Umekita Plaza (うめきた広場)

The square is part of the Grand Front Osaka district, which opened in April 2013. The district covers about 7 hectares in the east of "Umekita" (うめきた), the new name, chosen in February 2011 from more than 4,000 public proposals, for the area formerly called Umeda "North Yard": about 24 hectares centred on the Umeda freight station.

The land of the square is public; private developers plan, lay out and run it, and it is meant as a model of the "new public". The city plan calls it the "Osaka North Exit Plaza".

The design of the square was supervised by Tadao Ando's office. The design and construction supervision of the district were entrusted to three other firms.

The square extends over about 10,000 m2 facing the north exit of the station, between the atrium exit of JR Osaka Station and Block A of the district. Designed on the theme of "Osaka, the city of water", it combines water and greenery.

In the centre, nozzles release an artificial fog: this is "Fog Sculpture · SEA FOG", a work by Fujiko Nakaya, known as the "fog sculptor". At certain times of year it envelops the square in sequences of about two minutes; it is also meant to help ease the urban heat island effect.

The square is lined by a two-storey building, "UMEKITA SHIP": its form suggests a ship moored on the square, and its logo draws the letter S as an anchor. A café occupies the ground floor; upstairs, a multipurpose hall of about 270 m2 hosts a variety of events.

The square is designed to host festivals and regular events, and for everyone, from children to the elderly, to gather freely. The hall on the upper floor of the UMEKITA SHIP building extends these uses with a variety of events.

The square is open-air, facing the north exit of JR Osaka Station. Fujiko Nakaya's fog runs only at certain times of year, in short sequences; it may be interrupted during events, in high humidity or in strong wind.