Located in the heart of Osaka, Nakanoshima, an iconic island bordered by the Dojima and Tosabori Rivers, is reinventing itself as an open-air laboratory dedicated to artistic creation, culture, and urban innovation. Inspired by European models such as the Île de la Cité in Paris and Museumsinsel in Berlin, Nakanoshima brings together major museums, historic buildings, natural spaces, and universities in a collaborative and sustainable approach.
The “Creative Island Nakanoshima” initiative is based on a unique ecosystem bringing together artists, cultural institutions, and researchers around a rich program of exhibitions, performances, and workshops. Its ambition? To foster the emerging trends of tomorrow and build bridges between local and international audiences within the dynamic framework of Expo 2025, but above all with a long-term vision. The project is resolutely forward-looking, embodying a global vision where creativity, experimentation, and international outreach revolve around a single territory.
Expo 2025 as a catalyst, with the future as its horizon
Driven by the excitement of Expo 2025, Nakanoshima aims to become the flagship “Creative Island” of Asia. But more than a temporary showcase, the project is part of a sustainable urban and cultural development dynamic, at a time when cities seek to reinvent their identities and enrich visitor experiences. “These initiatives fit within our vision of making Nakanoshima a unique creative laboratory where heritage, innovation, and contemporary creation meet,” said the executive committee of Creative Island Nakanoshima. “Our ambition is to position the island as a must-see cultural destination, not only for Expo 2025 but also for decades to come.”
Within the urban momentum sparked by the Expo, the district has benefited from significant development and will be connected notably by the new Naniwasuji line, facilitating north-south transit across Osaka and linking the city’s main hubs.
A flagship event during Expo 2025, the Nakanoshima Pavilion Festival offers a glimpse of the island’s future. This artistic event, held across various cultural venues on the island, celebrates Nakanoshima’s rich cultural heritage. Throughout the festival, visitors can discover prestigious exhibitions in the museums, concerts, performances on boats along the waterfront, and many events connected to the island’s rich heritage and innovative urbanism. With a varied program that includes visual arts, science, music, and theater, the festival aims to showcase the many facets of this “island within the city,” attracting an international audience connected to Osaka’s Expo 2025.
Easier access for visitors worldwide
New: an enhanced experience with the English website
In this context of global openness, the launch of the official English website marks a decisive step. This portal offers a complete immersion into the island’s cultural life: news on events, discovery of partner institutions, promotion of key players, and access to multimedia resources.
A new single ticket: the Nakanoshima Pavilion Sightseeing Pass
This shared cultural pass is a new unique ticket designed specifically for the Nakanoshima Pavilion Festival 2025, allowing visitors access to a set of five major cultural institutions on the island. The pass enables visitors to select three exhibitions among those offered by The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Osaka Science Museum, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, Nakanoshima Kosetsu Museum of Art, and The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, OSAKA, while enjoying a deep exploration of the island’s charms through a rich series of events and programming. The shared pass offers an enriched cultural experience by granting access to key institutions on Nakanoshima, highlighting both art museums and architectural or innovation centers. It is part of an approach to bring the public closer and to network cultural venues.
An invitation to read the hidden history of the island, one story at a time: "Stories from 15 Places on Nakanoshima"
Artist-in-residence at Nakanoshima for several years, renowned Japanese playwright and novelist Toshiki Okada conceived "Stories from 15 Places on Nakanoshima." This collection of fifteen short stories, each attached to a specific place on Nakanoshima Island, was created following in-depth research started in 2018 and completed in 2024. The stories blend reality and fiction by drawing on the past, present, and future potentials of these locations, incorporating local historical elements and precise observations of the sites. Available in English since August 2025, the work invites visitors to read each narrative directly at its corresponding location, offering an immersive literary journey through the urban environment.
AR Experience Enhancement
From September 27 to November 30, 2025, Creative Island Nakanoshima launches "AR Tour: Stories from 15 Places on Nakanoshima," transforming Okada's literary work into an augmented reality experience. Visitors use smartphones to view AR illustration artworks created by established artists including Teppei Kaneuji, Ayumi Kanno, Kenta Cobayashi, contact Gonzo, MANTLE, STYLY creators, and public participants at 15 meeting points across major cultural facilities including Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, National Museum of Art, Osaka and Osaka Science Museum. This free, bilingual project utilizes XR technology provided by STYLY Inc. to overlay digital artworks onto real landscapes, creating an immersive experience where historical culture and futuristic elements intersect as visitors explore the island.
