History
HISTORY

The start of the regeneration of the "Water City"

It is impossible to measure how much we have benefited from the canals that were dug in all directions, from the time of Naniwa-tsu, to the Edo period when it was called "the kitchen of the nation," and up until modern times when it was called "the Venice of the East." There was a time when the river and the land were separated, casting a shadow over the brilliance of Osaka as a water city, but by looking back at its roots as a waterfront city, Osaka, a city nurtured by the sea and rivers, has once again been reborn as an "aquatic city," and development and creation of a lively atmosphere that makes use of the waterfront has been promoted.

The turning point came when the initiative to revitalize Osaka as a water city was designated an urban revitalization project by the Cabinet Secretariat Urban Renewal Headquarters in 2001. Until then, Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, the business community, and others shared the view that improving the city's status was important in order to win out in competition with other cities. In order to revitalize the stagnant Osaka, it was necessary to create a new movement with the theme of "water city," and a new "Osaka brand" was needed to refresh the existing image of Osaka as a place of comedy and takoyaki.

In 2003, two organizations, the Flower, Green, Light and Water Forum and the Water City Osaka Regeneration Council, which are made up of representatives from Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, and the business community, almost simultaneously proposed initiatives to revitalize Osaka as an "Aqua City." In response, various projects were launched, including the development of waterfront spaces and the creation of lively areas.

Since 2004, a promenade has been opened along the Dotonbori River, creating a place of relaxation in the heart of Minami, and the number of riverside shops facing the water is gradually increasing. In 2008, the beach and wharf at Hachikenya were renovated as a land and sea transport terminal, and along the Dojima River, Fukushima Port (Hotarumachi Port) was opened to coincide with the opening of Hotarumachi Town. In cooperation with public works, private development with an awareness of the waterfront has also progressed. In the Nakanoshima area, a representative zone of Osaka's history and culture, Nakanoshima Park was redeveloped in July 2010 as an urban space with a high level of hydrophilicity, forming a landscape that can be said to be a symbol of Osaka, the water city.

List of both banks of the Yodogawa River: "Hakkenya in Osaka" (painted by Matsukawa Hanzan, 1863)
Osaka City Central Library
Hachikenya is a town where many cargo and passenger ships come and go, and where inns and restaurants line the streets. The painting depicts a bustling waterfront area with cargo unloading, passengers boarding and disembarking, welcoming and farewells, and waiting areas.

Current state of Hachikenyahama
The current Hachikenyahama (Okawa) has been restored with its wharf and gangway. It functions as a junction between the river and land, and is loved as a place of relaxation with a river station and dining space.

Ebisubashi Dotonbori at night (date unknown)
Osaka City Central Library

Dotonbori River today
Dotonbori is a glamorous area with numerous shining neon lights. The lights reflected on the surface of the Dotonbori River have remained the same since ancient times.