Latest news with #GrandGreenOsaka
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Recap of the "Shanghai Summer" Global Campaign
OSAKA, Japan, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On the afternoon of May 21, 2025, the "Shanghai Select – Made in Shanghai Showcase" and the Osaka edition of the "Shanghai Summer" global promotional campaign officially launched at Grand Green Osaka in Umeda, Japan. Mr. Fang Wei, Deputy Consul General of the Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka, attended the event and delivered remarks. He noted, "Shanghai and Osaka share close ties and both serve as major commercial and manufacturing hubs. We sincerely hope the two cities will continue to work hand in hand and elevate our friendship to a new level." Nearly one hundred brand representatives, designers, and media professionals from both Shanghai and Osaka gathered to witness the official opening of the event. As one of the flagship initiatives supporting Shanghai's ambition to become an international consumption hub, the "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season brings together resources across the city to create a festive and immersive consumer experience. Held annually from the first weekend of July to the second weekend of October, the campaign offers a global invitation with diverse, interactive, and delightful activities, capturing the spirit of "Come, Play, and Shop in Shanghai." The 2024 edition delivered remarkable results. According to China UnionPay, overseas card spending increased by 68.2% year-on-year during the campaign period, while total offline consumption reached RMB 815.9 billion. Over the recent May Day holiday, the city recorded 615,000 cross-border entries and exits, with inbound spending surging by more than 211% year-on-year. At the opening ceremony, Ms. Yi Zhaojun, General Manager of Shanghai Design Week, introduced key highlights of this year's campaign, including over 100 citywide events and the launch of the "240-Hour City Experience" product series. A special announcement was also made: the debut of the Shanghai Pass, a co-branded card introduced by Jiushi Group for international visitors. Similar in function to Japan's Suica card, the Shanghai Pass offers seamless access to public transportation, over 40 tourist attractions, and more than 2,000 participating merchants, enabling visitors to explore the city with ease and convenience. China Eastern Airlines shared upcoming plans to launch four new European routes and release over one million discounted tickets, reinforcing Shanghai's position as a gateway to Asia. Visa introduced the "Shanghai Summer Visa Payment-Friendly Zone" initiative and outlined future collaboration with the Osaka Prefectural Government ahead of Expo 2025, including exclusive cardholder privileges. UnionPay International announced a new Shanghai Summer-themed card and detailed a network of over 100,000 Shanghai-based merchants offering exclusive deals for international consumers. The Osaka event generated strong interest among the local public and media. Attendees praised the campaign's practical and user-centric approach, particularly its integration of travel and payment solutions. From curated lifestyle experiences to customized shopping routes, the campaign offers a seamless and enjoyable way to explore Shanghai. As the campaign continues to expand its global reach, Shanghai warmly welcomes travelers from around the world— with dedicated services and curated experiences especially designed for Korean visitors.
Japan Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
More than a food court: Time Out Market curates Osaka's best flavors
Emerging from the Umekita underground passage from Osaka Station, I pause to take in the scale of the new Time Out Market Osaka. Opened March 21, the space reveals itself in dramatic fashion: a staggering 3,000-square-meter food hall with a cavernous interior bathed in ambient lighting. One wall features a colorful, street art-inspired mural by local artist Shun Nakao, while illuminated posters display iconic Time Out magazine covers featuring David Bowie and Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup cans — subtle nods to the brand's cultural legacy. Time Out Market Osaka is a milestone for the London-based media and hospitality business — it's their 11th food and cultural market worldwide but their first in Asia. The concept began in 2014 with the original Time Out Market in Lisbon where the company transformed the historic Mercado da Ribeira into an upscale food hall. It has since expanded globally, with markets in Miami, New York, Boston, Chicago, Montreal, Dubai and now Osaka. The Osaka market represents a significant partnership with real estate developer Hankyu Hanshin Properties, one of the driving forces behind the ambitious Grand Green Osaka development. The urban renewal project has transformed a former cargo yard into a multipurpose complex of offices, hotels, commercial facilities and the Umekita Park — 45,000 square meters of greenery featuring 110 cherry trees and an artificial pond. Time Out Market Osaka is a permanent tenant located beneath Grand Green Osaka's South Building. "After visiting the Time Out Market in New York, we chose it as a key tenant for Grand Green Osaka because it aligned with our global theme while showcasing Kansai and Osaka's culinary strengths," explains Kei Okutsuchi, general manager of Hankyu Hanshin Properties' urban management division and CEO of Time Out Market Osaka. The 17 food outlets offer a wide variety of cuisines, from Japanese staples to Hong Kong fare. | TIME OUT MARKET OSAKA At the heart of the market, wide communal tables invite visitors to gather and share meals. Wooden-slat fixtures, designed specifically for the Osaka location, adorn the venue's 17 food outlets, where open kitchen designs allow diners to witness the culinary action firsthand. What distinguishes Time Out Market Osaka from an ordinary food court is its thoughtful, curatorial approach. "It is not a food court," explains marketing director Elena Iriyama. "It is a place that you come not just to eat because you're hungry; you come to experience everything the chefs took the time to think about — the concept and presentation of the dishes as well." The selection of vendors for the market showcases the city's vibrant food culture, with an emphasis on emerging talent. The atmosphere blends urban sophistication with Osaka's trademark style of casual dining. Kaori Funai, a local restaurant consultant who helped curate the market's offerings together with general manager Taro Kobayashi, says a particular point about Osaka food is 'it's very tanoshii (fun).' 'We wanted to find vendors who convey a sense of fun; skilled people (who) have a unique and interesting character or personality,' says Funai. Tacos and more: Saboten Taqueria is showcasing delicious Mexican bites created by one-Michelin-starred chef Willy Monroy. | TIME OUT MARKET OSAKA The 17 food outlets span from beloved local specialties to international cuisines. Osaka staples are well represented, albeit with creative twists: Koala Shokudo serves hearty black pork okonomiyaki (savory pancake) paired with natural wine, while Kushiage 001 offers a refined take on deep-fried skewers, including breaded beef dotted with yuzukoshō (Japanese citrus and chili paste). The line-up also embraces diversity with Hong Kong-style crispy roast pork at Gihan Siumei, comforting Korean ginseng chicken soup at Kankoku Shokudo and authentic Mexican flavors at Saboten Taqueria. Willy Monroy of Saboten Taqueria represents the rising-star chefs the market aims to promote. His Mexican fine-dining restaurant, Milpa in Osaka's Horie district, earned a Michelin star in the restaurant guide's 2025 Osaka edition — the first Mexican restaurant to receive the accolade in Japan. His offerings at the Osaka market include perfectly executed tacos topped with pork carnitas (slow-cooked pork infused with citrus and spices) and rich lamb birria (braised lamb stew). Those with a sweet tooth should look out for Julian Sucre Acid. The dessert outlet, says Funai, showcases chef Masuhiro Yokota's "playful character" and "modern approach to classic Japanese coffee shop desserts.' Yokota, who owns Julian Ice Cream, has collaborated with bakery Le Sucre Couer and patisserie Acid Racine — and thus the amalgamation of their shop names — to create special items available exclusively at this location, including the signature Pudding a la Mode, which pairs creme caramel with vanilla ice cream, strawberry sauce and waffle cones. Even the market's sushi vendor was chosen with careful consideration. Kitaro Sushi was selected to evoke "the feeling of a neighborhood sushi restaurant" rather than an upscale establishment, explains Kobayashi. "We wanted to create an approachable atmosphere where visitors can enjoy high-quality sushi at a reasonable price." Beyond food, Time Out Market Osaka features two bars and hosts regular events. DJs are brought in on Friday nights to play Latin music and create a festive atmosphere, while acoustic performances and family-friendly activities during holidays round out the programming. Future plans include hosting magic shows, bartending contests and workshops. "When you (think of) a market, you visualize a place where people gather to come together,' says Iriyama. 'We have everything under one roof — it's a space of togetherness.' Time Out Market Osaka, B1F, Grand Green Osaka, South Building, 5-54, Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0011; visit
Japan Times
11-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Osaka Expo-bound? Take your pick of the city's new luxury hotels.
The 2025 World Expo held in Osaka officially kicks off on April 13, with 158 countries and seven international organizations slated to participate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates the event will attract some 28 million visitors over its six-month duration, and Osaka has seen a rush of new hotel development over the last few years to meet that demand. Osaka Prefecture reported 255 new lodging facilities opened between 2020 and 2024, to which this spring is adding a flurry of new openings in line with the Expo commencement. Most of the new options are clustered in Kita and Chuo wards, providing smooth access to the city's business districts and most popular tourist attractions. The biggest boom has been in the luxury sector. Until recently, only a handful of five-star hotels served the city despite the fact that it attracted millions of tourists each year. Last September, Hilton introduced its boutique Canopy brand, Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda; on April 3, it launched Waldorf Astoria Osaka, Japan's first Waldorf Astoria hotel. The Osaka Station Hotel, part of Marriot's Autograph Collection, and Four Seasons Hotel Osaka opened in 2024, while Thai luxury chain Centara unveiled the Centara Grand Hotel Osaka in 2023. Next month, Singapore's Capella Group will add Patina Osaka to the mix, marking the youthful, food-forward brand's first appearance in Japan. The Osaka Station Hotel is part of Marriott's premium Autograph Collection. | OSAKA STATION HOTEL These properties alone add nearly 1,900 hotel rooms to the city's capacity. More homegrown brands can be found in the midrange market. Early 2025 saw the grand opening of Hotel Hankyu Gran Respire Osaka, part of Umeda's Grand Green Osaka development. In 2022, Hoshino Resorts opened Omo7, an experiential brand popular with young travelers, as well as the family-focused bayside resort Risonare Osaka. The latter is located inside Seibu Prince's The Grand Prince Hotel, with the Prince handling rooms and dining and Risonare providing a creative play area designed around the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. Opened in September 2024, the Canopy by Hilton Osaka Umeda hotel is the first of the boutique brand's properties in the city. | © 2025 Hilton Local brands face stiff competition for price-conscious travelers, with some international companies investing big in Osaka as Japan continues to blow past even pre-pandemic highs of inbound visitors. Marriott's Four Points Flex by Sheraton opened a whopping five new or renovated outlets around the city over the last year, which joined their preexisting, youth-focused Moxy and Aloft hotels from 2020 and 2021 respectively. Meanwhile, IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened the first three Asian outlets of its wallet-friendly Garner brand all clustered in the central Honmachi neighborhood, adding to its first Voco hotel it opened in the city in 2023. Others have taken the opportunity to collaborate, with French hotel giant Accor opting to open its first-ever dual-branded hotel with the Mercure Tokyu Stay Osaka Namba in 2022. In May, the Singapore-based Capella Group will open its Patina Osaka property. | FAT TONY STUDIO Even once all the Expo visitors have headed home when the event wraps up in October, hoteliers are betting demand will remain high in Osaka, as it will soon be home to Japan's first casino resort, set to open in 2030 next door to the Expo site. For now, the increased capacity makes lodging a buyer's market, as intense competition keeps prices down and encourages hotels to differentiate themselves from the pack with interesting amenities and experiences. And that's something that should make every visitor smile.
