Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese metropolitan region encompassing the metropolitan areas of the cities of Osaka
in Osaka prefecture
, Kobe
in Hyōgo Prefecture
, and Kyoto
in Kyoto prefecture
. The entire region has a population (as of 2000) of 18,644,000 over an area of 11,170 km². It is Japan
's second most populated urban region after the Greater Tokyo Area
, containing approximately 15% of Japan's population.
The GDP in this area (Osaka and Kobe) is $341 billion, making it one of the world's most productive regions, a match with Paris
and London
. Mastercard Worldwide
reported that Osaka is the 19th ranking city of the world's leading global cities and has an instrumental role in driving the global economy.
The name Keihanshin is constructed by extracting a representative kanji
from Kyoto (京都), Osaka (大阪), and Kobe (神戸), but using the On-yomi (Chinese reading) instead of the corresponding Kun-yomi (Japanese reading) for each of the characters taken from Osaka and Kobe, and the kan-on
Chinese reading of the character for Kyoto instead of the usual go-on
Chinese reading.
is a metropolitan area definition developed at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tokyo
. This definition is analogous to the Metropolitan Statistical Area concept used to delineate metropolitan areas in the United States
. The basic building blocks are municipalities.
The core area is the set of municipalities that contain a densely inhabited district (DID) with a population of 10,000 or more. The Urban Employment Area is called Metropolitan Employment Area, when its core area has 50,000 DID population or more. Otherwise, the area is called Micropolitan Employment Area. A DID is a group of census enumeration districts inhabited at densities of 4,000 or more persons per km². Outlying areas are those municipalities where 10% or more of the employed population work in the core area or in another outlying area. Overlaps are not allowed and an outlying area is assigned to the core area where it has the highest commuter ratio.
This definition assigns a Metropolitan Employment Area to the following cities of the Keihanshin region: Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Himeji, and Wakayama. The lists below indicate which cities belong to which metropolitan area. Towns and villages are not listed.
The Wakayama Metropolitan Employment Area has a population (as of 2000) of 573,308 and consists of the following cities:
The Japan Statistics Bureau defines the Major Metropolitan Area or MMA (大都市圏) as the set of municipalities where at least 1.5% of the resident population aged 15 and above commute to school or work in a designated city (defined as the core area). If multiple designated cities are close enough to have overlapping outlying areas, they are combined into a single multi-core area. In the 2000 census, the designated cities used to define the Keihanshin MMA were Osaka
, Kobe
, and Kyoto
. Sakai
has subsequently become a designated city.
This region consists of the combination of the metropolitan areas of Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, and Himeji, and additionally includes several periurban areas (particularly in southern Shiga Prefecture) that are not part of the four metropolitan areas.
As of 2000, the entire Keihanshin region had a population of 18,643,915 over an area of 11,169 km².
The core cities of Keihanshin are:
The other cities in Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto and Nara Prefectures are:
source: stat.go.jp census 2005
, Shiga
, Wakayama
Prefectures are included:
-Nagahama
(approx. 340,000) to the northeast, Iga
(approx. 50,000) to the east, Himeji
-Ako
(approx. 800,000) to the west, Greater Wakayama
(approx. 570,000 people) on the south, and Fukuchiyama
(approx. 150,000) to the north. If these areas are included, Greater Keihanshin's population would be around 19-20 million.
opened in 1994 and is now the main international airport
for the region. It sits on an artificial island
off-shore in Osaka Bay
and serves the city of Osaka and its surrounding cities of Nara
, Kobe
, and Kyoto
. Kansai
is the geographical term for the area of western Honshū surrounding Osaka. The airport is linked by direct train service to Osaka and Kyoto, and bus service to many major nearby centres, including Kobe.
Osaka International Airport
, laid over the border between the cities of Itami and Toyonaka, still houses most of the domestic service from the metropolitan region.
Kobe Airport
, built on a reclaimed island south of Port Island
opened in 2006, offering domestic flights.
, Namba
, Tennoji, Kyobashi
, and Yodoyabashi
.
line. Shin-Ōsaka Station
acts as the Shinkansen
terminal station, though the two lines are physically joined, and many trains offer through service. This station is connected to Ōsaka Station
at Umeda
by the JR Kyoto Line
and the subway Midōsuji Line. Shinkansen services also stop at Kyoto Station
and Shin-Kobe Station
.
All Shinkansen
trains including Nozomi
stop at Shin-Ōsaka Station and provide connections to other major cities in Japan, such as Kyoto
, Nagoya
, Yokohama
and Tokyo
to the east, and Kobe
, Okayama, Hiroshima
, Kitakyushu and Fukuoka
to the west.
and private lines connect Osaka and its suburbs. The commuter rail network of JR West is called the Urban Network. Major stations on the JR Osaka Loop Line
include Osaka (Umeda)
, Tennōji
, Tsuruhashi
, and Kyōbashi
. JR West competes with such private rail operators as Keihan Electric Railway
, Hankyu Railway
, Hanshin Railway, Kintetsu Corporation, and Nankai Electric Railway
. The Keihan
and Hankyu
lines connect to Kyoto; the Hanshin and Hankyu
lines connect to Kobe; the Kintetsu
lines connect to Nara
, Yoshino
, Ise
and Nagoya; and the Nankai lines connect to Osaka's southern suburbs and Kansai International Airport
as well as Wakayama and Mt. Koya. Many lines in Greater Osaka accept either ICOCA
or PiTaPa
contactless smart card
s for payment.
system is a part of Osaka's extensive rapid transit system. The Metro system alone ranks 13th
in the world by annual passenger ridership, serving over 912 million people annually (a quarter of Greater Osaka Rail System's 4 billion annual riders), despite being only 8 of more than 70 lines in the metro area (see map).
Source
Compared with other urban regions of the world, the agglomeration of Osaka is the seventh largest economy, in terms of gross metropolitan product at purchasing power parity (PPP)
, in 2005 according to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese metropolitan region encompassing the metropolitan areas of the cities of Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
in Osaka prefecture
Osaka Prefecture
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.- History :...
, Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
in Hyōgo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, and Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
in Kyoto prefecture
Kyoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....
. The entire region has a population (as of 2000) of 18,644,000 over an area of 11,170 km². It is Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's second most populated urban region after the Greater Tokyo Area
Greater Tokyo Area
The Greater Tokyo Area is a large metropolitan area in Kantō region, Japan, consisting of most of the prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Tokyo . In Japanese, it is referred to by various terms, including the , , and others....
, containing approximately 15% of Japan's population.
The GDP in this area (Osaka and Kobe) is $341 billion, making it one of the world's most productive regions, a match with Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Mastercard Worldwide
MasterCard
Mastercard Incorporated or MasterCard Worldwide is an American multinational financial services corporation with its headquarters in the MasterCard International Global Headquarters, Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States...
reported that Osaka is the 19th ranking city of the world's leading global cities and has an instrumental role in driving the global economy.
The name Keihanshin is constructed by extracting a representative kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
from Kyoto (京都), Osaka (大阪), and Kobe (神戸), but using the On-yomi (Chinese reading) instead of the corresponding Kun-yomi (Japanese reading) for each of the characters taken from Osaka and Kobe, and the kan-on
Kan-on
is one of the sources of pronunciation of Japanese kanji.They were borrowed from the Tang Dynasty during the 7th to 9th century....
Chinese reading of the character for Kyoto instead of the usual go-on
Go-on
are one of the different readings of Japanese kanji. They are old pronunciations of Chinese characters, believed to be taken from China to Japan prior to the importation of readings from Chang'an during the Nara period...
Chinese reading.
Range of distance
The Japan Statistics Bureau defines the set of municipalities that are entirely or mostly within 50 kilometers of the Municipal Office of Osaka as one measure of the metropolitan area. As of 2000, the population for this region was 16,566,704.Urban Employment Area
The Urban Employment AreaUrban Employment Area
is a definition of metropolitan areas, defined by the Center for Spatial Information Service, the University of Tokyo. It is different from the official definition of metropolitan areas defined by the Statistics Bureau, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications...
is a metropolitan area definition developed at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
. This definition is analogous to the Metropolitan Statistical Area concept used to delineate metropolitan areas in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The basic building blocks are municipalities.
The core area is the set of municipalities that contain a densely inhabited district (DID) with a population of 10,000 or more. The Urban Employment Area is called Metropolitan Employment Area, when its core area has 50,000 DID population or more. Otherwise, the area is called Micropolitan Employment Area. A DID is a group of census enumeration districts inhabited at densities of 4,000 or more persons per km². Outlying areas are those municipalities where 10% or more of the employed population work in the core area or in another outlying area. Overlaps are not allowed and an outlying area is assigned to the core area where it has the highest commuter ratio.
This definition assigns a Metropolitan Employment Area to the following cities of the Keihanshin region: Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Himeji, and Wakayama. The lists below indicate which cities belong to which metropolitan area. Towns and villages are not listed.
Osaka Metropolitan Employment Area
The Osaka Metropolitan Employment Area has a population (as of 2000) of 12,116,540 and consists of the following cities:- Core cities: OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Higashiosaka, KadomaKadoma, Osakais a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 128,034 and the density of 10,430 persons per km². The total area is 12.28 km²....
, MoriguchiMoriguchi, Osakais a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan which serves as a satellite town to Osaka.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 146,524 and the density of 11,510 persons per km²... - Outlying cities:
- Osaka PrefectureOsaka Prefectureis 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.- History :...
(entire prefecture) - Hyōgo Prefecture (southeastern part): AmagasakiAmagasaki, Hyogois an industrial city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1916. Its population is around 460,000, below its peak of over 554,000 in 1971.-History:...
, NishinomiyaNishinomiya, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo, Japan, between the cities of Ōsaka and Kōbe. On April 1, 2005, the city of Nishinomiya celebrated its 80th anniversary. It is best known as the home of Kōshien Stadium, where the Hanshin Tigers baseball team plays home games and where Japan's annual high school baseball...
, AshiyaAshiya, Hyogois a city founded on November 10, 1940 located in Hyōgo, Japan, between the cities of Osaka and Kobe.-Demographics:As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 93,094 and the density of 5,030 persons per km². The total area is 18.47 km²...
, ItamiItami, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city had an estimated population of 194,488 and a population density of 7,790 persons per km². The total area is 24.97 km².The center of Itami became a wealthy town by the middle of Sengoku period...
, TakarazukaTakarazuka, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.- Geography :Takarazuka is nestled between the Rokko Range to the west and Nagao Range to the north with the Muko River running through the center of the city....
, KawanishiKawanishi, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the northwestern part of the Kansai Region of Japan, about 5 km north of Osaka Itami Airport. It is bordered on the west by Inagawa River.-History:...
, SandaSanda, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 113,585 and the density of 540 persons per km². The total area is 210.22 km².The city was founded on July 1, 1958.-History:... - Nara Prefecture (northern part): NaraNara, Narais the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
, TenriTenri, Narais a city located in Nara, Japan. Tenri is the only city in Japan to be named after a religious group, the new religious movement Tenrikyo which has its headquarters in the city and believes it to be one among other energy centers of the world. Tenrikyo had recommended the name Yamabe, which is the...
, YamatotakadaYamatotakada, Narais a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan.The city continues to develop as a local business and government center in the center of Nara Prefecture.- History :...
, YamatokoriyamaYamatokoriyama, Narais a city located in Nara, Japan.As of August 31, 2006, the city has an estimated population of 93,280 and the density of 2,185.56 persons per km². The total area is 42.68 km².-Geography:...
, KashiharaKashihara, Narais a city located in Nara, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 125,547 and the density of 3,176.79 persons per km². The total area is 39.52 km²....
, SakuraiSakurai, Narais a city in Nara, Japan.As of 2007, the city had an estimated population of 63,321 with a density of 630.01 persons per km². The total area is 98.92 km².The city was founded on September 1, 1956....
, GoseGose, Narais a city in Nara Prefecture, Japan.In 2003 the city had an estimated population of 33,526 and a density of 552.78 persons per km². The total area is 60.65 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1958.-Neighboring municipalities:* Nara Prefecture...
, IkomaIkoma, Narais a city located in the north-west end of Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of June 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 120,304, with 46,989 households and the density of 2,262.20 persons per km², and it is the third biggest population in the prefecture...
, KashibaKashiba, Narais a city located in Nara, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 74,687 and the density of 3,080 persons per km². The total area is 24.23 km².The city was founded on October 1, 1991.- Education :...
, KatsuragiKatsuragi, Narais a city in Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the town had an estimated population of 35,622 and a density of 1060 persons per km². The total area is 33.73 km².... - Other cities: Nabari (Mie)Nabari, Mieis a city located in Mie, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 82,739 and the density of 637.63 persons per km². The total area is 129.76 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954.-Sightseeing Spot:...
, Yawata (Kyoto)Yawata, Kyotois a city located in Kyoto, Japan.As of May 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 74,150, with 31,120 households and the density of 3,042.68 persons per km². The total area is 24.37 km²....
, Hashimoto (Wakayama)Hashimoto, Wakayamais a city located in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on January 1, 1955.On March 1, 2006 the town of Kōyaguchi, from Ito District, was merged into Hashimoto....
- Osaka Prefecture
Kyoto Metropolitan Employment Area
The Kyoto Metropolitan Employment Area has a population (as of 2000) of 2,583,304 and consists of the following cities:- Core cities: KyotoKyotois a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
- Outlying cities
- Kyoto Prefecture (southern part): UjiUji, Kyotois a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Founded on March 1, 1951, Uji is located between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. The city sits on the Uji River, which has its source in Lake Biwa. As of April 1, 2008, Uji has an estimated population...
, KameokaKameoka, Kyotois a city located in Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 93,323 and a density of 415 persons per km². The total area is 224.90 km². It is known as one of Japan's foggiest cities....
, JoyoJoyo, Kyotois a city located in Kyoto, Japan. It is halfway between Kyoto and Nara. It contains historical sites including the Shibagahara Tomb and Mito shrine.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 80,669 and the density of 2,540.09 persons per km²...
, MukoMuko, Kyotois a city located in Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city had an estimated population of 55,031 and the density of 6,977.57 persons per km². The total area is 7.67 km².The city was founded on October 1, 1972...
, NagaokakyoNagaokakyo, Kyotois a city located in Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 79,306 and the density of 4,070.96 persons per km². The total area is 19.18 km²....
, KyotanabeKyotanabe, Kyotois a city located in the southern tip of Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 65,274. The total area is 42.94 km².The city was founded on April 1, 1997, after the town of Tanabe was reorganized into the city of Kyōtanabe. The Kyō- was added to distinguish it from the... - Shiga Prefecture (southwestern part): OtsuOtsu, Shigais the capital city of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1898. As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 338,629 with an average age of 40.7 years and a population density of 905.28 persons per km²...
, KusatsuKusatsu, Shigais a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on October 15, 1954, and as of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 123,690 and the density of 1,820 persons per km². The total area is 67.92 km².- Overview :...
- Kyoto Prefecture (southern part): Uji
Kobe Metropolitan Employment Area
The Kobe Metropolitan Employment Area has a population (as of 2000) of 2,296,268 and consists of the following cities:- Core cities: KobeKobe, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
- Outlying cities
- Hyōgo Prefecture (southern part): AkashiAkashi, Hyogois a city located in southern Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on the Seto Inland Sea west of Kobe.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 290,776, with 117,392 households, and a population density of 5,907.68 persons per km²...
, KakogawaKakogawa, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on June 15, 1950.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 268,565 and a population density of 1,940 persons per km². The total area is 138.51 km²...
, TakasagoTakasago, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on July 1, 1954. It lies between the cities of Kakogawa 加古川 to the east and Himeji 姫路 to the west, which is known for its castle....
, MikiMiki, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 82,162, with a household number of 32,143 and a population density of 465.30 persons per km²...
, and AwajiAwaji, Hyogois a city located on Awaji Island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.Awaji City was founded on 1 April 2005 from the merger of the former town of Awaji with the towns of Tsuna, Higashiura, Hokudan, Ichinomiya, all in Tsuna District....
- Hyōgo Prefecture (southern part): Akashi
Himeji Metropolitan Employment Area
The Himeji Metropolitan Employment Area has a population (as of 2000) of 741,759 and consists of the following cities:- Core cities: Himeji
- Outlying cities
- Hyōgo Prefecture (southwestern part): AioiAioi, Hyogois a city located between Himeji and Okayama, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. As of 2008, the city had an estimated population of 32,584 and the density of 369.14 persons per km². The total area is 90.43 km².- History :...
, TatsunoTatsuno, Hyogois a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 81,087, with a household number of 29,212 and a population density of 384.43 persons per km². The total area is 210.93 km².-History:...
- Hyōgo Prefecture (southwestern part): Aioi
Wakayama Metropolitan Employment Area
- Core cities: WakayamaWakayama, Wakayamais the capital city of Wakayama Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan.-Background:Wakayama occupies 4% of the land area and has 40% of Wakayama prefecture's population. The city was founded on April 1, 1889....
- Outlying cities
- Wakayama Prefecture (northwestern part): KainanKainan, Wakayamais a city located in Wakayama, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 55,763. The total area is 101.18 km².The city was founded on May 1, 1934.On April 1, 2005 the town of Shimotsu, from Kaisō District, was merged into Kainan....
- Wakayama Prefecture (northwestern part): Kainan
Major Metropolitan Area
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, and Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. Sakai
Sakai, Osaka
is a city in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the Medieval era.Following the February 2005 annexation of the town of Mihara, from Minamikawachi District, the city has grown further and is now the fourteenth most populous city in...
has subsequently become a designated city.
This region consists of the combination of the metropolitan areas of Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, and Himeji, and additionally includes several periurban areas (particularly in southern Shiga Prefecture) that are not part of the four metropolitan areas.
As of 2000, the entire Keihanshin region had a population of 18,643,915 over an area of 11,169 km².
Core cities
The core cities formed Keihanshin are government ordinance cities. These cities designated the three largest cities as special cities with Tokyo in 1889. Kobe designated the six largest cities as special cities in 1922, and adopted the ward system in 1931. Following the World War II, the six largest cities was replaced by the government designated city system in 1956. Afterwards, Sakai became the government designated city in 2006.The core cities of Keihanshin are:
- OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
(population 2.65 million) - KobeKobe, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
(population 1.53 million) - KyotoKyotois a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
(population 1.46 million) - SakaiSakai, Osakais a city in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the Medieval era.Following the February 2005 annexation of the town of Mihara, from Minamikawachi District, the city has grown further and is now the fourteenth most populous city in...
(population 830,000)
Cities outside core cities
|
Kakogawa, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on June 15, 1950.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 268,565 and a population density of 1,940 persons per km². The total area is 138.51 km²... Kameoka, Kyoto is a city located in Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 93,323 and a density of 415 persons per km². The total area is 224.90 km². It is known as one of Japan's foggiest cities.... Kasai, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 49,496 and the density of 336.31 persons per km². The total area is 150.19 km².... Kashiba, Nara is a city located in Nara, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 74,687 and the density of 3,080 persons per km². The total area is 24.23 km².The city was founded on October 1, 1991.- Education :... Kashihara, Nara is a city located in Nara, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 125,547 and the density of 3,176.79 persons per km². The total area is 39.52 km².... Kashiwara, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 74,892 and the density of 2,950 persons per km². The total area is 25.39 km².The city was founded on October 1, 1958.-Location:... Katano, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 77,680 and the density of 3,040 persons per km². The total area is 25.55 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1971.-Railways:*Keihan Electric Railway... Kato, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on March 20, 2006 from the merger of the former towns of Takino, Tōjō and Yashiro, all from Katō District.... Katsuragi, Nara is a city in Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the town had an estimated population of 35,622 and a density of 1060 persons per km². The total area is 33.73 km².... Kawachinagano, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 112,696 and the density of 1,030 persons per km². The total area is 109.61 km².The city was founded on April 1, 1954.-Claims to fame:... Kawanishi, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the northwestern part of the Kansai Region of Japan, about 5 km north of Osaka Itami Airport. It is bordered on the west by Inagawa River.-History:... Kishiwada, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan. Founded November 1, 1922, the city is well-known for its Danjiri Matsuri.-History:The oldest evidence of life in Kishiwada is the Mayuyama Kofun . The most popular origin story of Kishiwada dates from the 14th century... Kizugawa, Kyoto is a city in southern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on March 12, 2007 by the merger of the towns of Kamo, Kizu and Yamashiro, all from Sōraku District. It is the southernmost city in the prefecture... Kyotanabe, Kyoto is a city located in the southern tip of Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 65,274. The total area is 42.94 km².The city was founded on April 1, 1997, after the town of Tanabe was reorganized into the city of Kyōtanabe. The Kyō- was added to distinguish it from the... Matsubara, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan. The city was founded on February 1, 1955.Hannan University is located in Matsubara. Hannan University is a mid-sized liberal arts university with a focus on business and technology.-Adjacent municipalities:*Osaka... Miki, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 82,162, with a household number of 32,143 and a population density of 465.30 persons per km²... Minoh, Osaka , formerly Minoo, is a city in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, about 15 km north of the centre of the city of Osaka. It is accessed by the Hankyu Railway about 30 minutes from Umeda Station... Moriguchi, Osaka is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan which serves as a satellite town to Osaka.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 146,524 and the density of 11,510 persons per km²... Muko, Kyoto is a city located in Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city had an estimated population of 55,031 and the density of 6,977.57 persons per km². The total area is 7.67 km².The city was founded on October 1, 1972... Nagaokakyo, Kyoto is a city located in Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 79,306 and the density of 4,070.96 persons per km². The total area is 19.18 km².... Nantan, Kyoto is a city located in Kyoto, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 35,424. The total area is 616.31 km².The city was founded on January 1, 2006 by the merger of the former towns of Sonobe, Yagi, Hiyoshi, and Miyama... Nara, Nara is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture... (pop 370,000) Neyagawa, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 238,549 and the density of 9,650 persons per km². The total area is 24.73 km².The city was founded on May 3, 1951.... Nishinomiya, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo, Japan, between the cities of Ōsaka and Kōbe. On April 1, 2005, the city of Nishinomiya celebrated its 80th anniversary. It is best known as the home of Kōshien Stadium, where the Hanshin Tigers baseball team plays home games and where Japan's annual high school baseball... (pop 480,000) |
Nishiwaki, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.The city calls itself "The Navel of Japan ." Located at the crossing of the 135° East meridian and the 35° North parallel, the city's Nihon no Heso Park marks the center of the nation... Ono, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 50,522, with a household number of 18,724 and the density of 539.30 persons per km²... Osakasayama, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 58,172 and the density of 4,900 persons per km². The total area is 11.86 km².... Sakurai, Nara is a city in Nara, Japan.As of 2007, the city had an estimated population of 63,321 with a density of 630.01 persons per km². The total area is 98.92 km².The city was founded on September 1, 1956.... Sanda, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 113,585 and the density of 540 persons per km². The total area is 210.22 km².The city was founded on July 1, 1958.-History:... Sasayama, Hyogo is a city located in the central eastern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.The city was established on April 1, 1999, merging the towns of the former "Taki District" .... Sennan, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 65,315, with 25,182 households and the density of 1,347.25 persons per km². The total area is 48.48 km².The city was founded on 1 July 1970.... Settsu, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 84,278 and the density of 5,664 persons per km². The total area is 14.88 km².-Railways:*West Japan Railway Company**JR Kyoto Line: Senrioka Station*Hankyu Railway... Shijonawate, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of August 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 57,437 and the density of 3,065 persons per km². The total area is 18.74 km².The city was founded on July 1, 1970.-Railways:*West Japan Railway Company... Suita, Osaka is a city located in northern Osaka, Japan. As of August 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 356,751 and the density of 9,880 persons per km². The total area is 36.11 km².... (pop 360,000) Takaishi, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of January 2010, the city has an estimated population of 59,813 and the density of 5,270 persons per km². The total area is 11.35 km².The city was founded on 1 November 1966.-External links:*... Takarazuka, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.- Geography :Takarazuka is nestled between the Rokko Range to the west and Nagao Range to the north with the Muko River running through the center of the city.... Takasago, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on July 1, 1954. It lies between the cities of Kakogawa 加古川 to the east and Himeji 姫路 to the west, which is known for its castle.... Takatsuki, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 353,881 and the density of 3,360 persons per km². The total area is 105.31 km².The city was founded on January 1, 1943 and is located almost directly between Kyoto and Osaka... (pop 350,000) Tatsuno, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 81,087, with a household number of 29,212 and a population density of 384.43 persons per km². The total area is 210.93 km².-History:... Tenri, Nara is a city located in Nara, Japan. Tenri is the only city in Japan to be named after a religious group, the new religious movement Tenrikyo which has its headquarters in the city and believes it to be one among other energy centers of the world. Tenrikyo had recommended the name Yamabe, which is the... Tondabayashi, Osaka is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 120,483 and the density of 3,040 persons per km². The total area is 39.66 km².The city was founded on April 1, 1950.... Toyonaka, Osaka is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 388,633 and a population density of 10,680 persons per km². The total area is 36.38 km²... (pop 390,000) Uda, Nara is a city located in northeastern Nara, Japan.On January 1, 2006, the towns of Haibara, Ōuda and Utano, and the village of Murō, all from Uda District, were merged to form Uda City. As of December 29, 2005 the population was 38,648 people. The total area is 247.62 km².Each former town became a ward... Uji, Kyoto is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Founded on March 1, 1951, Uji is located between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. The city sits on the Uji River, which has its source in Lake Biwa. As of April 1, 2008, Uji has an estimated population... Yamatokoriyama, Nara is a city located in Nara, Japan.As of August 31, 2006, the city has an estimated population of 93,280 and the density of 2,185.56 persons per km². The total area is 42.68 km².-Geography:... Yamatotakada, Nara is a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan.The city continues to develop as a local business and government center in the center of Nara Prefecture.- History :... Yao, Osaka is a city in Osaka, Japan.As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 271,454 and the density of 6,510 persons per km². The total area is 41.71 km².Yao is home to a general aviation airport, Yao Airport.The city was founded on April 1, 1948.... Yawata, Kyoto is a city located in Kyoto, Japan.As of May 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 74,150, with 31,120 households and the density of 3,042.68 persons per km². The total area is 24.37 km².... |
source: stat.go.jp census 2005
Additional cities
In the major metropolitan area (MMA) definition used by the Japanese Statistics Bureau, the following cities in MieMie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
, Shiga
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
, Wakayama
Wakayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Wakayama.- History :Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.- 1953 Wakayama Prefecture flood disaster :...
Prefectures are included:
Shiga Prefecture
|
Otsu, Shiga is the capital city of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1898. As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 338,629 with an average age of 40.7 years and a population density of 905.28 persons per km²... (pop 350,000) Omihachiman, Shiga is a city in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954. In the quinquennial census of 2010, it had a population of 81,730... Ritto, Shiga is a city located in Shiga, Japan. It is well-known for Japanese horse racing fans because there is the Japan Racing Association's training center and a famous jockey brothers, Yutaka Take and Koshiro Take, were born in Ritto.... Takashima, Shiga is a city in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.On November 30, 2004 the city had an estimated population of 56,220 and a density of 110 persons per square kilometres. The total area is 511 square kilometres.... Yasu, Shiga is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The city was formed on October 1, 2004, by the merger of the towns of Yasu and Chūzu; in doing so, the former Yasu District was dissolved.... |
Border areas
Keihanshin is bordered by metropolitan areas of HikoneHikone, Shiga
is a city located in Shiga, Japan. The city was incorporated on February 11, 1937.Hikone's most famous historical site is Hikone Castle. Its construction was begun in 1603, by Ii Naokatsu, son of the former lord, Ii Naomasa, but was not completed until 1622...
-Nagahama
Nagahama, Shiga
is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. The city center was developed and renamed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi when Hideyoshi moved his center of administration from Odani Castle...
(approx. 340,000) to the northeast, Iga
Iga, Mie
was a town located in Ayama District, Mie Prefecture, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Iga absorbed the old city of Ueno, the towns of Ayama, the villages of Ōyamada and Shimagahara, all from Ayama District, and the town of Aoyama, from Naga District, to become the new city of Iga.-Geography:Located on...
(approx. 50,000) to the east, Himeji
Himeji, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 535,945, with 206,409 households. The total area is 534.43 km².- History :...
-Ako
Ako, Hyogo
is a city located in the south west of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 50,902, with a household number of 19,841 and a density of 401.18 persons per km². The total area is 126.88 km². The city was officially founded on September 1, 1951...
(approx. 800,000) to the west, Greater Wakayama
Wakayama, Wakayama
is the capital city of Wakayama Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan.-Background:Wakayama occupies 4% of the land area and has 40% of Wakayama prefecture's population. The city was founded on April 1, 1889....
(approx. 570,000 people) on the south, and Fukuchiyama
Fukuchiyama, Kyoto
is a city located in northern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, on the Yura River. It is about 25 km inland from the Sea of Japan at the southern end of the Fukuchiyama Valley, and is surrounded by mountains to the south, west, and east....
(approx. 150,000) to the north. If these areas are included, Greater Keihanshin's population would be around 19-20 million.
Transportation
Air
Kansai International AirportKansai International Airport
is an international airport located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, southwest of Ōsaka Station, located within three municipalities, including Izumisano , Sennan , and Tajiri , in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The airport is off the Honshu shore. The airport serves as an...
opened in 1994 and is now the main international airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
for the region. It sits on an artificial island
Artificial island
An artificial island or man-made island is an island or archipelago that has been constructed by people rather than formed by natural means...
off-shore in Osaka Bay
Osaka Bay
Osaka Bay is a bay in western Japan. As an eastern part of the Inland Sea, it is separated from the Pacific Ocean by the Kii Channel and from the neighbor western part of the Inland Sea by the Akashi Strait...
and serves the city of Osaka and its surrounding cities of Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
, Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, and Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. Kansai
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...
is the geographical term for the area of western Honshū surrounding Osaka. The airport is linked by direct train service to Osaka and Kyoto, and bus service to many major nearby centres, including Kobe.
Osaka International Airport
Osaka International Airport
or Osaka-Itami International Airport 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....
, laid over the border between the cities of Itami and Toyonaka, still houses most of the domestic service from the metropolitan region.
Kobe Airport
Kobe Airport
is an airport on an artificial island just off the coast of Kobe, south of Sannomiya Station Japan. It primarily handles domestic flights, but can also accommodate international charter flights. In the first year of operation the airport handled 2,697,000 passengers with an average load factor of...
, built on a reclaimed island south of Port Island
Port Island
is an artificial island in Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan. It was constructed between 1966 and 1981 at Port of Kobe, and officially opened with an exposition called "Port Pier '81." It now houses a heliport, numerous hotels, a large convention center, the UCC Coffee Museum, Japan's 3rd IKEA store, and...
opened in 2006, offering domestic flights.
Rail
Greater Osaka has a very extensive network of railway lines, comparable to that of Greater Tokyo. Main rail terminals in the city include, UmedaUmeda
Umeda is the main commercial and central business district in Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan, best known as the city's main northern railway terminus .Umeda is a large traffic hub, as well as the principal office and hotel district...
, Namba
Namba
is a district of Osaka, Japan. Namba is regarded as the center of so-called Minami area of Osaka. Its name is one of variations on the former name of Osaka, Naniwa...
, Tennoji, Kyobashi
Kyobashi
is the name of a bridge as well as the geographical region around it. Two regions with this name exist in Japan, one is in Tokyo and one lies in Osaka. It refers to a bridge connecting roads to the capital in castle towns.-Tokyo:...
, and Yodoyabashi
Yodoyabashi Station
Yodoyabashi Station is a train station on the Osaka Municipal Subway Midosuji Line and the Keihan Railway Keihan Main Line...
.
High Speed Rail
JR Central and JR West operate high-speed trains on the Tōkaidō-Sanyō ShinkansenSanyō Shinkansen
The is a line of the Japanese Shinkansen high-speed rail network, connecting Shin-Ōsaka in Osaka with Hakata Station in Fukuoka, the two largest cities in western Japan...
line. Shin-Ōsaka Station
Shin-Osaka Station
is a train station in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the western terminus of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, and the eastern terminus of the Sanyō Shinkansen. The lines are physically joined, and many trains offer through service....
acts as the Shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
terminal station, though the two lines are physically joined, and many trains offer through service. This station is connected to Ōsaka Station
Osaka Station
is a station on the West Japan Railway Company located in the Umeda district in Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the city's main rail terminal in the north....
at Umeda
Umeda
Umeda is the main commercial and central business district in Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan, best known as the city's main northern railway terminus .Umeda is a large traffic hub, as well as the principal office and hotel district...
by the JR Kyoto Line
JR Kyoto Line
The is the common name of a portion of the Tōkaidō Main Line, between Kyoto Station and Osaka Station. The line is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company ....
and the subway Midōsuji Line. Shinkansen services also stop at Kyoto Station
Kyoto Station
is the most important transportation hub in Kyoto, Japan. It has Japan's second-largest train station building and is one of the country's largest buildings, incorporating a shopping mall, hotel, movie theater, Isetan department store, and several local government facilities under one 15-story roof...
and Shin-Kobe Station
Shin-Kobe Station
is a train station located on the Sanyō Shinkansen line serving the city of Kobe, Japan and the surrounding area. It is located to the north of Kobe city centre, at the foot of Mount Rokkō. The Shinkansen trains mostly run inside tunnels under the mountains in this area...
.
All Shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
trains including Nozomi
Nozomi (Shinkansen)
is the fastest train service running on the Tōkaidō/Sanyō Shinkansen in Japan. The service stops at only the largest stations, and along the stretch between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, Nozomi services using N700 series equipment reach speeds of...
stop at Shin-Ōsaka Station and provide connections to other major cities in Japan, such as Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, Nagoya
Nagoya, Aichi
is the third-largest incorporated city and the fourth most populous urban area in Japan.Located on the Pacific coast in the Chūbu region on central Honshu, it is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and is one of Japan's major ports along with those of Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Yokohama, Chiba, and Moji...
, Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
to the east, and Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, Okayama, Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, Kitakyushu and Fukuoka
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
to the west.
Commuter Rail
Both JR WestWest Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
and private lines connect Osaka and its suburbs. The commuter rail network of JR West is called the Urban Network. Major stations on the JR Osaka Loop Line
Osaka Loop Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company . It encircles central Osaka.The second loop line, the Osaka Higashi Line, from Hanaten to Kyuhoji was opened on March 15, 2008, and the line from Shigino to Shin-Ōsaka is planned to open in 2020.-Outline:This loop line consists...
include Osaka (Umeda)
Osaka Station
is a station on the West Japan Railway Company located in the Umeda district in Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the city's main rail terminal in the north....
, Tennōji
Tennoji Station
is a train station on the JR West Osaka Loop Line, Hanwa Line, Yamatoji Line, Osaka Municipal Subway Midōsuji Line, and Tanimachi Line, located in Tennōji-ku and Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan, and is a train station on the tram Hankai Uemachi Line in Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan...
, Tsuruhashi
Tsuruhashi Station
-Layout:The station on the Kintetsu lines has two island platforms serving four tracks on the second level.-Adjacent stations:-West Japan Railway Company :1-1, Shimoajihara-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka-Layout:...
, and Kyōbashi
Kyobashi Station (Osaka)
Kyobashi Station is a train station in the Kyōbashi district of Jōtō-ku and Miyakojima-ku Osaka, Japan.-Lines:*JR West**Osaka Loop Line**Gakkentoshi Line **JR Tōzai Line...
. JR West competes with such private rail operators as Keihan Electric Railway
Keihan Electric Railway
is a Japanese railway operator in Osaka, Kyoto, and Shiga Prefectures. It is known as , or .-History:Keihan started its operation between Osaka and Kyoto in 1910. It was the first electric railway to connect these two cities, and the first line on the left bank of Yodo River...
, Hankyu Railway
Hankyu Railway
is a Japanese private railway that provides commuter and interurban service to the northern Kansai region and is one of major businesses operated by Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc. The railway's main terminal is at Umeda Station in Osaka...
, Hanshin Railway, Kintetsu Corporation, and Nankai Electric Railway
Nankai Electric Railway
is a private railway in Japan. IC cards are accepted.Nankai Railway Company was founded on June 16, 1884, then became one of the companies that merge to form Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in 1944. However Kin-nichi transferred the former Nankai Railway Company Lines to present Nankai Electric...
. The Keihan
Keihan Electric Railway
is a Japanese railway operator in Osaka, Kyoto, and Shiga Prefectures. It is known as , or .-History:Keihan started its operation between Osaka and Kyoto in 1910. It was the first electric railway to connect these two cities, and the first line on the left bank of Yodo River...
and Hankyu
Hankyu Railway
is a Japanese private railway that provides commuter and interurban service to the northern Kansai region and is one of major businesses operated by Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc. The railway's main terminal is at Umeda Station in Osaka...
lines connect to Kyoto; the Hanshin and Hankyu
Hankyu Kobe Line
The of Hankyu Railway is one of the three major commuter heavy rail line in the Keihanshin conurbation of Japan. It links the urban centres of Osaka and Kobe by connecting the major stations of Umeda in Osaka and Sannomiya in Kobe....
lines connect to Kobe; the Kintetsu
Kintetsu
, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
lines connect to Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
, Yoshino
Yoshino, Nara
is a town located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan.As of September 1, 2007, the town had an estimated population of 9397 and a density of 97.93 persons per km². The total area was 95.65 km².-Geography:...
, Ise
Ise, Mie
, formerly called Ujiyamada , is a city located in eastern Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshū, Japan.Ise is home to Ise Grand Shrine, the most sacred Shintō Shrine in Japan, and is thus a very popular destination for tourists. The city has a long-standing nickname—Shinto —that roughly means...
and Nagoya; and the Nankai lines connect to Osaka's southern suburbs and Kansai International Airport
Kansai International Airport
is an international airport located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, southwest of Ōsaka Station, located within three municipalities, including Izumisano , Sennan , and Tajiri , in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The airport is off the Honshu shore. The airport serves as an...
as well as Wakayama and Mt. Koya. Many lines in Greater Osaka accept either ICOCA
ICOCA
The card is a rechargeable contactless smart card used on JR West rail network in Japan. The card was launched on November 1, 2003 for usage on the Urban Network, which encompasses the major cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe...
or PiTaPa
PiTaPa
is a contactless smart card ticketing and electronic money system used in the Kansai region of Japan. The name PiTaPa is an acronym of "Postpay IC for Touch and Pay"...
contactless smart card
Smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
s for payment.
Municipal Subway
The Osaka Municipal SubwayOsaka Municipal Subway
is the metro network in the city of Osaka, Japan, forming an integral part of the extensive mass transit system of Greater Osaka , having 125 out of the 1,108 rail stations in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto region. In 2010 the greater Osaka region had 13 million rail passengers daily of which the Osaka...
system is a part of Osaka's extensive rapid transit system. The Metro system alone ranks 13th
Metro systems by annual passenger rides
The most-used metro systems in terms of passenger rides per year:# Tokyo Subway 3.161 billion # Moscow Metro 2.348 billion # Seoul Subway 2.048 billion...
in the world by annual passenger ridership, serving over 912 million people annually (a quarter of Greater Osaka Rail System's 4 billion annual riders), despite being only 8 of more than 70 lines in the metro area (see map).
Keihanshin Area 2006
- 2006 average exchange rate (1 US Dollar = 116.30 Yen)
Prefecture Gross Prefecture Product
(in billion Yen)Gross Prefecture Product
(in billion US$)
Osaka Prefecture38,809 334 
Hyogo Prefecture19,647 169 Kyoto Kyoto Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....10,236 88 
Shiga Prefecture6,086 52 
Nara Prefecture3,738 32 
Wakayama Prefecture3,469 30 Kansai Region 81,985 705
Source
GDP(nominal) 2006
Keihanshin and Top 20 Countries.| Rank | Country | GDP (in billion US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States |
|
| 2 |  Japan |
|
| 11 |  Russia |
|
| 12 |  India |
|
| 13 |  South Korea |
|
| 14 |  Mexico |
|
| 15 |  Australia |
|
| (Kansai Region) | |
|
| 16 |  Netherlands |
|
| 17 |  Turkey |
|
| 18 |  Belgium |
|
| 19 |  Sweden |
|
| 20 |  Switzerland |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity) 2005
Purchasing power parity
In economics, purchasing power parity is a condition between countries where an amount of money has the same purchasing power in different countries. The prices of the goods between the countries would only reflect the exchange rates...
, in 2005 according to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers is a global professional services firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest professional services firm measured by revenues and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms....
.
| Rank | Urban agglomerations | Country | GDP(PPP) (in billion US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... |
Japan |
|
| 2 | New York City New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... |
United States |
|
| 3 | Los Angeles Los Ángeles Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants... |
United States |
|
| 4 | Chicago Chicago Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles... |
United States |
|
| 5 | Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... |
 Early Modern France |
|
| 6 | London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
 United Kingdom |
|
| 7 | Osaka Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe... |
Japan |
|
| 8 | Mexico City Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
Mexico |
|
| 9 | Philadelphia | United States |
|
| 10 | Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... |
United States |
|
See also
- Hanshin Industrial RegionHanshin Industrial RegionThe is one of the largest industrial regions in Japan. Its name comes from the kanji used to write the names of Osaka and Kobe , the two largest cities in the megalopolis.The GDP of this area is $341 billion, one of the world's most productive regions.-Numbers:*Osaka prefecture**Number of...
(Osaka and Kobe area) - Kansai Science CityKansai Science Cityis an unincorporated city located in the , a border region between Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara Prefectures of Japan. The name is commonly shortened to or...
- Kansai region
- KamigataKamigataKamigata is a region of Japan referring to the cities of Kyoto and Osaka; the term is used particularly when discussing elements of Edo period urban culture such as ukiyo-e and kabuki, and when making a comparison to the urban culture of the Edo/Tokyo region.Kabuki, ukiyo-e, and many of the other...
- List of metropolitan areas by population
- List of metropolitan areas in Asia by population
- List of metropolitan areas in Japan by population