Moé is a superstar account manager at Legend Story Studios, helping players and stores all over the world connect and play great games of Flesh and Blood. She is here to give you some handy tips for getting around in Osaka, so you can make the most of your World Championship weekend!
Hi players!
Welcome to Osaka. I am excited about having one of the most important Flesh and Blood events, the World Championship, here in Osaka, Japan. Osaka is the biggest city in western Japan. On the other side it is known as a 'human touch' town. Please enjoy its liveliness, and make sure to try konamon, which are flour-based dishes.
Getting Around
We have very good public transport links in Japan. In the center of Tokyo and Osaka, one train arrives roughly every 5 minutes. There is heavy road traffic in urban areas, and Japanese cars drive on the right-hand side which means it may be difficult for you to get around by car. Therefore I recommend using trains instead of taxis or hired car services.
There are some kinds of transit IC cards issued by JR (the biggest train company), for example Suica and ICOCA, both of which you can use in any city. If you are visiting Japan for the first time, I recommend the 'Welcome Suica' card, which you can get at the airport or the train station.
The nearest airport to the World Championship venue is Kansai International Airport, also known as KIX. If you land at Narita International Airport or Haneda Airport, taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) is the best solution for getting from Tokyo to Osaka. It only takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to get from Tokyo to Osaka via the Shinkansen. Flying to Osaka will take extra time due to airport check in and security, but in the case of the Shinkansen, you can leave the station 5 minutes after passing through the gate. Once you use the Shinkansen, I’m sure you'll be obsessed with it. I have stayed in many countries, but I have never found public transport better than the Shinkansen!
Downtown Osaka
I recommend Flesh and Blood players visit Namba. Dotonbori is a lively riverside area near Namba Station, featuring the iconic Glico sign.
For food, Namba is also the best place. In Osaka, flour-based dishes called konamon are a famous local food. There are many konamon restaurants in this area. You can stroll around Namba and taste many kinds of takoyaki!
Local foods and landscapes are not the only attractive points for Flesh and Blood players. The Namba area is local game stores’ battle ground. Please open the store locator to find a lot of fantastic local game stores in this area. There are more than 10 that you can visit on foot.
The World Championship venue is a little far away from Osaka City—it takes around 40 minutes by train. From Namba, you should take the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line. Then at Suminoekoen Station, change to the 'New Tram' and get off at Nakafuto Station. For more details, please check the official INTEX OSAKA website at https://www.intex-osaka.com/en/access/train/.
Neighboring City - Kyoto
Kyoto used to be the capital of Japan. It has many historical buildings and temples. Kyoto is located next to Osaka—it only takes about 30 minutes to get there from Osaka City. Why not visit Kyoto while you're here and immerse yourself in the historical side of Japan? Fushimi Inari Shrine is famous for its thousands of red torii gates and is a top tourist spot in Kyoto. There is also a service in Kyoto for visitors where they can rent kimono and wear them. Exploring Kyoto while wearing a kimono is a wonderful experience!
I cannot wait for you to come to Osaka! I’m excited to communicate with friends from all over the world through our common language of great games in the Flesh and Blood. See you soon!
