Is Osaka safe?
Very safe, with rowdier nightlife than most Japanese cities. Theft is rare; the main risks are drunks, touts and bicycles.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-14.
- Homicide rate in Japan: 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Japan: 3.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
Safety in Osaka at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Occasional bag snatching and pickpocketing in Dotonbori and Shinsekai crowds, touts and hustlers in Minami, and bicycle theft. |
| At night | Lively late in Minami, Umeda and Shinsekai; mostly safe. Watch drinks and bills in tout-heavy streets. Last trains stop around midnight. |
| Solo women | Solo women generally feel safe at any hour. Avoid the Airin district late, and ignore touts in Minami. |
| Other risks | Heat above 35°C in Jul–Aug; Typhoons Aug–Oct; Earthquakes; check Safety tips app on arrival |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Touts in Minami steering visitors to bars with hidden charges
- 'Free' drink promoters in Soemoncho and Dotonbori
- Unlicensed taxis at Kansai airport and near Shin-Osaka
Take care
- Airin district (Nishinari): rough, avoid wandering at night
- Dotonbori and Soemoncho late nights: touts and fights
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Short-term visitors must carry their passport at all times; police may ask for it.
- Adderall and strong pseudoephedrine decongestants are banned; check medicines before packing.
- Cannabis, including CBD with THC, is illegal; using it has been a crime since Dec 2024.
How Osaka compares in Japan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kyoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Osaka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hiroshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nara | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sapporo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Okinawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakone | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kawaguchiko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Niseko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yokohama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kanazawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Takayama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagoya | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nikko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kamakura | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kobe | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakuba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ishigaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagasaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Shirakawa-go | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Miyakojima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakodate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Otaru | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Beppu | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matsumoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Koyasan | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Furano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sendai | 5/5 · Very safe |
Quick answers
Is Osaka safe for solo female travelers?
Solo women generally feel safe at any hour. Avoid the Airin district late, and ignore touts in Minami.
Is Osaka safe at night?
Lively late in Minami, Umeda and Shinsekai; mostly safe. Watch drinks and bills in tout-heavy streets. Last trains stop around midnight.
What is the crime rate in Osaka?
Occasional bag snatching and pickpocketing in Dotonbori and Shinsekai crowds, touts and hustlers in Minami, and bicycle theft. Nationally, Japan records 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Osaka?
Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
More about Osaka
Going to Osaka solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Osaka Metro
- Kansai Airport
- Osaka Info (Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau)
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.