Photo/Illutration An area called Grand Green Osaka that is being redeveloped in Osaka’s Kita Ward in the run-up to its partial opening on Sept. 6. (Mari Endo)

OSAKA--The site of a former rail freight terminal has the distinction of being the “last prime zone” to be developed in this bustling western Japan city.

It occupies a prestigious location northwest of JR Osaka Station. Part of what was once Umeda Freight Station is due to be unveiled on Sept. 6 to show off redevelopment work to date.

The site in Kita Ward was earmarked to create an urban park and a range of other facilities. Plans call for a commercial complex, a hotel and an office building to be built at some point.

Expectations are growing that the previous station area will be the new “face” of Osaka.

When the Japanese National Railways was privatized in 1987 to establish Japan Railway companies to service different regions of Japan, a decision was made to sell off the 24-hectare site that was once Umeda Freight Station.

The so-called Umekita 2 section of the former station site will be called Grand Green Osaka to reflect a 45,000-square-meter park that will be slightly larger than the renowned Koshien baseball stadium in nearby Hyogo Prefecture.

Grand Green Osaka will boast a grass area, an event venue with a huge canopy and other facilities designed to accommodate large numbers of people.

Trees, plants and flowers denoting the four respective seasons will be introduced.

Complexes featuring hotels, offices, shops and apartments are envisioned on the north and south sides of the park. Among the planned establishments are Canopy under the Hilton Osaka Umeda brand and Hotel Hankyu Gran Respire Osaka.

Leading businesses, such as Kubota Corp. and Shionogi & Co., are planning to relocate their headquarters to the prestigious location directly linked to Osaka Station, the largest rail hub in western Japan.

Grand Green Osaka is expected to attract hordes of visitors, including office workers.

Another key facility named Jam Base is planned for Grand Green Osaka. The aim is to help create fresh ideas by providing a rooftop garden, a communal space and a members-only salon for people to interact.

A special area, VS., that was designed by famed architect Tadao Ando is intended to promote culture and innovation. The center took its name from the idea of it serving as a station, studio or stage to realize visions. It will provide 1,400 square meters of space for exhibitions and other events.

The redevelopment plan for Umekita 2 was based on the concept of “fusion of greenery and innovation.”

A consortium that includes Mitsubishi Estate Co., Hankyu Corp. and Sekisui House Ltd. was selected in 2018 to make the project a reality.

On Sept. 6, the hotel building in the northern part of Grand Green Osaka, along with most of the urban park area, will open to the public ahead of other sections. The park’s north area will remain off-limits.

This means that 40 percent of Grand Green Osaka will be operational.

The office building on the south side is due for completion in spring 2025, while the development of the entire Grand Green Osaka is expected to finish in fiscal 2027.

The Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra, which marked its centenary in 2023, will perform at the Sept. 6 ceremony.

A popular band, flumpool, will also perform as part of a music festival to celebrate the partial opening of the site.

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