Is Osaka Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Osaka is renowned for being an incredibly secure city, with very low crime rates. The local community is friendly and respectful, and there is a highly professional police presence. Additionally, public transportation runs efficiently and is also very safe. Solo female travelers can comfortably navigate Osaka both during the day and night. Nevertheless, like in every city across the globe, standard travel caution is advised.

Safety rating

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How safe is Osaka?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Safe

Osaka is generally safe at night for solo female travelers. Public areas are well lit and populated, particularly in places like Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi. Crime rate is relatively low compared to other major cities worldwide. However, like anywhere else, it’s still recommended to stay vigilant as petty crimes such as pickpocketing can happen. Use common sense - avoid dark, deserted areas and stay in populated areas whenever possible. Public transportation is reliable and prompt, it's safe even late at night. It's best to stay aware of your surroundings as you wander this city after dark.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Very safe

Public transportation in Osaka is renowned for its safety, punctuality, and orderliness. There is a high level of respect for personal space despite the crowd, and people generally follow the rules and behave very well. Incidents of theft or harassment are extremely rare. It's also simple and convenient to navigate with sufficient English signage. Japanese culture is very respectful and crime rates are low, making Osaka's public transportation a safe choice for solo female travelers.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Very low

Osaka, is largely considered safe for solo female travelers. Instances of inappropriate street harassment are quite rare, as the city upholds a strong cultural ethos of respect and non-intrusion. As always, though, remain vigilant during late hours or in less trafficked areas.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Very low

Osaka, like much of Japan, is incredibly safe even for solo female travelers. The rate of petty crimes such as theft, pickpocketing, and similar scams is remarkably low. Japanese culture heavily emphasizes respect and integrity, which contributes to this safe environment. However, it's always smart to maintain good travel practices like keeping personal belongings secure.

Is Osaka worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.1 /5

based on 5 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.2/5

Safety

4.3/5

Food

4.2/5

Budget-friendly

3.5/5

Solo travel

I could go on about Japan forever, but the jist of it is that I felt it was a safe haven. Never felt so comfortable and confident travelling solo anywhere else. The food is great, people are friendly and kind as long as you're respectful and show interest in their culture and way of life, and most importantly it is as safe as can be. Of course some caution is always to be taken in regard to your surroundings but for the most part I felt perfectly safe walking around all alone at night, going to the club by myself, and much more.

Posted: April 11, 2025Experienced: September, 2024
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Solo travel

I felt pretty safe, even though I wouldn't recommend walking in the streets at night. There's a lot of people, so you never know who'll be there, right? But Osaka stole my heart. It was such a nice experience, I love this city.

Posted: October 12, 2024Experienced: August, 2024
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Megan

Megan

China

Solo travel

Downtown Osaka is very busy even in the midnight. there are a lot of commercial streets full of tourists, and during the day it's even less of a concern, so it's no problem at all for a girl to wonder around. Buy an Osaka Tourist Card, it's a great deal, you can go to a lot of attractions for free with this card, and take the subway for free. Universal Studios is very interesting, recommended Nintendo Park. It is very convenient to eat alone, if you want to economize, you can choose fast food or food for one, if you want to be extravagant, you can choose omakase.

Posted: June 8, 2024
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Solo travel

The castle in Osaka is one of the most visited attractions outside of Dotombori street. A visit to Kuromon market is a must... it's a real heaven for those who want to try (or just look at) the variety of available street food dishes. Try eel, crab on a stick, oysters, small octopuses on a stick, Kobe beef on a stick... the list goes on and on. I would recommend a short trip to Nara or Kyoto from Osaka. Kyoto has a lot to offer, so choose carefully what you would like to do there. The famous Fushimi Inari Taisha temple and the bamboo grove in Arashiyama are well known. Both places are very crowded and I could only visit one in one day. These places are accessible by train from Kyoto, so check before you decide. Kyoto itself has many temples, shrines and beautiful gardens, but they are all very, very crowded! And when the flowers bloom, the crowds are even bigger. Alternatively, you could also consider a trip to Himeji Castle from Osaka.

Posted: August 29, 2022
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Is Osaka safe for women?

Safety index

4.1 /5

Based on 4 local experiences

Crime index

1 /5

Based on 4 local experiences

Melanie

Melanie

I work at night, so that means returning home late. I've never felt unsafe while walking around. I also have taken very late night runs (after midnight) with no issue or worry about being chased, or stalked.

Posted: May 22, 2025
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Hannah

Hannah

Never felt as safe as I do here! I frequently cycle or walk at night, and have never felt under threat. People are either very friendly, or are just doing their own business. I truly love it here and would recommend to anyone.

Posted: May 14, 2025
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Safety in Japan