Osaka stroll | A cultural journey to enjoy books and art, a stroll in Nakanoshima, Osaka

Today’s stroll in Osaka
This time, we will stroll around Nakanoshima, a town on a sandbar between the Dojima and Tosabori Rivers flowing through Osaka.Nakanoshima is a beautiful urban oasis located close to Osaka’s most prestigious shopping and business districts. It is also a cultural district with facilities such as libraries, museums, and science museums.Just walking around this area, you will be soothed by its wonderful atmosphere.This time, we will take a closer look at the museum and the library, setting them as the main part of our stroll.

Today’s route

A.JR Osaka Station
B.Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library
C.Nakanoshima Children’s Book Fores
D.Bank of Japan, Osaka Branch
E.The National Museum of Art, Osaka
F.Nakanoshima Art Museum, Osaka
G.JR Osaka Station

A.JR Osaka Station

This stroll will begin at JR Osaka Station, a huge terminal station. This station is the center of Osaka’s Umeda area, a major metropolis in the Kansai region, and is served by subways and many private railways. As such, it is also the starting point for sightseeing in various parts of the city.

Now let’s head for our next destination from the south entrance/exit of JR Osaka Station at the “Osaka Ekimae” intersection.After walking for a while, you will hit a large street, Sonezaki-dori. Cross the street at the traffic light and turn left for a while, and you will see a narrow street between a karaoke bar and a pharmacy on your right. Take this road.

The street is narrow and narrow, avoiding the cobblestone streets. This street is a back street, lined with austere restaurants. If you keep going, you will come to Midosuji, a big street again. This is where the famous song of the Showa period was sung.Turn right on Midosuji Street and go straight ahead. After walking for a while, you will see a large bridge over the Dojima River. Across this bridge is Nakanoshima, the main area of the stroll.

Cross the bridge and walk along the river in the left direction. After a short distance, you will see your first destination, Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library, on your left.

B.Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library with its baroque architecture

The Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library, with its stately baroque architecture, has been a favorite of prefectural residents since it was built in 1904.Miraculously surviving the war, the building underwent several expansions. The building is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.The Nakanoshima Library can be enjoyed just by looking at its massive building from the outside. But since we have come all this way, let’s take a peek inside.

The highlight of the Nakanoshima Library is the enormous and majestic Central Hall. The staircase with its elegant handrail makes you feel as if you have stepped back in time. And since the central hall also contains works of art such as statues, take your time to visit.The Nakanoshima Library has a large collection of old documents and business-related and Osaka-related books. Since there are reference rooms on either side of the library, it is fun to look around if there is an area of interest to you.

Once you have enjoyed the historic library, head on to your next destination.

Exit the library and turn left on the first riverside path you walked down. After a short walk, you will see a traffic light. Turn right at the traffic light and turn left at the second traffic light you see. By the way, you can see the beautiful vermilion building “Osaka City Central Public Hall” at this time.

Continue along the wide sidewalk for a while with the Central Public Hall behind you, and you will see your next destination, Children’s Book Forest Nakanoshima, on your left.

C.Great library for kids! Children’s Book Forest Nakanoshima

Nakanoshima is a great place to take a stroll with children. And the most recommended spot for those with children is the Children’s Book Forest Nakanoshima.

Children’s Book Forest Nakanoshima is a wonderful library designed for children. It has a large number of “books for children” in its collection, which are divided into 12 themes. Of course, you can freely pick up and read them. The chairs are comfortable for children to sit and concentrate, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the world of books.

The main attraction here is only for children. However, even adults can have a relaxing time here, and the facilities for children should make you feel at ease.

After immersing yourself in just a few worlds with your child, take a look at the store. You can purchase original mugs, masking tapes, ballpoint pens, and other items that are easy for children to use. Many of the designs are peaceful and gentle, making for a relaxing lineup.

Exit the facility and return to the path you just took. When you see the vermilion central public hall, head to the left at the fork and continue straight ahead. There is a beautiful, well-maintained sidewalk, so you can walk with peace of mind.

Passing by Osaka City Hall, you will see a huge bridge. Immediately after crossing that bridge, the next destination, the Bank of Japan Osaka Branch, is on the right.

D.Osaka Branch of the Bank of Japan (old building), steeped in Meiji history

The Bank of Japan is the “bank of banks. It is a very important place that controls the Japanese economy. Although the Bank of Japan has a strong image of Tokyo, it actually has branches in various parts of Japan. This one here in Nakanoshima is one of them.

The Bank of Japan’s Osaka branch has two buildings: the annex and the old building. In this article, we will focus on the old building, which is an eye-catching Western-style building with a round roof.

The old building of the Osaka branch of the Bank of Japan was constructed in 1903, modeled after the National Bank of Belgium. As you may have noticed, like the Nakanoshima Library, built a year later in 1904, it is a stately building with a baroque style.

The old building is characterized by its circular roof, which looks like a hat, and the beautiful green color that surrounds it. The design is a fusion of Meiji-era culture and Western aesthetics, and is not inferior to the design of today’s buildings. Although not as stylish as is popular today, visitors can feel the fragrance of the building’s long history.

The Bank of Japan Osaka Branch can be enjoyed simply by strolling around. However, if you make a reservation in advance, you can visit the interior of the old building and part of the new building. If you plan your stroll in advance, you can enjoy it more if you make a reservation.

Now let’s proceed to our next destination.

Exit on the south side of the Osaka branch of the Bank of Japan and turn right along the riverside road. The rest of the way is mostly straight. After walking for a while, you will see a bridge. Go over the bridge and continue straight. After crossing the traffic light “Prefectural Science Museum Mae,” you will see the National Museum of Art, Osaka.

E.Fascinating collection and special exhibits! The National Museum of Art, Osaka

The National Museum of Art, Osaka was designed by American architect Cesar Perry and built in 1977 in the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park. It was relatively recently moved to its current location in Nakanoshima in 2004.

The National Museum of Art, Osaka is unique in that it is “completely underground. All of the facilities that make up the museum, such as exhibition rooms and stores, are located underground, and visitors enter through the entrance and descend to the basement.The building itself is a kind of art. The interior of the building is very modern and original. Artworks are scattered throughout the building, and the basement is open to the public. Even if you do not enter the exhibition rooms, you will be able to fully experience the beautiful and artistic atmosphere of the building.

The National Museum of Art, Osaka is an art museum that focuses mainly on contemporary art from Japan and abroad. And its main attraction is its collection and special exhibitions held several times a year. If you find something that interests you, we recommend you take a peek.

Also, visiting an art museum with children can be a hurdle. However, the National Museum of Art, Osaka regularly holds events for children, making it a safe place for those with children.

After enjoying the art in the underground space, let’s move on to our next destination. Next stop is again the Osaka Nakanoshima Art Museum, located right next to the National Museum of Art, Osaka.

F.Nakanoshima Art Museum, Osaka, with its impressive black cubic building

Osaka Nakanoshima Art Museum is located right next to the National Museum of Art, Osaka and the Osaka Science Museum. Its most distinctive feature is its appearance. The black cubic building makes a strong impression.

The Nakanoshima Art Museum, Osaka, has a large collection of modern and contemporary art. However, while the collection was successfully assembled, the creation of the facility took its twists and turns. In the end, the Nakanoshima Art Museum Osaka opened only recently, in 2022. It is still a newly built museum.

The exterior of the building is very simple, but the interior is complexly shaped and somewhat sci-fi. Photography is also allowed inside the building, so be sure to take pictures of its unique scenery.

The Osaka Nakanoshima Art Museum also holds exhibitions on the theme of “Osaka” and famous painters. Be sure to visit the museum as it hosts a fascinating collection.

Now, the stroll is finally over. Let’s return to Osaka Station, the starting point of our stroll.

G.(Goal) JR Osaka Station

Exit the Osaka Nakanoshima Art Museum and continue along the river. When you see Osaka Festival Hall on your right, cross the bridge and walk north to Osaka Station. You can enter the underground shopping mall on the way, so you can avoid the heat and cold. The journey takes about 15 minutes. Thank you for your hard work.

Route Review of Nakanoshima

Access to Nakanoshima

（Start）JR Osaka Station : 3-1-1 Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Parking around Nakanoshima

Nakanoshima Official Website

Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library : here
Nakanoshima Children’s Book Fores : here
Bank of Japan, Osaka Branch : here
The National Museum of Art, Osaka : here
Nakanoshima Art Museum, Osaka : here

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