Osaka

Osaka is a large and busy city in the Kansai region of Honshu, Japan. It is the capital of Osaka Prefecture and has many people—about 2.8 million! This makes it the third-largest city in Japan, after the special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. Osaka is part of a large area called the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area, which has over 19 million people.

Historically, Osaka was important for trade and culture. Long ago, during the Kofun period, it was a key port. In the Edo period, it became a center for Japanese culture. After the Meiji Restoration, Osaka grew quickly and became a major industrial city.

Today, Osaka is a financial center and is known for being welcoming to people from all over the world. It is home to big companies like Panasonic and Sharp, and many important universities such as Osaka University. Famous places in Osaka include Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, and Dōtonbori, a lively shopping and entertainment area.

Etymology

The name Ōsaka means "large hill" or "large slope." We do not know exactly when this name became more popular than Naniwa, but the oldest writing showing the name dates back to 1496.

During the Edo period, two different ways of writing the name were used. A writer in 1808 said that one of the symbols was avoided because it meant "returns to the earth." After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the symbol 阪 became the official name. The older symbol is still sometimes used today, mostly when talking about history. When used as a short form, the modern symbol 阪 (han) can mean Osaka City or Osaka Prefecture.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Osaka.

Origins: Jōmon and Yayoi period

During the Jōmon period (7,000 BCE), present-day Osaka was mostly covered by water, and the Uemachi Plateau formed a long and wide land area separating Kawachi Bay from the Seto Inland Sea. It is thought to be one of the first places where people in Japan settled because it had good conditions and was easy to defend.

The earliest evidence of settlements in the Osaka area are the Morinomiya ruins, located in the central Chuo-ku district. Buried human skeletons and a mound containing remains were found, along with shell mounds, oysters, and other discoveries from the Jomon period. In addition to the remains of food, there were arrow heads, stone tools, fishing hooks, and crockery with rice processing remains. It is estimated that the ruins contain debris from 2,000 years ago between the Jomon and Yayoi period.

In the years between the end of the Jōmon period and the beginning of the Yayoi period, sediments changed Kawachi Bay into a lake. During the Yayoi period (300 BCE-250 CE), permanent homes grew as rice farming became popular.

At the beginning of the third century CE, the grand shrine of Sumiyoshi-taisha was built near the harbor, commissioned by Empress Jingū. This Shinto shrine survived many years and started a new style in shrine construction called Sumiyoshi-zukuri. The sea views from the shrine gardens inspired artists, and representations of that landscape are called Sumiyoshi drawings.

Kofun period

By the Kofun period, Osaka developed into a busy port connecting the region to western Japan. The port of Naniwa-tsu became the most important in Japan. Trade with other areas of the country and Asia increased. The large keyhole-shaped Kofun mounds found in Osaka show political power and the formation of a state. The mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku was discovered nearby in Sakai. Four of these mounds can be seen in Osaka, dating back to the 5th century. A group of large tombs called Mozu Tombs are located in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture.

Important works of the Kofun period include changing the course of the Yamato River, which caused floods, and building important roads toward Sakai and Nara. Sea travel to the port of Naniwa-tsu increased, and huge warehouses were built to store goods coming and going.

Asuka and Nara period

The Kojiki records that during 390–430 CE, there was an imperial palace located at Osumi, in present-day Higashiyodogawa ward, but it may have been a second home rather than a capital.

In 645, Emperor Kōtoku built his Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace in what is now Osaka, making it the capital of Japan. The city was then called Naniwa, and this name is still used for areas in central Osaka such as Naniwa and Namba. Although the capital moved to Asuka in 655, Naniwa remained important for connections between Yamato (modern Nara Prefecture), Korea, and China.

Naniwa was declared the capital again in 744 by order of Emperor Shōmu, and remained so until 745, when the Imperial Court moved back to Heijō-kyō (now Nara). By the end of the Nara period, Naniwa's sea roles had been taken over by neighboring areas, but it remained a busy center for travel between Heian-kyō (Kyoto today) and other places. Sumiyoshi Taisha Grand Shrine was founded in 211 CE. Shitennō-ji was first built in 593 CE and is the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan.

Heian to Edo period

Ancient shells found in the Morinomiya kaizuka (Jomon period)

In 1496, Jōdo Shinshū Buddhists established their headquarters in the fortified Ishiyama Hongan-ji, located on the site of the old Naniwa Imperial Palace. Oda Nobunaga began a long attack on the temple in 1570, which ended with the surrender of the monks and the destruction of the temple. Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle in its place in 1583. Osaka Castle played a role in the Siege of Osaka (1614–1615).

Osaka was considered Japan's main money center, with many people belonging to the merchant class. Over the Edo period (1603–1867), Osaka grew into one of Japan's big cities and returned to its role as an important port. Leaders received most of their money in rice. Merchants in Osaka organized storage places to keep rice in exchange for fees, trading it for coins or papers, which was a start to paper money. Many rice brokers also made loans and became rich and powerful. Osaka merchants brought their shops together around Dōjima, where the Rice Exchange was established in 1697 and the world's first futures market was created.

Osaka's popular culture was closely related to ukiyo-e pictures of life in Edo. By 1780, Osaka had a lively arts culture, with famous Kabuki and Bunraku theaters. In 1837, Ōshio Heihachirō, a low-ranking samurai, led a protest in response to the city's unwillingness to help poor families. About one-quarter of the city was damaged before leaders stopped the protest, after which Ōshio killed himself. Osaka was opened to foreign trade by the government at the same time as Hyogo Town (modern Kobe) on January 1, 1868, just before the Boshin War and the Meiji Restoration. The Kawaguchi foreign settlement is a reminder of foreign people in Osaka.

Meiji to Heisei period

With the changes after the Meiji Restoration (1868) and the move of the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo, Osaka entered a time of change. It became a mainly industrial center. The modern city was established in 1889 by government ordinance, with an area of 15 square kilometers, overlapping today's Chuo and Nishi wards. Later, the city grew three times to reach its current size of 223 square kilometers. Osaka was known as the "Manchester and Melbourne of the Orient". In 1925, it was the largest and most crowded city in Japan and the sixth largest in the world.

The quick growth brought many people from Asia, who set up their own areas. The government focused on growing industry and making things. Reading and learning grew quickly, and the school system grew, creating a middle class that helped the arts. In 1927, General Motors operated a factory called Osaka Assembly until 1941, making vehicles.

During World War II, Osaka came under air raids in 1945 by the United States Army Air Forces. On March 13, 1945, 329 Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers took part in an attack against Osaka. The attack damaged a large part of the city. The U.S. bombed the city again in June 1945 and on August 14, a day before Japan's surrender.

In the years after World War II, Osaka worked to rebuild and the city grew richer. Its number of people passed three million in the 1960s, leading to growth in outer areas, and finally doubled to six million by the 1990s. With factories rebuilt and trade starting again, Osaka grew into a big center for many cultures and money from the 1950s through the 1980s. Osaka Prefecture hosted the Expo '70, the first world's fair in an Asian country. Since then, many worldwide meetings have been held in Osaka, including the 1995 APEC Summit.

The modern city, established in 1889 with an area of 15 km², grew three times to reach 222 km². It was one of the first cities in Japan to obtain designated city status in 1956.

21st century to present

The plan to change Osaka and its area into a metropolis like Tokyo had problems. A plan to split the city into 5 new areas was suggested by former mayor Tōru Hashimoto, but a vote in May 2015 saw the narrow win of "no", and Hashimoto said he would leave politics. A second vote for a merger into 4 areas was narrowly voted down.

Osaka was the second most expensive place to live in the world after Tokyo in 2009, moving to 5th place by 2020.

In March 2014, the 300-meter tall Abeno Harukas opened, becoming the tallest building in Japan until it was passed by the 330-meter tall Azabudai Hills Main Tower in Tokyo in 2022.

Expo 2025 was held at Yumeshima Island, Konohana-ku from April to October 2025. Osaka is the third city to host the World Expo twice, previously hosting Expo '70. It is also the fourth World's Fair held in Japan. With Expo 2025, the event returned to its normal 5-year cycle after Expo 2020 in Dubai was moved to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The expected number of visitors is about 28 million.

On the same place as Expo 2025, MGM Resorts started building MGM Osaka in April 2025. MGM Osaka will be the first integrated resort in Japan, including hotel rooms, a casino, shopping, eating places, meeting space, and a theater.

Geography

Osaka's western side faces Osaka Bay, and it is surrounded by many smaller cities. Most of these cities are in Osaka Prefecture, except for Amagasaki, which is in Hyōgo Prefecture. Osaka covers a larger area than any other city in its prefecture.

Osaka began as a small area in 1889 and grew over time to its current size. The city's highest point is in Tsurumi-ku, and its lowest point is in Nishiyodogawa-ku. Osaka is located at a latitude of 34.67°, which is farther south than cities like Rome, Madrid, San Francisco, and Seoul.

Climate

Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four clear seasons. Winters are mild, and January is the coldest month, with average temperatures around 9.7 °C (49 °F). Snow is rare. Spring starts mild but becomes hot and humid, and it is the wettest season with a rainy period called the tsuyu between early June and late July.

Summers are very hot and humid, with August averages around 33.7 °C (93 °F). Fall begins warm and ends cooler. Rainfall is common, especially during the rainy season in June and July, and there is another wet time in September and October when typhoons may occur.

Cityscape

Osaka is a huge city in Japan, known for its tall buildings and busy streets. Many people think Tokyo is the biggest city in Japan, but Osaka is also very big and exciting.

Neighborhoods

Central Osaka has two main parts: Kita ("north") and Minami ("south"). Kita has many shops and offices, including the busy Umeda area and tall buildings.

Minami, even though its name means "south", is in the middle of the city. It has popular spots like Namba, Shinsaibashi, and Dōtonbori, which are great for shopping and fun. There are tall buildings here too, like Abeno Harukas.

Between Kita and Minami is an area called Semba, where big banks and companies are located. The wide Midōsuji boulevard connects these parts of the city.

Further south, you can find neighborhoods like Shinsekai with its famous Tsūtenkaku tower, and Tennoji with its zoo. The western side of Osaka is a bay area with places such as Kyocera Dome, Universal Studios Japan, and Tempozan Harbor Village. The city also has many canals and bridges, which give names to many of its neighborhoods.

List of wards

Osaka has 24 special areas called wards. They help organize the city and its services.

	Name	Kanji	Population	Land area in km²	Pop. density per km²
1	Abeno-ku	阿倍野区	113,200	5.99	18,890
2	Asahi-ku	旭区	91,284	6.32	14,446
3	Chūō-ku	中央区	119,445	8.87	13,466
4	Fukushima-ku	福島区	82,384	4.67	17,633
5	Higashinari-ku	東成区	88,250	4.54	19,441
6	Higashisumiyoshi-ku	東住吉区	134,834	9.75	13,831
7	Higashiyodogawa-ku	東淀川区	177,809	13.27	13,339
8	Hirano-ku	平野区	187,248	15.28	12,250
9	Ikuno-ku	生野区	127,792	8.37	15,263
10	Jōtō-ku	城東区	171,005	8.38	20,399
11	Kita-ku (administrative center)	北区	143,809	10.34	13,908
12	Konohana-ku	此花区	64,037	19.25	3,327
13	Minato-ku	港区	80,647	7.86	10,259
14	Miyakojima-ku	都島区	107,774	6.08	17,723
15	Naniwa-ku	浪速区	80,070	4.39	18,246
16	Nishi-ku	西区	112,706	5.21	21,636
17	Nishinari-ku	西成区	105,351	7.37	14,293
18	Nishiyodogawa-ku	西淀川区	98,641	14.22	6,937
19	Suminoe-ku	住之江区	117,417	20.61	5,699
20	Sumiyoshi-ku	住吉区	152,986	9.40	16,279
21	Taishō-ku	大正区	61,891	9.43	6,563
22	Tennōji-ku	天王寺区	85,711	4.84	17,709
23	Tsurumi-ku	鶴見区	111,570	8.17	13,652
24	Yodogawa-ku	淀川区	187,245	12.64	14,812

Demographics

Osaka has counted its people since 1873, during the early Meiji era. In 2005, about 2.6 million people lived there. There were around 1.3 million homes, with two people in each on average. Many people lived close together, with about 11,800 people for every square kilometer.

After a big earthquake long ago, many people moved to Osaka, and for a time it was the biggest city in Japan, even bigger than Tokyo. The most people ever lived there in 1940, but later many moved out to live nearby.

Osaka is also home to many people from other countries. Korean and Chinese communities are the largest. The Ikuno area, especially Tsuruhashi, has a big Korean community.

Dialect

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1870	271,992	—
1880	292,636	+7.6%
1890	483,609	+65.3%
1900	881,344	+82.2%
1910	1,239,373	+40.6%
1920	1,798,295	+45.1%
1925	2,135,248	+18.7%
1930	2,477,959	+16.1%
1935	3,022,425	+22.0%
1940	3,300,714	+9.2%
1945	1,614,632	−51.1%
1950	2,015,350	+24.8%
1955	2,547,316	+26.4%
1960	3,011,563	+18.2%
1965	3,156,222	+4.8%
1970	2,980,487	−5.6%
1975	2,778,987	−6.8%
1980	2,648,180	−4.7%
1985	2,636,249	−0.5%
1990	2,623,801	−0.5%
1995	2,602,421	−0.8%
2000	2,598,774	−0.1%
2005	2,628,811	+1.2%
2010	2,666,371	+1.4%
2015	2,691,185	+0.9%
2020	2,752,024	+2.3%

Government

The Osaka City Council is Osaka's local government. It has eighty-nine members chosen by citizens every four years. The council picks a president and a vice president. Toshifumi Tagaya (LDP) has been the president since May 2008.

Osaka's mayor is chosen by citizens every four years. Hideyuki Yokoyama is the current mayor. The mayor has two vice mayors to help.

Osaka has many important offices, such as the Japan Coast Guard, Kinki Regional Police Bureau, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Osaka Office.

Developments

In 2012, leaders from Osaka suggested changing how the city is organized. In 2020, voters decided against this idea.

Energy policies

Nuclear power

In 2012, Osaka, along with Kyoto and Kobe, asked a big energy company to use less nuclear power and share more information. They wanted safer energy sources.

Economy

Main articles: Hanshin Industrial Region and Keihanshin industrial region

Osaka's economy was very strong in 2004. That year, the city made ¥21.3 trillion, which was a little more than the year before. Trade, services, and making things were the three biggest jobs in the city. Osaka is very important for the world’s money matters and was the 19th best city for business in the world in 2004.

Osaka has always been a busy place for trade. Many big companies started there, and some still have their main offices in Osaka today. The city is also a key place for money trading.

Osaka is part of a big area called Keihanshin, which includes several nearby places. This area has many people and a big economy, making it very important in the world.

Transportation

Main article: Transport in Keihanshin

Osaka has many train lines, just like Tokyo. Important train stations in the city include Umeda, Namba, Shinsaibashi, Tennōji, Kyōbashi, and Yodoyabashi.

You can ride trains run by JR West and other companies like Keihan Electric Railway, Hankyu Railway, Hanshin Electric Railway, Kintetsu Railway, and Nankai Electric Railway. The Osaka Metro is very busy, with many people using it every year.

Fast trains called Nozomi stop at Shin-Osaka Station and go to big cities such as Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya, Yokohama, and Tokyo. There are also many bus routes all over the city.

Osaka has two airports nearby. Kansai International Airport handles many international flights, while Osaka Itami Airport mostly handles flights inside Japan.

Because of where it is located, Osaka has many ferry routes to places like Shanghai, Tianjin, and Busan, as well as domestic routes to Kitakyushu, Kagoshima, Miyazaki and Okinawa.

Culture and lifestyle

Osaka is a busy city with many shops and places to eat. Many shops are in the Chuō and Kita areas. The shops include big malls and smaller walking street markets called shōtengai. Osaka has the longest walking street market in Japan, called Tenjinbashi-suji. It has many different kinds of stores.

Osaka is famous for its delicious food. Popular local foods include okonomiyaki, takoyaki, udon, and oshizushi. The city also makes fine sake, a type of Japanese alcohol.

The city has many places for entertainment and the arts. You can watch traditional Japanese puppet shows called bunraku at the National Bunraku Theater, or see kabuki plays at Osaka Shochiku-za. There are also theaters for enka music, comedy shows, and classical music concerts. The Umeda Arts Theater has many different kinds of performances.

Osaka holds many fun festivals each year. The Tenjin Matsuri in July is one of the most famous. There is also an Osaka Asian Film Festival every March.

The city has many museums, such as the National Museum of Art, Osaka Science Museum, and the Museum of Oriental Ceramics. These places show art and history from around the world.

Osaka has several sports teams. There are baseball teams, football (soccer) teams, a basketball team, and a rugby team. Each year, Osaka holds the Haru Basho sumo tournament and the Osaka International Ladies Marathon.

Osaka is an important place for media in Japan. Many TV stations, radio stations, and newspapers have offices there. The city helps share news and entertainment with people all over the country.

Education

Public elementary and junior high schools in Osaka are run by the city. The Osaka City Board of Education manages these schools. Public high schools are managed by the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education.

Osaka had many universities before, but many moved to the suburbs because they needed more space, like Osaka University.

In the past, foreign families in the Kansai area usually lived in Kobe. Because of this, Osaka did not have schools for foreign children until 1991. That year, the Osaka International School of Kwansei Gakuin opened in nearby Minoh. This was the first international school in the area. After the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, fewer foreign families lived in Osaka.

Some colleges and universities in Osaka include:

Libraries

International Institute for Children's Literature, Osaka
Osaka Municipal Central Library
Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library

Learned society

The Japanese Academy of Family Medicine

Facilities

Important cultural property marks special buildings chosen by the country.

Leisure facilities and high-rise buildings

Abeno Harukas
Asia Pacific Trade Center [ja]
Festivalgate
Intex Osaka
Namba Parks
OAP Tower
Osaka Business Park
Osaka Garden City [ja]
Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building
Tempozan Harbor Village [ja]
Tsūtenkaku (Registered Tangible Cultural Property)
Umeda Sky Building
Universal Studios Japan

Historical site

Hirano [ja) ]
Horijo [ja]
Kawaguchi foreign settlement
Ruins of Naniwanomiya Palace [ja]
Osaka Castle
Tekijuku (important cultural property)

Parks and gardens

Hakubo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi [ja]
Keitaku Garden [ja]
Nagai Park
Nakanoshima Park
Ogimachi Park [ja]
Osaka Castle Park
Osaka Nanko Bird Sanctuary [ja]
Sakuranomiya Park [ja]
Shirokita Park [ja]
Suminoe Park [ja]
Sumiyoshi Park
Tennoji Park
Utsubo Park
Yodogawa River Park [ja]
Gallery
Utsubo Park
Osaka Castle Park

Sakuranomiya Park [ja]
Yodogawa Riverside Park

Ancient architecture

Sumiyoshi Taisha main shrine (national treasure)

Modern architecture

Around Umeda
Osaka Central Post Office [ja] – Central Electric Club [ja] – Oe Building [ja]
Nakanoshima
Osaka City Central Public Hall (Important Cultural Property) – Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library (Important Cultural Property) – Bank of Japan Osaka Branch Old Building
Around Osaka Castle
Old Mint Foundry Front Entrance [ja] (Former Youth Art Gallery) (Important Cultural Property) – Senpukan (Important Cultural Property) – Osaka Castle (registered tangible cultural property) – former Osaka City Museum – Osaka Prefectural Government Office [ja]
Kitasenba, Minamisenba
Kitahama Retro Building [ja] (Registered Tangible Cultural Property) – Osaka Securities Exchange – Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Osaka (Sumitomo Building) – Arai Building [ja] (Registration Tangible Cultural Property) – Osaka Municipal Aizuku Kindergarten [ja] (Important Cultural Property) – Nippon Life Insurance Head Office Building – Osaka Club [ja] (registered tangible cultural property) – Sumitomo Mitsui Bank Osaka Central Branch – Koraibashi Nomura Building [ja] – Nippon Christian Church Naniwa Church [ja] – Aoyama Building [ja] (Registered Tangible Cultural property) – Fushimi Building [ja] (registered tangible cultural property) – former Konishi Gisuke store building [ja] (important cultural property) – Osaka Gas Building [ja] (registered tangible cultural property) – Ikoma Building [ja] (registered tangible cultural property) – Cotton Industry Hall [ja] (Important Cultural Property) – Meidi-Ya building – Miki Musical Instrument Headquarters [ja] (Registered Tangible Cultural Properties) – Harada Industry [ja]
Shimojoba (Nishisenba)
Japanese Christian Church Osaka Church [ja] (registered tangible cultural property) – Yamauchi Building (registered tangible cultural property) – Edobori Kodama Building (registered tangible cultural property)
Shinsaibashi/Namba
- Daimaru Shinsaibashi – Takashimaya Osaka (Nankai Namba) – Takashimaya East Annex – Miki Instruments Main Store Kaiseikan [ja] (registered tangible cultural property)
Osaka Port/Kawaguchi
Tsuki Port Red Brick Warehouse [ja] – Sumitomo Warehouse Tsuki Port [ja] – MOL Mitsui Tsuki Port Building (Osaka Merchant Ship [ja]) – Japan Anglican Church Kawaguchi Christian Church (Registered Tangible Cultural Property) – Mitsui Warehouse [ja] – Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau (Osaka City Electricity Bureau)

Theaters and halls

Izumi Hall [ja]
Umeda Arts Theater
Morinomiya Piloti Hall [ja]
NHK Osaka Hall
Osaka International Convention Center
Osaka Shiki Theater [ja]
Osaka Castle Music Hall [ja]
Osaka-jō Hall
Orix Theater
National Bunraku Theatre
The Symphony Hall [ja]
Theater BRAVA! [ja]
New Kabukiza [ja)]
Zepp Osaka
Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei [ja]
Namba Grand Kagetsu [ja]
Festival Hall, Osaka
Gallery
Izumi Hall [ja]

Osaka-jō Hall
National Bunraku Theater
Tenma Tenjin Hanjotei [ja]

Sport venues

Religious facilities

Shrines

Sumiyoshi Taisha
Osaka Tenmangu
Goryo Shrine [ja)]
Zama Shrine
Namba Shrine [ja]
Ikukunitama Shrine
Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine
Kōzu-gū
Mitsu Hachimangu [ja]
Namba Yasaka Shrine [ja]
Shinmei Shrine [ja)]
Imamiya Shrine
Abe Seimei Shrine [ja]
Kumata Shrine [ja]
Tsuyunoten Shrine [ja]
Tsunashiki Tenjin Shrine
Asahi Shinmeisha [ja]

Temples

Shitennō-ji
Shitennoji Honbo Garden [ja]
Shomanin [ja]
Dainenbutsu-ji
Taishokannonji [ja]
Isshin-ji
Taiyū-ji
Hozenji [ja]
Honganji Tsumura Betsuin [ja]
Shinshu Buddhist Otani-ha Sect Namba Betsuin Temple [ja]

Churches

United Church of Christ in Japan (UCCJ) Naniwa Church [ja]
Grand Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of Osaka [ja]
Japan Anglican Church
Japan Christian Church Osaka Fukushima Church
Japan Evangelical Lutheran Osaka Church

International relations

Sister cities

Osaka is twinned with cities around the world. Some of these are:

Aksaray, Turkey
Chicago, Illinois, United States (since November 1973)
Hamburg, Germany (since May 1989)
Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France (since May 1984)
Manchester, England, United Kingdom (since September 2025)
Melbourne, Australia (since April 1978)
Milan, Lombardy, Italy (since June 1981)
Saint Petersburg, Russia (since August 1979)
San Francisco, California, United States (former partnership, October 1957 – October 2018)
São Paulo, Brazil (since October 1969)
Shanghai, China (since April 1974)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (since June 1994)