Osaka Prefecture, Japan

---

---

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Table of Contents

• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Overview
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Map
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: History
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Geography
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Climate
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Transportation
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Politics
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Economy
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Population
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Culture
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Education
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Symbols
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Tourism
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Pictures
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Facts
• Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Notables

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Overview

Osaka Prefecture (大阪府, ōsaka-fu) is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Map

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Google Map

• Map of Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: History

It is known that humans have inhabited what is now called Osaka since more than 10,000 years ago. Around the 5th century A.D., Chinese culture was introduced to Japan via the Korean peninsula, and Osaka became the center of politics and culture of Japan.

In the 7th century, the first capital of Japan, modeled after the capital of China, was established in Osaka. Thereafter, though the capital was subsequently moved to nearby Nara and Kyoto, Osaka continued to flourish uninterruptedly, serving as the gateway of culture and trade.

Around the end of the 12th century, political power fell into the hands of the warrior class and Japan entered an age of civil strife; however, Sakai (south of present-day Osaka City) developed as a free city of the type seen in medieval Italy. Furthermore, in 1583, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who accomplished the great task of unifying the country, chose Osaka as his base and constructed the magnificent Osaka Castle, making Osaka the political and economic center of Japan.

In the 17th century, though the political center shifted to Tokyo, called Edo at the time, Osaka continued playing a vital role in managing the nation's economy and distribution of goods, and was therefore named the "Nation's Kitchen". During this period, a broad town-based culture flourished and reached maturity in Osaka. Private schools, such as Kaitokudo and Tekijuku not under the educational dictates of the government, also took root in Osaka. In this way, open-mindedness and a vigorous enterprising spirit were nurtured, forming a rich setting for a soon-to-be modern metropolis.

Then, in the 19th century, the confusion brought on by the Meiji Restoration as well as the building of a modern state dealt Osaka merchants a severe blow. However, Osaka rose from this hardship and developed into an industrial area, emerging as a modern district. Recovering again from devastation by repeated air raids during World War II, Osaka, as a commercial center of Japan, has played a major role in distribution, trade, and industry.

Osaka is now making the next leap forward to becoming an international city for the exchange of goods and information between people from all over the world.

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Early History

Osaka Prefecture was created in 1868, at the very beginning of the Meiji era.

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Middle History

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Modern History

On September 1, 1956, the city of Osaka was promoted to a city designated by government ordinance and thereby divided into 24 wards.

In 2000, Fusae Ota (太田房江) became Japan's first female governor when she replaced Knock Yokoyama, who resigned after prosecution for sexual harassment.

On April 1, 2006: the city of Sakai was promoted to a city designated by government ordinance and thereby divided into seven wards.

In 2008, Toru Hashimoto (橋下徹), previously famous as a counselor on television, was elected at age 38 as the youngest governor in Japan.

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Geography

Osaka Prefecture neighbors the prefectures of Hyōgo and Kyoto in the north, Nara in the east and Wakayama in the south. The west is open to Osaka Bay. The Yodo and Yamato Rivers flow through the prefecture.

Prior to the construction of Kansai International Airport, Osaka was the smallest prefecture in Japan. The artificial island on which the airport was built added enough area to make it slightly larger than Kagawa Prefecture.

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Cities

• Daitō
• Fujiidera
• Habikino
• Hannan
• Higashiōsaka
• Hirakata
• Ibaraki
• Ikeda
• Izumi
• Izumiōtsu
• Izumisano
• Kadoma
• Kaizuka
• Kashiwara
• Katano
• Kawachinagano
• Kishiwada
• Matsubara
• Minoh
• Moriguchi
• Neyagawa
• Osaka (Capital)
• ōsakasayama
• Sakai
• Sennan
• Settsu
• Shijōnawate
• Suita
• Takaishi
• Takatsuki
• Tondabayashi
• Toyonaka
• Yao

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Towns and villages

Minamikawachi District

• Chihayaakasaka
• Kanan
• Taishi

Mishima District

• Shimamoto

Senboku District

• Tadaoka

Sennan District

• Kumatori
• Misaki
• Tajiri

Toyono District

• Nose
• Toyono

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Mergers

• On February 1, 2005 - The town of Mihara merged into the city of Sakai. Since then Sakai has been split into wards of which Mihara-ku is one.
• On March 31, 2010 - The village of Chiahayaakasaka will merge into the city of Kawachinagano.

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Climate

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Transportation

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Airports

Kansai International Airport

Kansai International Airport (関西国際空港, Kansai Kokusai Kūkō) (IATA: KIX, ICAO: RJBB) is an international airport located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, 38 km (24 mi) southwest of ōsaka Station,[1] off the shore of the cities of Sennan and Izumisano and the town of Tajiri in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It should not be confused with Osaka International Airport, which is closer to the city and now handles only domestic flights.

It was ranked 4th overall in the Airport of the Year 2006 awards named by Skytrax, next to Singapore Changi Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Munich Airport. Furthermore, the airport serves as an international hub for All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and Nippon Cargo Airlines.

It is colloquially known as 関空 (Kankū) in Japanese.

During the 2006 fiscal year (FY), KIX, which serves the city of Osaka, had 116,475 aircraft movements, of which 73,860 were international (31 countries, 71 cities), and 42,615 were domestic (19 cities). The total number of passengers was 16,689,658 of which 11,229,444 were international, and 5,460,214 were domestic, sixth in Japan and second in Osaka area. Freight volume was at 802,162 tonnes total, of which 757,414 t were international (18th in the world), and 44,748 t were domestic.[2] The 4,000 m × 60 m (13,123 ft × 197 ft) second runway was opened on 2 August 2007. Kansai Airport has become an Asian hub, with 499 weekly flights to Asia, 66 weekly flights to Europe and the Middle East, and 35 weekly flights to North America.

Osaka International Airport

Osaka International Airport (大阪国際空港, ōsaka Kokusai Kūkō) (IATA: ITM, ICAO: RJOO) is the primary domestic airport for the Kansai region of Japan, including the major cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. It is classified as a first class airport.

The airport is often called Itami Airport (伊丹空港, Itami Kūkō) because most of its land is located in Itami, Hyōgo Prefecture. The terminal complex is located in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture, and the only access from the Itami side is via a long tunnel that passes below the runway and apron.

Despite its "international" designation, the airport's scheduled passenger air traffic is entirely domestic. Kansai International Airport (27 mi (43 km) away) took over Osaka's international traffic in 1994 and competes with Itami for domestic traffic. Itami also faces competition from Kobe Airport (16 mi (26 km) away), a smaller domestic airport opened in 2006, nevertheless in FY2006 it was Japan's 5th busiest airport and Kansai region's busiest.

During 2005, this airport had 66,259 aircraft movements (32 cities). The total number of passengers was 18,948,300. Freight volume was at 154,412 tonnes total.

Yao Airport

Yao Airport (八尾空港, Yao Kūkō) (ICAO: RJOY) is a general aviation airport in Yao, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Located 8.1 NM (15.0 km; 9.3 mi) southeast of ōsaka Station, it is also an airbase for the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Several small carriers offer sightseeing and charter flights from Yao, including Asahi Airlines and Hankyu Airlines.

Yao is the only second class airport in Japan that does not have scheduled airline services.

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Rail

• Fukuchiyama Line
• Hankai Line
• Hankai Tramway
• Hankai Uemachi Line
• Hankyū Kōbe Main Line
• Hankyū Kyōto Main Line
• Hankyū Takarazuka Main Line
• Hankyū Minoo Line
• Hanshin Electric Railway
• Hanshin Main Line
• Hanshin Namba Line
• Haruka (Train)
• ICOCA
• JR Kyoto Line
• Kansai Airport Line
• Kansai Main Line
• Keihan Electric Railway
• Keihan Katano Line
• Keihan Main Line
• Keihan Nakanoshima Line
• Kintetsu Dōmyōji Line
• Kintetsu Keihanna Line
• Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line
• Kintetsu Nagano Line
• Kintetsu Namba Line
• Kintetsu Nara Line
• Kintetsu Nishi-Shigi Cable Line
• Kintetsu Osaka Line
• Kintetsu Shigi Line
• Kita-Osaka Kyūkō Railway
• Midōsuji Line
• Mizuma Railway Mizuma Line
• Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line
• Nankai Electric Railway
• Nankai Kōya Line
• Nankai Main Line
• Nankai Takashinohama Line
• Nankai Tanagawa Line
• Nankō Port Town Line
• Nose Electric Railway
• Osaka Higashi Line
• Osaka Monorail
• PiTaPa
• Rapi:t
• Sakurajima Line
• Semboku Rapid Railway
• Sennichimae Line
• Tanimachi Line
• Yamatoji Line
• Yotsubashi Line

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Roads

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Ports

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Politics

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Economy

The gross prefecture product of Osaka for the fiscal year 2004 was ￥38.7 trillion, second after Tokyo with an increase of 0.9% from the previous year. This represented approximately 48% of the Kinki region. The per capita income was ￥3.0 million, seventh in the nation. Commercial sales the same year was ￥60.1 trillion.

Overshadowed by such globally renowned electronics giants as Panasonic and Sharp, the other side of Osaka's economy can be characterized by its Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) activities. The number of SMEs based in Osaka in 2006 was 330,737, accounting for 99.6% of the total number of businesses in the prefecture. While this proportion is similar to other prefectures (the average nationwide was 99.7%), the manufactured output of the SMEs amounted to 65.4% of the total within the prefecture, a rate significantly higher than Tokyo's 55.5%, or Kanagawa's 38.4%. One model from Osaka of serving the public interest and restimulting the regional economy combined with industry-education cooperation efforts is the Astro-Technology SOHLA, with is struggling artificial satellite project. Having originally started from a gathering of Higashiosaka based SMEs, Astro-Technology SOHLA, has not only grown into a Kansai region- wide group but has also won the support from the government, through technology and material support from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and financial support from NEDO.

The Osaka Securities Exchange, specializing in derivatives such as Nikkei 225 Futures, is based in Osaka.

There are many electrical, chemical,pharmaceutical, heavy industry, food, and housing companies in Osaka Prefecture.

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Population

• Population: 8,829,148 (3rd)
• Density: 4,664 /km2

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Culture

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Museums

• National Museum of Ethnology, Japan
• Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farm Houses (Hattori Ryokuchi Park)
• OSTEC (Osaka Science and Technology Center) Exhibition Hall
• The Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Osaka

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Education

National Universities in Osaka Prefecture

Osaka University

Osaka University (大阪大学, ōsaka Daigaku), or Handai (阪大, Handai), is a major national university in Osaka, Japan. It is the sixth oldest university in Japan, as the Prefectural Osaka Medical College, and formerly one of the Imperial Universities of Japan.

Hideki Yukawa obtained his Nobel Prize in Physics on his early work conducted at Osaka University.

Osaka University is recognized as a leading university, especially in basic sciences and medical field. The university was ranked the 44th among the world's best universities and the 3rd best Japanese university in 2008, according to the QS World University Rankings.

Osaka Kyoiku University (Kashiwara)

Osaka Kyoiku University (大阪教育大学, ōsaka Kyōiku Daigaku) is a national university with headquarters in the city of Kashiwara, Osaka Prefecture, Japan and a branch campus in Tennōji-ku in the prefectural capital city of Osaka. It was established in 1949 by the merger of two predecessor institutions. Its short name is Daikyōdai. The university specializes in educating teachers. Unique among the national universities is its five-year program of nighttime study.

Public and Private Universities in Osaka Prefecture

• Kansai Medical University (Moriguchi, Osaka)
• Osaka University of Foreign Studies (Minoh)
• Osaka City University (Osaka City)
• Osaka Prefecture University (Sakai)
• Kansai University (Suita, Takatsuki, Osaka City)
• Kinki University (Higashiosaka)
• Kansai Gaidai University (Hirakata)(Kansai University of Foreign Studies)

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Symbols

• Flower: Primrose (Primula Sieboldii)
• Tree: Ginkgo Tree (Ginkgo Biloba)
• Bird: Bull-Headed Shrike (Lanius Bucephalus)

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Tourism

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Flights

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Hotels

World-Wide Discounted Hotels Reservations.

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Restaurants

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Attractions

Osaka Prefecture Tourism: Parks & Gardens

• The Expo Commemoration Park (Suita)
• Hattori Ryokuchi Park (Toyonaka)
• Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park (Osaka City)
• Nagai Park (Osaka City)
• Osaka Castle Park (Osaka City)
• Nakanoshima Park Park (Osaka City)

Osaka Prefecture Tourism: Temples & Shrines

Osaka Prefecture Tourism: Landmarks & Key Buildings

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Nightlife

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Shopping

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Cuisine

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Recreation

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Pictures

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Facts

It is bordered by Kyōto urban prefecture (north) and by the ken (prefectures) of Hyōgo (northwest), Nara (east), and Wakayama (south) and by ōsaka Bay (southeast). It includes the industrial city of ōsaka and numerous industrial and residential suburbs. The main industries in the urban prefecture manufacture iron and steel products, textiles, chemicals, and electrical machinery. ōsaka urban prefecture does not, however, include the port of Kōbe, which lies in Hyōgo prefecture. Area 722 square miles (1,869 square km). Pop. (1999 est.) 8,800,979.

Osaka Prefecture, Japan: Notables

Reon Kadena, かでなれおん was born in Osaka Prefecture, on February 19, 1986, she is a famous Japanese actress and gravure idol.

---

---