Nakanoshima: Osaka's Evolving Hub for Innovation, Wellness, and Sky-High Views

New medical centers and mixed-use developments are springing up across Nakanoshima. As night falls, the glow from the buildings beautifully reflects on the rivers.

Located in Osaka's rapidly redeveloping Kita Ward, Nakanoshima is a wide sandbank stretching east to west along the Dojima and Tosabori Rivers. A new railway line, the Naniwasuji Line, is set to open here in 2031. It will connect Osaka's Kita and Minami districts and create a new transportation hub.

Medical Hub

Nakanoshima Qross, which opened in June 2024, has become an international hub for cutting-edge medicine. It brings together hospitals, startups, and supporting organizations. Research into iPS cells and regenerative medicine is also underway.

The facility also hosts regular hands-on events for the public. At one iPS cell transplantation experience, children play the role of doctors. They take "blood" from stuffed animals, culture iPS cells, and "transplant" them onto organ models. Ten-year-old Natsune Motomochi from Hirakata City said with bright eyes, "I finally understood what iPS cells are, and it was really fun."

*Kids iPS Lab at Nakanoshima Qross offers a hands-on experience of transplant procedures. (©Sankei by Koichi Yamada)*

A City in Transformation

New mixed-use buildings continue to rise. On the 16th floor of the Osaka Dojimahama Tower, completed in April 2024, the observation facility WowUs offers yoga lessons on a glass-walled terrace with stunning night views.

These lessons are particularly popular with working women. Instructor Masako Kitamura says, "In a busy city where stress can easily build up, I hope people can practice yoga at a comfortable pace, reflect, and refresh themselves."

*Sky Terrace Yoga at WowUs, where participants can enjoy yoga while taking in the city's night view. (©Sankei by Kotaro Hikono)*

Sky-High Views

The 150-meter-tall skyscraper Yodoyabashi Station One, which is gradually opening with restaurants and other businesses, connects directly to Yodoyabashi Station on the Osaka Metro and Keihan lines. In September, the 30th floor opened, featuring a scenic lookout called the Yodoyabashi Sky Terrace and an event space that can also serve as a wedding venue, "une osaka."

Other landmarks in Nakanoshima include Grand Cube Osaka (Osaka International Convention Center) and the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, which are used for conferences and concerts, as well as the Osaka City Central Public Hall, an Important Cultural Property.

Many visitors are drawn to the striking combination of rivers, nature, and modern buildings, creating a vibrant new energy in the area.

(Read the article in Japanese.)

Authors: Koichi Yamada, Kotaro Hikono, Tetsuji Yamada, The Sankei Shimbun