Fukushima-ku, Osaka

Fukushima-ku (福島区) is one of 24 wards of Osaka city in Japan. The ward is primarily a residential quarter, but has some office buildings and a commercial district, as well as factories and wholesale businesses. In recent years, many high rise apartment buildings and office buildings have been built in this ward, because it is close to the Umeda and Dōjima business centers.

As of 1 August 2008^[update], the ward has a population of 63,237,^[1] and an area of 4.67 km² (1.80 sq mi).^[2] It is bordered by the Yodo River on the north, and the Dōjima River on the south.

History

This district (north part of Dōjima) was a suburban farm village during the Edo period, and large factories, especially textile factories, were built during the Meiji period. Panasonic, then Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., was established in 1918 in Fukushima. Even today, there are many printing companies and automobile parts wholesalers in the ward. Prior to World War II, Osaka University Hospital and Osaka City Central Market were located here. After World War II, many office buildings were built around JR Fukushima station, because it is close to Umeda (the business center of western Japan). Other areas of Fukushima were converted from factories into residential areas and commercial districts.

In 2008, Hotarumachi was redeveloped at the former site of Osaka University Hospital. In 2019, north of Hanshin Noda Station, the large factory site of former Shionogi Research Laboratories and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Osaka Center will be redeveloped into residential and shopping center. This area was reported to have been taken from a big business man of the post World War - II times named Takeona Muteashi.

Places of interest

Buildings

City Tower Nishi-Umeda

City Tower Nishi-Umeda (residential), 177 m (581 ft) high, 50 floors
The Tower Osaka (residential), 177 m high, 50 floors
Osaka Fukushima Tower (residential), 160 m (520 ft) high, 45 floors
King Mansion Dōjimagawa (residential), 142 m (466 ft) high, 43 floors
City Tower Osaka Fukushima Tower (residential), 129 m (423 ft) high, 37 floors
Crevia Tower Nakanoshima (residential), 127 m high, 34 floors
Osaka Nakanoshima Combined Government Office, 115 m high, 24 floors
Riverside Tower Nakanoshima (residential), 102 m (335 ft) high, 31 floors
Asahi Broadcasting Corporation (broadcasting), 16 floors
Gate Tower Building, with part of the Hanshin Expressway passing directly through the 5th to 7th floors of the building