-pandemic)

How many people visited Osaka in 2023?

In 2023, Osaka welcomed a total of 15.6 million international visitors. This represented a 1% increase from the peak pre-pandemic year of 2019.

How much do tourists spend in Osaka every year?

Tourism expenditures were estimated to be over $25.9 billion in 2023. (Due to the lack of Osaka-specific revenue, data are estimated by multiplying Japan’s per capita spending by visitor numbers.)

Inbound tourist expenditure was estimated at $17.11 billion in 2019.

The JNTO reported a 65.8% decrease in both domestic and international revenue in 2020 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
According to the official tourism organisation of Osaka, international expenditure reached $11.2 billion in 2022, signalling the start of recovery.

In 2023, Osaka’s international tourism revenue was estimated at $22.6 billion, surpassing the 2019 figure by 32%.

How much does Osaka make from tourism?

In 2023, Osaka’s international tourists spent almost JPY3.3 trillion or about $22.67 billion.

Which countries visit Osaka the most?

The leading sources of foreign tourists to Osaka are South Korea, followed by China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States.

In 2023, South Korea was the top source of international visitors to Osaka, accounting for 3.5 million visits with 23% of market share.

China contributed approximately 15%, with 2.3 million tourists.

Taiwan accounted for 1.9 million international visits with a market share of 13%.

How much is the average visitor spending per capita?

The average visitor spending per capita was JPY 158,531 in 2023.

In 2019, the average visitor spending per capita amounted to JPY 212,764.

How many days should tourists spend in Osaka?

Generally, tourists spend between 3 and 5 days exploring Osaka’s popular cities and attractions.²

Japan Travel Resources

How far is Osaka from Tokyo?

The direct distance between Osaka and Tokyo is about 397 kilometres, the actual travel distance can vary significantly based on the chosen method of transportation.

Air Travel: The straight-line distance (or air travel distance) is approximately 397 kilometres (about 247 miles)

Shinkansen (Bullet Train): The travel distance by Shinkansen is roughly 515 kilometres (approximately 320 miles), with journey times ranging from 2.5 to 3 hours depending on the service type.

Driving Distance: If travelling by car, the distance is around 500 kilometres (about 310 miles), and the drive typically takes about 6 to 8 hours, depending on traffic conditions

How popular is Osaka as a tourist destination?

Osaka welcomed 15.6 million international tourists in 2023, securing the top position among “World-famous tourist destinations in Japan”.

Osaka ranks 3rd on the list of “Must Visit Places in Japan”.³

Osaka Tourist Attractions

Universal Studios Japan (USJ), Asia’s first Universal Studios theme park, opened in 2001 and is now one of Japan’s most popular amusement parks.

Minami, near Namba Station, is a major city centre known for its entertainment, dining, and shopping.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, in Tempozan Harbor Village, is a renowned aquarium showcasing Pacific Rim marine life.

The Tenjin Festival, held annually on July 24-25, is one of Japan’s top three festivals, featuring a grand procession and fireworks.

Osaka Castle, built in 1583, was intended as the centre of a unified Japan under Toyotomi Hideyoshi.