Pocket guides to the Osaka subway system are available in English, and station signs for the subway and the main commuter systems are in English as well as Japanese.
Taxis are plentiful and readily available except, during rush hours and in rainy weather.
Taxis are usually small, swift and not at all as hazardous as they may seem to the new arrival who is not accustomed to Osaka traffic patterns. The rates are Yen600 for the first two kilometers and Yen80 for every additional 405 meters. The geographical knowledge of the drivers is often fragmentary as is their knowledge of English and passengers are expected to be able to direct the drivers to their destinations. For this reason, most residents have maps printed of their houses. True to this tradition, Osaka is known throughout Japan as a city of gourmet.