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Doing Business in OsakaOsaka is the business capital of western Japan and a vital commercial component in the Japanese economy, so it comes as no surprise that the city is well equipped for business. Osaka's normal business hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm; some companies also open on Saturday morning or close for lunch between noon and 1pm. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm - they are closed on national holidays. Most post offices are open on weekdays from 9am to 4pm. The Osaka Central Post Office is just outside JR Osaka station in Kita (Umeda). It has an international mail section, and is open weekdays until 9pm, Saturday 'til 5pm and Sunday 'til 12.30pm. In Osaka's port district on Sakashima Island, a 'technoport' area known as Cosmosquare provides most support services and facilities for conferences and people doing business in Japan. It houses the International Exhibition Centre (INTEX), the World Trade Centre (WTC) and the Asian and Pacific Trade Centre (ATC). The Osaka Business Partner Council (BPC) is in the ATC complex, while the World Trade Centre Osaka (WTCO) Association is inside the main WTC building in Cosmosquare. Post offices are recognisable by a white-and-red 'T' symbol with a bar across the top. Red mailboxes are for ordinary mail, blue for special delivery. The EMS courier service, available at all post offices, is as cheap as, and sometimes faster than, international couriers. Japan uses the same mobile phone system as North America, but not the GSM system used in the UK, Australia and the rest of Asia. Most pay phones accept 10- and 100-yen coins and 500- and 1000-yen phonecards, available from vending machines and convenience stores. Local calls cost 10 yen for three minutes; change is not given from a 100-yen coin. International calls can be made from grey ISDN phones and green phones that have a gold metal plate around the buttons. Lonely Planet's eKno Communication Card is aimed specifically at independent travellers and provides a range of communication services, including international calls, voice mail and free email - for local calls you are usually better off using coins. Internet cybercafes are popular in trend-friendly Osaka, more so for network-gaming than Internet access these days. A few reliable places that might even conjure up a decent coffee as well are Mark's Cyberspace near Amerika Mura, Bean's Bit Cafe near Osaka Castle, R's Place (first 30 minutes free) and Web House. Rates vary but are mostly US$4-6 for 30-60 minutes. Useful Contacts: Bean's Bit Cafe: 6-2-29 Uehon-machi, Tennoji-ku; tel 06-6766 3566 Federal Express: 12F ORC 1-bangai, 1-2-1 Benten, Minato-ku; tel 0120-003 200 International Exhibition Centre (INTEX) Osaka: 1-5-102 Nanko-Kita, Suminoe-ku; tel 06-6612 8800 Japan English helpline: tel 0120-461 997 Japan Times: www.japantimes.co.jp Kansai American Centre (US Consulate): 2-11-5 Nishitenma, Kita-ku; tel 06-6315 5965; http://usembassy.state.gov/kansai/wwwhekcr.html Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI-Kansai): 1-5-44 Otemae, Chuo-ku; www.kansai.meti.go.jp Kansai Interpreter and Guide Association: 6-16 3-chome, Tamagawa, Fukushima-ku; tel 06-6441 5363; www.kiga-hp.com Kansai Time Out: www.kto.co.jp Lonely Planet's eKno Communication Card: tel 0053-112 0460; www.ekno.com Mark's Cyberspace: Shinsaibashi M bldg 9F #903, 1-10-28 Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku; tel 06-4704 4611 Nippon Express: tel 0120-003 200; international courier Osaka central post office: 3-2-4, Umeda, Kita-ku; tel 06-6944 6245 Osaka International House Foundation: 2-6 Uehommachi, 8-chome, Tenno-ji-ku; tel 06-6772 5931 Osaka World Trade Centre (WTCO): WTC Cosmosquare, Port Town; tel 06-6615 7009 R's Place Cybercafe: Tennoji Mio 6F; tel 06-770 1108 Web House: 3F 'Side Trip' Building, 1-17 Kakuta-cho, Kita-ku; tel 06-367 9555 |