Presents are important
People in Osaka, as in the rest of Japan, give a lot of presents. The biggest gift-giving seasons are midsummer and the end of the year. Department stores have large displays of gifts to give your business contacts and friends during these seasons. At other times of the year, too, gift giving is big. If you visit someone's house, you should bring some small gift - flowers, food, a souvenir from your home country or city, etc. Also, if you've been on a trip, bring back "omiyage" souvenir gifts for friends and co-workers. These need not be expensive - 100-500 yen per person, or a slightly larger gift for an entire office. Small gifts of locally famous foods are popular, and are often for sale in front of the train station.
