“Grand Green Osaka,” a joint venture led by Mitsubishi Estate, has finally been unveiled. With a unique park-centered landscape, the urban development project provides a vast green space within Osaka’s prime location. The new project is expected to ignite the Kansai economy.

“Grand Green Osaka,” the urban development project involving a nine-company joint venture (JV9), including Hankyu Corporation, Takenaka Corporation etc., has begun full-scale operation. In September 2024, first-phase hotel and commercial facilities in the North District were opened along with Umekita Park (the entire South Park and part of the North Park) in coordination with Osaka City. Offices, hotels, and commercial facilities in the South District then opened in March this year, with the entire project scheduled to be completed by FY2027.

The concept of this massive project is “Creation of Osaka MIDORI LIFE: A Fusion of Green and Innovation.” Including the approximately 45,000 m² Umekita Park set in front of JR Osaka Station, the largest terminal in western Japan, it features offices, hotels, commercial, and core functional facilities, as well as condominiums.

Along the new development, Osaka Station has opened a new Umekita Underground Exit and passageway. Travelers can now ride the Haruka Express from Osaka Station to Kansai International Airport without a transfer. By around 2031, the proposed Naniwasuji Line will connect to the Nankai Main Line, linking the Kita and Minami areas of the city and offering visitors easy access to both the airport and Shin-Osaka Station.

The area was the former site of the Umeda Freight Station (known as Umeda North Yard), which served as a railway logistics hub for 85 years. It is the second-phase area of the Umekita redevelopment project, following on from the first phase marked by the opening of Grand Front Osaka in April 2013. Of the entire project area, which spans approximately 91,000 m², around half is served as an urban park, roughly one-third (approximately 30,000 m²) of which features various types of green spaces and around 1,500 large and medium-sized trees representing roughly 320 species. The park thus presents a vast green space in front of the largest terminal station in western Japan.

Once you actually visit, you’ll realize that the past image of Osaka is no longer there. Rather, it has been transformed into a sophisticated urban district.

“The project area is the last remaining premium location in the Kansai region, and there are high expectations to ignite an economic boost,” says Kenya Uchida, manager of the Grand Green Osaka Office at the Kansai Branch of Mitsubishi Estate. “That is why the project concept emphasizes the fusion of greenery and innovation.”

Under the concept of “landscape-first,” the development adopts a design approach in which urban spaces are created within a park, integrating landscape and architecture. Emphasizing public accessibility, it aims to create a place where local residents, workers, and tourists alike can gather, coexist, and enjoy cultural experiences through events and art. The project also establishes a framework to support and nurture citizen- and business-led initiatives and challenges. It aspires to pursue initiatives rarely seen in conventional urban parks.

Many companies are planning to move into Grand Green Osaka, including Kubota, which is relocating its headquarters, and Honda, which will establish a software development base. Additionally, companies such as Rohto Pharmaceutical, the Suntory Group, the Panasonic Group, and Nishio Rent All are participating as “MIDORI Partners.” These firms aim to enhance their corporate value by aligning the ongoing operation of the district with their SDGs initiatives and business development. Moreover, the project seeks to bring together not only corporations but also creators, universities, startups, and other diverse players, with the goal of generating new products and services, fostering growth, and enhancing the overall value of the city.

Uchida adds: “A space called ‘JAM BASE’ cultivates an open and bustling atmosphere to encourage companies, universities, startups, and research institutions to meet and collaborate. Meanwhile, the Umekita Future Innovation Organization is an innovation support group run by private and public sector players. As the project embodies the net-positive concept, we have covered approximately 90% of the area with native plant species and use limited chemical fertilizers and pesticides to minimize environmental impact. We take maximum advantage of new renewable technologies such as biogas power generation to create a sustainable city focused on human wellbeing, where visitors can escape from their daily worries and recharge themselves with positive energy amid lush greenery.”

Although some areas in Tokyo are currently undergoing redevelopment, it is rare to see urban development centered around a park, as in the case of Grand Green Osaka. What’s more, the development is being carried out on a scale comparable to the area surrounding Tokyo Station—or even including Ginza—making its impact on Osaka undeniably significant. In fact, Grand Green Osaka offers facilities and functions that welcome visitors and travelers from around the world with a unique charm.

Including the Waldorf Astoria Osaka, Japan’s first hotel under the Waldorf Astoria brand, the development is home to three hotels with international appeal to business travelers and tourists, the two others being the Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda and the Hotel Hankyu GRAN RESPIRE OSAKA. Visitors can also experience the regional food and culture of Kansai at the Time Out Market Osaka, a large-scale food market launched by global media outlet Time Out and the first of its kind in Asia. For those holding events and organizing conferences, park venues and core functional facilities such as the Congrès Square Grand Green Osaka offer MICE facilities.

And while there is a wide variety of indoor shops and restaurants, visitors can also choose alfresco dining at select venues or load up on take-out snacks and beverages to enjoy on the terrace seating while taking in the seasonal landscape.

Keen shoppers will enjoy Gardens Umekita by Kohnan, DIY store Kohnan’s first urban-style store, where visitors can immerse themselves in the outdoors, as well as Patagonia Osaka/Umeda, one of the largest Patagonia stores in Japan. Healthcare facilities, including a dental clinic and an obstetrics and gynecology clinic are also available.

The South Building (opened March 2025) features UMEKITA ONSEN REN Wellbeing Park, one of the largest urban spas in the Kansai region, where visitors are invited to relax in natural hot springs and enjoy an infinity pool overlooking the park.

Grand Green Osaka is truly Mitsubishi Estate’s flagship project—an urban development that could be described as Osaka’s very own “Central Park.”

Looking ahead to the future of urban development, Mr. Uchida shares his hopes: “Until recently, Umeda was dominated by office buildings with very little green space,” “Now, many people gather here to relax. In addition to daytime visitors, young people come here at sundown after finishing school or work. It has the kind of soothing atmosphere that you can only find in a green setting, and you feel welcome regardless of time of day. We hope this will become a beloved place that leaves a lasting mark on a page of your life story."