Osaka Trip Part 2: Nakanoshima - "Old and New" Mixed Area

[Introduction]

I traveled to Osaka in late September. This was my first visit to Osaka except for business trips. There are several things I missed doing, so I would like to revisit Osaka in the future. In this article, I will write about Nakanoshima area as part of Day 1.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1: Umeda
* Day 1: Nakanoshima [This article]
* Day 1: Nakanoshima (Light-up)
* Day 2: Osaka Castle
* Day 2: Abeno Harukas
* Day 2: Shinsekai
* Day 2: Abeno Harukas (Light-up)
* Day 3: Sumiyoshi Shrine
* Day 3: Namba
* Day 3: Amerikamura and Namba
* Day 3: Namba (Light-up)
* Day 4: Expo’70 Commemorative Park
* Day 4: Expo’70 Commemorative Park
* Day 4: Umeda
* Day 4: Umeda (Light-up)
* Day 5: Kaiyukan
* Day 5: Tempozan Marketplace
* Day 5: GLION MUSEUM & Return Home

[Travel Date]
2018.09.22-26

[Main Part]

Around Festival City

I moved from Nishi-Umeda station to Higobashi station by Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line.

When I went out of the station, I reached “Festival City”, which encompasses “Nakanoshima Festival Tower” and “Nakanoshima Festival Tower West”, the Japan’s tallest twin tower development.

View around “Festival City”.

First, I will move west.

I saw several retro buildings on the way.

The National Museum of Art, Osaka

I walked for about ten minutes and arrived at “The National Museum of Art, Osaka”.

“The National Museum of Art, Osaka” was a museum opened in 1977 and exhibits works of art both domestic and international. It was originally located in the Expo’70 Commemorative Park and relocated to the current site in 2004.

The current building was constructed at that time.

I entered into the building and found it had an open ceiling space.

I moved to the second basement to watch the permanent exhibition.

Here are some snap photos.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, there was a special exhibition, but I skipped it due to my schedule.

There was also “Osaka Science Museum” on the same site, but the exhibit was suspended due to renovation.

A photo including both “The National Museum of Art, Osaka” and “Osaka Science Museum”.

By the way, “The National Museum of Art, Osaka” was designed by César Pelli, an Argentine American architect who has designed some of the world’s tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. Some of his most notable contributions include the “Petronas Towers” in Kuala Lumpur and “World Financial Center” in New York. I visited “Petronas Towers” in September 2015. If you are interested in it, please see my past articles.

“Night view of Petronas Twin Towers, which represents Kuala Lumpur!”

“Visiting Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC”

Walking around Nakanoshima Area

I returned toward “Festival City”.

“Conrad Osaka”, the top luxury hotel brand in Hilton group, was located in “Festival City”.

I will walk east along Tosabori river.

It was an idyllic scene, wasn’t it?

This retro building was the Bank of Japan Old Osaka Branch.

There were several bridges along the river. Here is Oebashi Bridge.

View from Yodoyabasho Bridge across Oebashi Bridge.

This is Suishobashi Bridge.

“Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library” was opened 1904 and is designated as an important cultural property.

Central hall.

Near “Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library”, there was “Osaka City Central Public Hall”, which was opened in 1918.

I left Tosabori river and walked around the south area.

There were also retro buildings around here. For example, this is “Opera Domaine Kouraibashi”, an wedding hall.

This is “Ikoma Building”.

Osaka Exchange and the statue of the founder.

I returned to along Tosabori river. This is Naniwa Bridge, which is also known as “Lion Bridge”.

There was another lion statue on the opposite side.

I moved east further.

I reached Nakanoshima Park. Every people seemed to enjoy respectively by dancing and walking etc.

The sun began to set.

I was so lucky, because the weather forecast predicted it was cloudy.

I just happened to see a cruise ship, so I released shutters.

Then, I will take evening photos around Nakanoshima area.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about Nakanoshima area as part of Day 1.

Nakanoshima area has been developed since Edo era (1600-) and was the economic center in Osaka as the capital city of water. So, there remain lots of retro buildings around here, while the area has recently been redeveloped. Therefore, visitors are able to enjoy old and new atmospheres at the same time 🙂

In the next article, I will write about evening scene in Nakanoshima as part of Day 1.

[Map]

1 Festival City
2 The National Museum of Art, Osaka
3 The Bank of Japan Old Osaka Branch
4 Oebashi Bridge
5 Suishobashi Bridge
6 Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library
7 Osaka City Central Public Hall
8 Osaka Exchange
9 Naniwa Bridge
10 Nakanoshima Park