Osaka and the Kansai region have long been a hotbed for entrepreneurs, including Cup Noodles inventor Momofuku Ando and Panasonic founder Konosuke Matsushita. People here love to embrace new things and are generous with second chances, so in Umeda, public and private entities work together to support the pioneering spirit of all kinds of people.

Many retail brands and restaurants choose Umeda as their foothold in the Kansai region. And as inbound tourism surges, foreign brands looking to break into the Japanese market have their sights set on Umeda.
For example, Time Out Market, a large-scale food and cultural market will open here.
It will bring the best of the city and the region together under one roof with a curated mix of the best local chefs, restaurants, drinks and cultural experiences. Time Out Market Osaka – the first to open in Asia – will be home to 17 restaurants and 2 bars.
Each day, more than 2 million people pass through Umeda for work and pleasure, making it the perfect stage to market new businesses and products.

In Umeda, public and private entities are actively fostering entrepreneurship. The flagship of these efforts is Hack Osaka, an annual innovation event held since 2013, which is one of the largest events in the region. Active pilot projects working toward decarbonization, well-being, and smart cities have been actively embraced and implemented across the area. In Umeda, entrepreneurs and businesspeople can find both infrastructural and organizational support for co-creation and social implementation of their ambitions.

Umeda has incredible potential as a MICE destination which will only increase with exciting developments such as the opening of the expansive Umekita Park as part of GRAND GREEN OSAKA in September 2024.
By connecting public spaces with hotels and venues, it is possible to plan and stage dynamic events that span the entire Umeda district, allowing event organizers and planners to provide participants with completely new experiences.
Umeda’s culture of embracing pioneers and its array of MICE facilities presents organizers and planners with the opportunity to explore the limits of their ambitions.