Grand Front Osaka

In short

A new district featuring four towers rising north of JR Osaka Station. It opened in April 2013 in the advance development area of the "Umekita" redevelopment district, centered on the former Umeda Freight Station. With the "Knowledge Capital," a hub for intellectual creation, at its core, it comprises shops, restaurants, offices, a hotel, and residential spaces.

• ​Umekita Plaza​​: A relaxation space of approximately 10,000 square meters right in front of the north exit of Osaka Station, with water features, greenery, and an artificial fog installation supervised by Nakaya Fujiko
• ​Knowledge Capital​​: A vast intellectual entertainment space themed on "intellect," where visitors can play, learn, and experience, centered around the 7-story open-atrium "Knowledge Plaza"
• ​Water and Greenery Streets​​: A 3-row ginkgo avenue extending about 500 meters, a zelkova avenue, and the "Seseragi no Michi" stream path continue throughout. Rooftop gardens also sit on the 9th-floor rooftops of the South and North Buildings

History and Highlights

​Grand Front Osaka​ is a new district featuring four towers rising north of JR Osaka Station. It opened in April 2013 as the advance development area of the "Umekita" redevelopment district. "Umekita" is the new name for the approximately 24-hectare "Osaka Station North District" centered on the former Umeda Freight Station, an area previously known as the "Umeda North Yard." The eastern portion of approximately 7 hectares corresponds to Grand Front Osaka.

The complex is centered around the "Knowledge Capital," a hub for intellectual creation, and comprises shops, restaurants, offices, a hotel, and residential spaces. The name "Grand Front Osaka" reflects the desire to remain "a town on the cutting edge, open to the world," befitting a new gateway to Osaka. Spaces open for anyone to spend time in, such as Umekita Plaza, Knowledge Plaza, and water features, are scattered throughout the area.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Umekita Plaza​​: A relaxation space spanning approximately 10,000 square meters right in front of the north exit of Osaka Station. Greenery and water features like cascades—inspired by Osaka's identity as the "City of Water"—are arranged here, and in the center of the plaza sits an artificial fog installation supervised by Nakaya Fujiko, known as a "fog sculptor."
• ​Knowledge Capital​​: A place where diverse individuals inspire one another to generate new value around the theme of "intellect." It features a vast intellectual entertainment space where visitors can play, learn, and experience, centered around the 7-story open-atrium "Knowledge Plaza."
• ​Water and Greenery Streets​​: Enjoyable walking avenues continue throughout, including a 3-row ginkgo avenue extending about 500 meters, a zelkova avenue crossing east to west between the South and North Buildings, and the "Seseragi no Michi" stream path on the west side of the site. Rooftop gardens spanning over 10,000 square meters combined also sit on the 9th-floor rooftops of the South and North Buildings.

Walking Tips

It is accessible on foot from JR Osaka Station, Osaka-Umeda Station on the Hankyu and Hanshin Lines, and Umeda Station on the Subway Midosuji Line. Walking through the "Sozo no Michi" pedestrian mall connecting the South and North Buildings from Osaka Station allows visitors to browse shops as they venture deeper into the complex. It is also connected by a deck to "Grand Green Osaka," the second phase of the Umekita development. Visiting along with Umeda Sky Building, located about 410 meters to the west-northwest, and HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel, located about 490 meters to the east, is also recommended for exploring views of Umeda.