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Umeda Area Management Alliance

Organization Overview

Umeda Area Management Alliance

West Japan Railway Company, Hankyu Corporation, Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., and Grand Front Osaka TMO  launched the Umeda Area Management Alliance in November 2009. From April 2021, Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. has newly joined to develop area management in the Umeda area together. The five entities that operate large-scale facilities in the Umeda area have been working together to enhance the competitiveness, customer attractiveness, and regional power of the entire Umeda area, and aim for the sustainable development of the Umeda area. The Alliance will further enhance the appeal of the Umeda area by practicing area management activities from various aspects in advance and experimentally.

Member

  • JR西日本
  • 阪急電鉄
  • 阪神電車
  • GRAND FRONT OSAKA
  • Osaka Metro

Activity Area

Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station
and Chayamachi Area

The Umeda Hankyu Building, which includes the Hankyu Department Store and business offices, was reconstructed and fully re-opened in the autumn of 2012. At the time of rebuilding, pedestrian traffic lines centered on the concourses on the ground and underground were improved. Various events are held, in cooperation with commercial facilities, such as the NU chayamachi shopping mall, in the Chayamachi area, where people enjoy both walking and shopping. In addition to making it a livelier place, Hankyu Corporation is working to widen the sidewalks of the city road Umeda Kitano Line, to improve the ease of movements.

Umekita Area

The Umekita area refers to the former site of the Umeda Freight Station. It is approximately 24 hectares in size and is located north of JR Osaka Station. In April 2013, the Grand Front Osaka complex opened in an advanced development area that is about 7 hectares in size and is located on the east side of the Umekita Area. In the advanced development area, Grand Front Osaka TMO plays the leading role in managing the town’s public space integrally to produce a high-quality space, including the maintenance and management of sidewalk space around the area and the operation of open cafes and outdoor advertising matters on the sidewalks.

Umekita Phase II Development

The Umekita phase II development area is working with Grand Front Osaka in the advanced development area on urban development to lead Asia as well as the Kansai area and seeks to integrate green practices and innovation. Furthermore, the Umekita phase II development area will develop city parks as green space to attract people from across the world. One of the core tenets of establishing a world-leading innovation base is to be internationally competitive. Construction is scheduled to start in the fall of 2020 in preparation for the opening in the early summer of 2024. A new underground station will be constructed (and is expected to open in the spring of 2023), and access from the Umeda area to Kansai International Airport will be improved.

Nishi-Umeda Area

The 10-hectare Nishi-Umeda area was created as a part of a redevelopment project centered on the former JNR Umeda Freight South Yard and is a place for culture, international relationships, and information. The Nishi-Umeda District Development Council and the Nishi-Umeda Underpass Management Council are working together to promote area management and information dissemination from the area by sharing a future image of the area, setting rules for town development, and performing high-quality maintenance to improve the attractiveness of the area. Furthermore, the area is promoting large-scale complex development to connect the area, including the former Osaka Central Post Office, directly to JR Osaka Station.

JR Osaka Station Area

In May 2011, Osaka Station City, the most extensive terminal base in western Japan, was born ahead of the development of the Osaka Station North area (Umekita area). This area gathered various functions by taking advantage of being directly connected to the station. The development aimed at creating a vibrant space where people can travel, improving access from the station to the town. As a gateway to Osaka and Kansai filled with comfort, convenience, and liveliness, the area is working daily to provide discoveries and excitement to customers visiting the area.

West Area Development of JR Osaka Station

Taking advantage of the area’s outstanding access directly connected to Osaka Station, the area is proceeding with plans based on the development of new ticket gates, underpasses, and a new station building. The area is planning to reduce the congestion at Osaka Station, develop new barrier-free routes, and improve accessibility to the west area, while enhancing the ease of accessibility to surrounding areas, thus contributing to and further strengthening the value of the entire area.

JR Osaka Station South Area
(Diamond District)

This block of about 10.7 hectares surrounded by the Osaka Station Front Line, National Route 2, Midosuji Street, and Yotsubashisuji Street is nicknamed Diamond District. Companies and organizations representing each block in the area have formed the Osaka Diamond City Council. Discussions and examinations are being conducted to promote and develop the Diamond District. Furthermore, the Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd. and Hankyu Corporation started their Umeda 1-1 Project, along with the development of surrounding public facilities related to the Project in the northeastern part of the area. This triggered an initiative to consider the further utilization of public space and create a comfortable and high-quality town to contribute to the reinforcement of international competitiveness.

Activity Concepts

Umeda in the past.
Umeda in the future.
The Umeda we want to create.

The activity concept is a solid guideline for improving the quality of the town in the Umeda area.
All people involved in Umeda’s community development will share a clear concept and create an integrated community,
thereby improving the appeal of the Umeda area as a whole by attracting customers
and supporting the sustainable development of the community.

Concept 1. Town development extending from the station.

  1. 01

    Grasping the Current Situation

    Charms and strengths of Umeda Area

    • Highly-convenient function as the terminal
    • The highest commercial accumulation in Japan
    • Extensive railway network

    and others

  2. 02

    Policy・Activity concept

    Policy

    Expanding the strengths

    Activity concept

    Town development extending from the station

  3. 03

    Activity Domain

    • Security and cleaning
    • Disaster prevention

Past activity results

Here is a part of its activity results.

  • Holding area events at the square and the open space in front of the station

  • Issuing and revising the area map

  • Transmitting the information through the Web and social media

  • Holding a meeting to exchange information with persons in charge of information on facilities in the Umeda area

Topic/strategy

  • Security and cleaning / A town where people feel secure anywhere

    We not only participate in existing activities for crime prevention and cleaning such as the banning of illegal bicycle parking and smoking on the street, but try to increase the number of participants in those activities through joint campaigns. Thus, we strive to realize a “town where safety expands” by initiating actions together.

  • Disaster prevention / A town where self-help and mutual help efforts bear fruit

    We will strengthen the capability for self-support in our town throughconduct a fact-finding survey on initiatives for crime prevention in the Umeda area as well asand carry out information-disseminating activities on PR and seminars. in order to enhance people in the community to improve the skills to help themselves. Moreover, to gain trust from visitors, we will striveaim to realize a “town that has the capability for mutual assistancewhere people can aid each other” through enlightenment activities that workers people working in the area and visitors can aid each other mutually support at times of disaster as well as the way we prevent disaster in the entire area.

Concept 2. Development of a town that is fun to walk around

  1. 01

    Grasping the Current Situation

    Issues and weak points of the Umeda area

    • With less greenery and squares
    • Scarce symbolic landscapes
    • Insufficient amenities on the sidewalks

    and others

  2. 02

    Policy・Activity concept

    Policy

    Solving issues

    Activity concept

    Development of a town that is fun to walk around

  3. 03

    Activity Domain

    • Beauty
    • Attracting visitors and promoting vitalization
    • Promoting a creative environment

Past activity results

Here is a part of its activity results.

  • Activity to raise disaster prevention awareness

  • Providing a resting area by restricting vehicle traffic

  • Initiatives in cooperation with local police and fire station

  • Implementing town cleaning in Umeda

Topic/strategy

  • Beauty / A beautiful and comfortable town

    We aim to realize a “beautiful and comfortable town appropriate to the gateway to Japan” with the implementation of activities in public spaces such as the regular or permanent installation of public art as well as the making of rules pertaining to the management and operation of such activities, including formulating guidelines.

  • Attracting visitors and promoting vitalization / A town where people play a leading role

    We will achieve traffic management that prioritizes people, by establishingWe establish unique but sustainable measures, with financial resources secured, by which we will achieve traffic management that people play a leading role, and aim to realize a “bustlinglively town.”

  • Creative environment / Promoting a stage for innovation

    Together with a lot of people who aspire to create the future of a town and people, we will generate unprecedented public spaces so that we can realize a “town to meet something” for people.

Concept 3. Town development in a new age

  1. 01

    Grasping the Current Situation

    Social situation surrounding Umeda Area

    • Movement of new urban policy
    • Movement toward a hub to create new industry
    • Rapid increase of international visitors mainly from Asia

    and others

  2. 02

    Policy・Activity concept

    Policy

    Adding new charms

    Activity concept

    Town development in a new age

  3. 03

    Activity Domain

    • Transmission of information
    • Community (Regional cooperation)

Past activity results

Here is a part of its activity results.

  • Water-sprinkling campaign in various spots in Umeda

  • Holding events in collaboration with local schools

  • Holding events in collaboration with local companies

  • Promotion for inbound tourism with the cooperation of international students

Topic/strategy

  • Transmission of information / A town everyone wants to visit

    Regardless of existing measures, we take advantage of various PR opportunities including the cooperation with other organizations, by which we disseminate our new appeal domestically and internationally. Thus, we aim to realize a “town that everyone wants to visit” that may obtain the sympathy from many people.

  • Community (Regional cooperation) / A town that everyone wants to be involved with

    We, as a member of the National Area Management Network, cooperate with other community activity organizations across the nation, and then form a community that people in and outside Japan are connected by the involvement and development of human resources in area management. Thus, we aim to realize a “town that everyone wants to associate with.”

    全国エリアマネ

Walkable UMEDA Concept

Walkable UMEDA Concept

As an urban space like those of Melbourne and New York, Umeda is not just a passing-by space. It is also attractive to the people who spend time and participate in activities there. The Umeda area aims to create an internationally competitive urban brand by producing such urban spaces. Furthermore, the area intends to establish a guideline for the development of an urban environment appropriate for Osaka as an international innovation city, based on a more active and free exchange and the fusion of individual wisdom, technology, and personal connections. The Walkable Umeda Concept presents the pedestrian space vision of Umeda, Osaka along with the path to the implementation of the vision.

UMEDA CONNECT ROAD

The improvement of the road environment and the introduction of various walking experiences will allow the Alliance to build a circumferential network for pedestrians that is linked to each area. The Alliance will aim to develop a “town where you find walking more fun.”

Action Image

  • Improvement with road signs

    To contrive a smoother flow for walking

  • Street art

    To create urban spaces with excitement and discoveries

  • Installing bicycle lanes

    To provide a diverse range of means for walking

  • Open-air café

    To provide opportunities to exchange in the open air

  • Widening the sidewalks

    To enhance the convenience of pedestrians

  • Development of a town that prioritizes pedestrians

    To create comfortable space

  • Establishment of communication facilities

    To produce fine scenery

  • Exceptional city landscape

    To renew the city’s image and its transmission

  • Installing benches

    To create reservoir space

Download

The concept book of the Umeda Area Management Alliance can be downloaded from below.

梅田地区エリアマネジメント
実践連絡会メンバー

  • JR西日本
  • 阪急電鉄
  • 阪神電車
  • GRAND FRONT OSAKA
  • Osaka Metro