About insideosaka.com and Chris Rowthorn
Chris is the author of Lonely Planet's Japan, Kyoto and Discover Japan guides. Chris strongly recommends picking up a copy of one of these guides to supplement the information available on this site. Chris has lived in Japan since 1992. He's based in Kyoto but travels frequently to Osaka, which is only 15 minutes from Kyoto by train. His children love Osaka and it’s a favorite family destination.
In 2016, Chris started insideosaka.com to serve as an online guide to Osaka and to serve as a companion site to his online Kyoto and Tokyo guides: InsideKyoto.com and TrulyTokyo.com
Chris runs Chris Rowthorn Tours for travelers who wish to get a closer look at Japan, Hong Kong and Bangkok. You can find out more about his tours at ChrisRowthorn.com. You can also read reviews of Chris Rowthorn Tours on TripAdvisor.com
About Chris Rowthorn
Chris Rowthorn was born in Oxford, England, in 1966. He was raised in the United States, where he attended Vassar College, graduating with the class of 1989. In 1992, Chris moved to Kyoto, Japan, and started studying the Japanese language and culture. After the mandatory stint as an English teacher, Chris started writing for the Japan Times in 1995.
In 1996, Chris was recruited by Lonely Planet Publications to work on their guidebooks to Japan. Since then, Chris has written 29 books for Lonely Planet Publications. He is the sole author of the Lonely Planet Kyoto City Guide, and has been the lead author of the last seven editions of the Lonely Planet Japan country guide.
He also authored one edition of the Tokyo city guide and worked on one edition of the Lonely Planet Hiking in Japan guide. He's also worked on guidebooks to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei, Borneo, Southeast Asia, Victoria (Australia) and the Philippines.
Chris has also written for dozens of magazines and newspapers including National Geographic Explorer, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, BBC Online, and many more.
Chris's wife is from Kyoto and they have two children who are proudly multicultural. Chris speaks and reads Japanese fluently. Here's a clip of Chris on Japanese TV explaining the appeal of Kyoto. In his free time, Chris enjoys hiking, trekking, snorkeling, diving, reading and spending time with his family.
You can also find Inside Osaka on Twitter and Facebook.
Contact Chris Rowthorn
Please note: Due to time constraints, I'm unable to reply to individual inquiries about Osaka/Tokyo/Kyoto/Japan travel.
Travel Consulting: If you wish to book a private consultation about your upcoming trip to Japan, please see my page on Japan Travel Consulting where you can specify your requirements.
Walking Tours: If you wish to book a private tour of Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima/Miyajima or Kanazawa, please visit ChrisRowthorn.com
Media Inquiries: Please use the form below to contact me for interview requests. I can also provide articles and website content on topics related to Osaka and Japan.
Advertising/Sponsorship: If you have an advertising or sponsorship request for insideosaka.com, please send a message to request our media pack. Please specify your target market and marketing budget for this project on application.
ビジネスまたは広告関連のお問い合わせにつきましては、こちらのフォームからメッセージをお送り下さい。日本語でも構いませんが、英語で書いて頂けるとより有難いです。
特に、外国人観光客が行きやすい東京のお店、レストラン、バー、イベント、体験・アクティビティ等に関する情報がございましたら、是非ホームページアドレスと共に情報をお送り下さいませ。
尚、お送り頂いた情報やメッセージは全て読ませて頂きますが、全てのメッセージに返信は出来かねますので、何卒、事前にご理解賜りますよう宜しくお願い申し上げます。
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Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on the Inside Osaka Google map:- Open the Osaka map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Osaka Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Osaka guide
- Check Osaka accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Osaka
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- View my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare flight prices and timings to find the best Japan flight deals
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- Get a prepaid Icoca card to make travelling around Osaka easy – here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
