Osaka is geographically located in the center of Japan's main island. It is known as the second largest city after Tokyo, the capital of Japan, from an economic point of view. Osaka City has a population of approximately 2.72 million and an area of approximately 225.21 square kilometers. About 10% of foreigners living in Japan live in Osaka. There are 43 municipalities in Osaka Prefecture, and the Osaka Prefectural Office and the economic center are concentrated in Osaka City.

The Four Seasons in Osaka

Osaka International Convention Center is located in the Nakanoshima area, which is one of the symbolic areas in the administrative plan “Grand Design Osaka” compiled by Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City in June 2012. The area has long been the center of economy, culture, and administration in the old Edo period. It was lined with storehouses that collected goods transported from Osaka Bay, and has developed as the economic center of Osaka. Today, there are the Osaka City Hall and many office buildings in the area and is the political and economic center of Osaka City. In addition, it is a symbolic island of waterside Osaka where you can feel the charm of the waterside, sandwiched between the Dojima River and the Tosabori River, which are branches of the Yodo River, with a concentration of stately historical buildings and cultural facilities.

A further point to note is that Osaka plans to host the World Expo in 2025. The purpose of the event is indicated on the official website as follows, and Osaka will continue to develop as an international city in the future.

World Expo has both cohesive and communication capabilities. We will use these capabilities as a trigger to sustain growth and development of Osaka, Kansai as well as Japan following on from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Osaka is well-known as a gourmet city and you can enjoy a variety of unique Japanese meals at reasonable prices such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu, udon, and Osaka sushi. If you go a little further, you can enjoy shopping in areas such as Umeda, Shinsaibashi, and Namba. Please have a great time not only for the congress sessions but also your stay in Japan.