Osaka, as ranked one of the safest cities is truly a city where you can live without any fear, this city not only release the fear of security, it offers relief from a lot more issues. The pedestrian priority roads, simple signage for people to follow, accessible public transport like subway/public bus, appropriate arrangements for children and old people, city rules that allow convenient stores in every block, huge shopping streets, heritage streets, the food culture landscape policy that ensures urban parks and many small interventions for the ease of citizen, all of it together makes the city work keeping the comfort of citizen in mind.
After the effects of World War II, Osaka has taken some time to recover and build their new identity. The authority has transformed the city with strategic city planning regulations. Initially, it was a port city which is now being proposed as ‘tourist city’. Because this city has a lot to offer not only for its inhabitants but also for international crowd. The most significant learning from Osaka is that it is important to be modern and technologically advanced, but at the same time we must show respect to the natural resources, tangible and intangible heritage. Above all, civic spaces and public comfort should be prioritized in all elements of the city.
01. The pedestrian
If you start walking in any street of the city, you would not feel like to stop. The wide sidewalk would allow you to stroll side by side with your friend, allowing another person on bicycle on the demarcated lane. The sidewalks are highly used by people commuting to work, while going to subway station or maybe just to go to school. At times, the sidewalks are intertwined with pathways of a park or promenade or plaza. And sometimes, walking on the pedestrian walkways itself is no less than walking on a park.
The pedestrian walkways are well planned with wide road crossing, pedestrian signal and other street amenities. There is always layer of trees of various heights and the trees are put strategically regarding the climate and context. Also defined space for bike parking is provided with the pedestrian walkway. Indeed, Osaka has very inviting streetscape for people.
02. Signage
As I survived a month roaming around the city and did not get lost, without using internet on phone tells a lot about the infrastructure and signage of the city. The minimalistic modern signage gives an elegant look to the city.
The bus stop, subway station, food street, shopping street- all the signage are well organized and strategically placed. All the stations and different subway lines have floor plans or train lines in plan for easy communication.
In fact, some signboards work like tourist attraction, like the giant neon advertisements in Dotonbori are popular tourist spot. I think almost every tourist who visit Osaka, has a photo with the famous ‘Glico man’ advertisement board.
03. Public transportation
Le Corbusier’s idea of city says the city which can cope up to the ‘speed’ would be most efficient.[1] I think Osaka city authority has kept up with the pace of the people by providing easily accessible mass transportation.
City bus runs in the specific routes just on time and the subway lines also timely run. The best part is there is always options for somebody to walk, to take bus or to take train. The stations are usually connected with big shopping malls or other public facilities. And various exit gates, quick ticketing system helps a person to reach his destination easily from the station. And the big stations like Osaka station is connected with a huge public plaza which works as a great social space.
The city has well connected mass transportation within the city and also, it is very convenient to travel outside the city through public transportation like rail or shinkansen. Shinkansen is the fastest, most convenient and most comfortable transport service. The authority is still trying to reduce travel time to and from Osaka city to main cities like Tokyo by developing more on Shinkansen service.
04. Convenient stores
It is very familiar to see ‘tea shop’ or ‘pan dukan’ (betel leaf shop) in all the corners of street or inside narrow alleys in India or Bangladesh. And if you walk a little, every other building ground floor has a small shop here. But the scene is absolutely different in Osaka, they show a bright example how an organized neighborhood should be. For the daily necessities of people living or working in an area, every block has one big convenient store which serves all the purposes.
These stores are strategically placed in all residential or commercial area. One convenient store replaces the vegetable market, grocery store, super market all at once.
05. Shopping streets
Asian cities have always developed ‘streets’ as ‘public space’. One such big example is ‘Dotonbori’ which is a vibrant public space in movement, it is a unique street beside a river, surrounded by eateries and shops. Dotonbori has actually evolved as a public space now.
The shaded walkway in Shinsaibashi or Namba makes you feel how sensitively the city has designed these places. And that convenience of walking under shade in a sunny or even a rainy day, attracts more people to these shopping streets.
06. Heritage Preservation/Renovation
Japan, as a whole is known for keeping their history and tradition alive even today. Osaka city is no different from that; “Osaka castle’ stands high as one of the iconic symbol of the city. The fifteenth century castle had been reproduced after it got destroyed during world war. There are many other castles, temples, old houses which are now being renovated and the city authority plays a vital role for their maintenance. There is easy pedestrian access, open plaza, public toilet facility, and souvenir shops surrounding such heritage museums.
A lot of private owners have transformed their traditional old houses into museums or exhibition spaces. The ‘Tatami’ rooms, the intricate wooden interior, courtyard gardens altogether creates the ambience of the past and it is immensely commendable how people still hold onto their roots.
07. Urban parks in different levels
Le Corbusier’s ‘the skyscraper in garden’ from his idea of contemporary city is seen around all the smart cities.[2] And Osaka is no different- Abeno Harukas, Umeda sky building all the highrise buildings consists of roof gardens in a big scale and the user friendly gardens are also accessible by general people.
A small community park like ‘Utsubo Park’ or a large scale urban project like ‘Namba park’ they all have their charm and their green footprint provides breath of fresh air to the citizen.
Children park at Tennoji or waterside plaza in front of Osaka station, caters people from all strata and ages, these open spaces are full of life at any given point of time. I was awestruck by coming through a restaurant near Tennoji Park with baby pram parking space. This happens only when a city thinks about the small details of making a children friendly area.
08. Food culture
Osaka is also known as the ‘Nation’s kitchen’ and the name justifies with variation of food that is available here. Usually, people visualize ‘Sushi’ if talking about Japanese food, but well that idea would change once you step into Osaka. The city celebrates food in many ways, whether the octopus takoyaki or the matcha cake, the celebration of food is felt in all the streets as well. The way you sit, the way you hold cutleries, the way you eat- everything is part of this ‘food culture’ which is now spread among a lot of people. The street food shops makes the city vibrant and lively even at night time.
09. Small things
When coming in a foreign city, exchanging money can be a headache, but well, not in Osaka. The authority provides vending machine to exchange money which are not limited to bank hours! Such small initiatives adds value to the overall image of the city.
Talking about the images of the city, while walking on the street, if you notice the intricate design on manhole covers, you would understand the sense of beauty even in small details of insignificant elements. There are so many small examples of such small things which makes you happy while being on the city.
10. Legibility
“Indeed, a distinctive and legible environment not only offers security but also heightens the potential depth and intensity of human experience.”- [3]
All the above components altogether expresses visibility and transparency, which ensures safety and security. Apart from strict laws and regulation, these components makes the city legible and that legibility provides the citizen with security and comfort.
There is definitely more than ten lessons one can get from such a developed city, specially for people from south Asia. Though there is a big difference of population and density Osaka deals with in comparison to south Asian cities, it is still very relevant to observe how this city has become legible and stood out among others. The lessons are not to be copied, but to see and learn and adapt in our own way in our context. With the growing urbanization, we should prepare our cities with smart technology and strategic planning to cope with future.
References
[1]Source: A Contemporary City; 1929; Prepared by Le Corbusier
[2]Source: A Contemporary City; 1929; Prepared by Le Corbusier
[3]Source: Image of the city; 1960; Prepared by Kevin Lynch
Published in: CITY OBSERVER- December 2017 | Volume 3 | Issue 2 (Page 146-166)