Osaka, Japan Population

Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is home to 19.1 million people in the urban area and 2.5 million in the city. It is the second largest metropolitan area in Japan and is one of the most populated cities in the world.

Since the 1950s, Osaka’s population has grown from 7 million people in the urban area to the current 19.1 million. The largest population growth happened between 1950 and 1970, when the city doubled in size to 15 million people. Since then, the city’s growth has slowed and—after peaking in 2010 at 19,313,000 people—the city’s population has actually begun to slowly decline.

A financial center of the country

Osaka is considered Japan’s economic hub. Though the city was often viewed as being poorer and having a less robust economy than Tokyo, Osaka actually has an economy bigger than Switzerland’s and is home to major, multinational corporations such as the Osaka Securities Exchange, Panasonic, and Sharp.

Osaka prefecture has a total production value of about 38 trillion yen and there are approximately 440,000 places of business in Osaka prefecture, and around 200,000 within Osaka City. There are 433 stock exchange companies that are also headquartered in Osaka prefecture.

A rising number of tourists

Osaka is experiencing a significant tourism boom. The area has become a powerful draw for middle-class tourists from China and Southeast Asia. In the past three years, the number of arrivals at Kansai Internationl Airport—the first offshore airport built on a completely manmade island—has increased from 2.6 million people to 7.6 million people. The number of international flights has also grown to 300 per week. Foreign visitors to Osaka hit 11.1 million in 2017, which was an increase of five-fold from 2010. This has easily made the area one of Japan’s fastest growing tourist destinations.

The Nation’s Kitchen

While Osaka’s nickname may have originally originated in the Edo Period and referred to the area being Japan’s rice-trade hub, it has since morphed to refer to the city’s outstanding food scene. With over 200 restaurants listed on the Michelin Guide for Osaka and 99 Michelin starred restaurants, Osaka is considered a gourmand’s paradise.

Demographics of Osaka

During the last census, Osaka had approximately 1,280,325 households and there were approximately 2.1 persons living in each household. The city had a population density of 11,836 persons per square kilometer. The city had a massive influx of residents after the Great Kanto earthquake, which caused the city to swell to 3.2 million people. The city’s population has since decreased as residents move to the suburbs to find more affordable housing.

There are almost 1 million registered foreigners living in Osaka. The largest groups of foreginers are Chinese and Korean, with 11,848 and 71,015 people (respectively). Ikuno is home to the largest population of Koreans in Japan, with 27,466 registered Zainchi Koreans living in Tsuruhashi district.

Hanami

Osaka, like many places across Japan, is well known for its spectacular display of cherry blossoms. During the last week of March and the first week of April, the cherry trees of Osaka come into bloom. This brief display of pink and white beauty attracts locals and tourists alike, with many people competing for the best spots in the city to take in the view and have a Hanami Picnic. In Osaka, the Osaka Castle Park and the Osaka Mint are both popular places to see the blossoms and spend a lovely afternoon.

A city of vending machines

Osaka has an incredible amount of vending machines that sell a truly bizarre array of items. From lobster, to flowers, to eggs, to hot meals, and umbrellas—Osaka’s many vending machines have something for everyone. In fact, it’s estimated that 3% of the city’s electricity production goes towards powering its 5.5 million vending machines.