Known as Kawachi, Izumi, and Settsu Provinces before the Meiji Restoration, Osaka Prefecture is the heart and soul of the Kansai area with a population of 8.8 million and 2.7 million of these people residing in its capital of Osaka City. Before construction of the New Kansai International Airport on reclaimed land in Osaka Bay, Osaka had the distinction of being the smallest prefecture in Japan by area. The area has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters, hot and humid summer, and considerable rainfall. Read more >