Umeda, Commercial district in Osaka, Japan
Umeda is a commercial district in Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan, developed around several major railway stations. The high-rises share the surface with a branching network of underground corridors that link shopping areas and restaurants across multiple levels.
The site originally served as a freight yard and was gradually repurposed from 2013 onward to accommodate new business complexes. Grand Front Osaka rose on these former rail tracks and fundamentally changed the skyline of the neighborhood.
Locals use the underground network as a shortcut during rain and meet there regularly for meals or shopping. These sprawling passages below ground connect offices to shops and create a sheltered space where commuters can spend much of their day.
The neighborhood sits directly beside Osaka Station and provides quick connections to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka Station. Pedestrians find many paths through shopping arcades that stay dry during bad weather.
The Umeda Sky Building holds an open-air observation deck at 173 meters (568 feet) that links two towers through a floating bridge. Visitors can feel the wind and weather while looking at the city from above.
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