Prefecture Directory · Kinki
Osaka 大阪府
Osaka Prefecture is the commercial and culinary capital of western Japan, the second-largest metropolitan economy after Tokyo, and home to a diverse foreign resident population representing virtually every nationality. The prefecture's Kita and Namba districts form the retail and hospitality core, while the southeastern municipalities host a large manufacturing and technical training worker population. Foreign resident communities are particularly large among Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino nationals.
Healthcare landscape
Osaka University Hospital, Osaka City General Hospital, and Kinki University Hospital are among the prefecture's leading advanced-care facilities. Multiple hospitals in the Osaka metro area have international patient centers or dedicated multilingual reception. OFIX (Osaka Foundation for International Exchange) provides consultation in 12 languages and coordinates medical interpretation referrals across the prefecture.
Multilingual medical support
Foreign Resident Consultation
Osaka Foundation for International Exchange (OFIX) / 公益財団法人大阪府国際交流財団
- Phone
- 06-6966-2400
- Hours
- Contact OFIX directly for current consultation hours
- Languages
- 12 languages
Public health center (保健所)
Osaka Prefecture operates public health centers (保健所, hokenjo) across its municipalities. Public health centers manage infectious disease surveillance, maternal and child health programs, and mental health consultation. Contact the prefectural health department or your municipal office to locate the nearest hokenjo.
Emergency numbers in Japan
- Ambulance / Fire: 119
- Police: 110
- Japan Helpline (24-hr English): 0570-000-911
- JNTO Tourist Helpline: 050-3816-2787 (available for medical referrals)
See our emergency guide for full details on calling an ambulance and communicating with emergency services in Japan.
Last reviewed: September 2026