A walk around Osaka. Nakanoshima. Park and cultural district on an island.

Although rich in history, Osaka as we know it today claimed its fame as merchants city that mostly developed since the beginning of Edo period. It is based where Yodo river and many its inlets came to Osaka bay. River flow and area topography changed drastically during the years, but the range of the hills spread north to south stayed the same. On the northern tip of that range lies the area where the Osaka castle still stand, a former city core, and on the riverside there used to be a major transport hub – Naniwa harbour (Naniwa-zu).

Well, truth to be told, though Naniwa-zu is mentioned in a famous ancient poem, the exact location of it is unknown. The researchers tend to agree that it was somewhere near Kitahama district. The spot near Tenmabashi station had different harbour – Watanabe-zu. It was as much as important, because it was a gateway from west part of the country, islands of Kyushyu and Shikoku to the capital where you can disembark the seafaring ship and embark a riverboat.

n this area old waterway of Yodo river spreads in two, and the long narrow landmass is called Nakanoshima island, which is literally translates as “The middle island”. For a long period of time many warehouses and trading posts operated there. Things have changed in the modern era during the spread and development of the city. Now located in the geographical centre, Nakanoshima was completely rebuilt. Various western-styled building were constructed in the nearby areas as well. Finally the easternmost tip of the island was selected as the place for the first public park in Osaka.

Nowadays Nakanoshima is a place, beloved by Osaka people, providing retreat and leisure among its greenery and riverside alleys, holding the culturally significant buildings such as Central Public Hall, and giving the dense urban area that special accent, that distinguishes Osaka from other modern metropolises.

Filmed in May 2022.

Directions:
Nakanoshima island is spread out from east to west, and many stations of Osaka Metro and Keihan Railway, the major one would probably be Yodoyabashi station of Metro (which is one stop from Osaka station, and on the same line with Shin-Osaka station if you need connection to shinkansen). There is a branch of Keihan line called Keihan Nakanoshima line, that goes along the lenght of the island, which may be convenient if you need to go to specific location on it. The line connects to the main one at the Tenmabashi station (the one at the start of this video).

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[SojalWalkIndonesia]

I love Osaka. 20 years a go I'm visiting Japan and I chose to landed on Kansai Airport, Osaka instead of Narita or Haneda in Tokyo. ❤️❤️❤️