From Osaka Station, stroll south along Midosuji for about 15 minutes. Once you cross the Oebashi Bridge over the Dojima River, you will arrive at Nakanoshima. Sandwiched between the Dojima River and the Tosabori River, it is a long, narrow sandbank measuring approximately 3.5 km from east to west and measuring approximately 50 ha in area. During the Edo period, the area around Nakanoshima, which was blessed with good water transportation, was home to many warehouses belonging to various feudal clans, and was extremely active. One of these is the Osaka Branch of the Bank of Japan, which was built in 1903 (Meiji 36) on the site of the former warehouse of the Shimabara clan, where businessman Tomoatsu Godai's villa was located. It is a Neo-Renaissance style building designed by Kingo Tatsuno, a leading figure in the Meiji period architecture world, and has an impressive blue-green cupola. After admiring the elegant beauty from outside, it's time to take a look inside. If you make a reservation by mail at least 3 months to 2 weeks in advance of your desired tour date, you can tour the interior (about 1 hour and 10 minutes with a guide).

Four modern buildings once stood on the east side of Nakanoshima: the Bank of Japan Osaka Branch, Osaka City Hall, Nakanoshima Prefectural Library, and Central Public Hall, providing a spectacular view that symbolized "Greater Osaka." Unfortunately, the old city hall was demolished and the current new city hall was completed in 1985.

As you exit the east door of Osaka City Hall, the neo-baroque-style Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library stands right in front of you. It is a beautiful building built in 1904, with four thick columns reminiscent of a Greek temple. The person who donated the construction costs and book purchase costs was Kichizaemon Sumitomo, the 15th head of the Osaka conglomerate Sumitomo family. When he traveled to Europe and America, he was inspired to see local entrepreneurs actively contributing to culture and doing charity work, and he offered to make a huge donation. High ceilings, stained glass, polished stair railings... The spirit of Osaka merchants has been passed down for 100 years. In 1996, half of the library's collection was moved to the Prefectural Central Library, which was built in Higashiosaka City, but it still has many valuable books and continues to be used. Nationally designated important cultural property.

Further to the east of the Nakanoshima Prefectural Library is the Central Public Hall, a neo-Renaissance style building with beautiful red brick and arches. Since its completion in 1918, the museum has played a huge role in the development of modern Osaka's culture and art, hosting lectures by Helen Keller, welcome gatherings for Gagarin, the first human astronaut, and classical concerts. , a symbol of Osaka where various events are still held. The grandeur of the large hall is especially captivating. Construction of the public hall began in 1913 with 1 million yen donated to the city of Osaka by Einosuke Iwamoto, a stockbroker, but Iwamoto failed in his investment and did not wait for its completion. He committed suicide at the young age of 39. There is a Iwamoto Einosuke Memorial Room in the basement of the hall (free admission). In 2002 (Heisei 14), preservation and restoration work was completed, and upon reopening, it became a nationally designated important cultural property. I wonder what Einosuke Iwamoto would think if he saw the public hall, which is still loved by the common people of Osaka.

Although there are many bridges in Osaka, it is rare to see one with such a stylish design. A 3-minute walk east from the Central Public Hall, the stone Namba Bridge is known as the "Lion Bridge" because of the four stone statues of brave lions on the north and south sides of the bridge. The lion with its mouth open and the lion with its mouth closed are also called ``Aun's lion''. Why a lion anyway? In fact, during the Edo period, Namba Bridge was a long bridge over 200 meters long, and the view from the top was spectacular. The kyōka that was recited there was ``West Higashi, the Naniwa Bridge that comes to the south, the 44-16th bridge that comes to every corner!'' Yes, didn't he become a "shishi" by hooking on this "44"? It is said that there are various theories, but the truth is a mystery. The current bridge was built in 1915 (Taisho 4), but it is still a bridge that Osaka's common people are proud of. Cross this bridge to the south and head to Kitahama.

Kitahama, located to the southeast of Namba Bridge, is where a rice exchange was established during the Edo period to trade rice that came from feudal domains across the country to warehouses on Nakanoshima. From there, a stock exchange was established in 1878 (Meiji 11), changing from the Osaka Stock Exchange Co., Ltd. to the Osaka Stock Exchange. It is still the center of Osaka's economy, where securities companies and banks are concentrated. The magnificent chalk cylindrical exchange completed in 1935 (Showa 10) was reborn in 2002 as a high-rise building with 24 floors above ground and 2 floors underground, but only the front wall of the old exchange was preserved. It still serves as the face of Kitahama, conveying the atmosphere of those days. In front of the building is a statue of Tomoatsu Godai, who is said to be the father of Osaka's economy.

About 10 minutes walk west from Osaka Stock Exchange. As you turn around to the southeast of the Sumitomo Bank headquarters, which was built in 1926, your eyes will be drawn to a particularly elegant four-story building. Built in 1924 (Taisho 13), the Osaka Club is one of Osaka's three great modern buildings, combining Southern European style with Eastern techniques. It was designed by renowned architect Takeo Yasui, and was designated as a national registered tangible cultural property in 1997. This hall is exclusive to the Osaka Club, a British-style social club established in 1912 (Taisho 1), so only members can use the dining room, common room, and billiards room, but the 4th floor hall is widely used for lectures and salon concerts. It may also be held. An elegant space full of culture.

From Osaka Club, head north on Midosuji and you'll find Yodoyabashi Bridge, which spans the Tosabori River. This bridge is said to have been built by a wealthy merchant, Yodoya, in front of his mansion, and there is a monument marking the site of his mansion on the west side of the south end. The current bridge was built in 1933, and the design was based on a public request. Cars and people are constantly passing by on this massive and quaint bridge. Buildings that remain from the "Great Osaka" era are still scattered around Yodoyabashi, Kitahama, and Senba. It stands tall and majestic in the midst of a busy business district, as if time has stopped there. Are our ancestors' love for the town reflected in these famous buildings? pride? Perhaps it's a message of encouragement, ``You too, do your best.'' Kitahama, located to the southeast of Namba Bridge, is where a rice exchange was established during the Edo period to trade rice that came from feudal domains across the country to warehouses on Nakanoshima. From there, a stock exchange was established in 1878 (Meiji 11), changing from the Osaka Stock Exchange Co., Ltd. to the Osaka Stock Exchange. It is still the center of Osaka's economy, where securities companies and banks are concentrated. The magnificent chalk cylindrical exchange completed in 1935 (Showa 10) was reborn in 2002 as a high-rise building with 24 floors above ground and 2 floors underground, but only the front wall of the old exchange was preserved. It still serves as the face of Kitahama, conveying the atmosphere of those days. In front of the building is a statue of Tomoatsu Godai, who is said to be the father of Osaka's economy.