People-friendly community development activities for the future through the realization of the “No Power Poles, Underground Electric Lines,” “Road Improvement Project,” and “Community Landscape Creation Agreement

The “Osaka City Historical and Cultural Townscape Creation Project for Enhancing Tourism Attractiveness (Kanmachi Project)” was initiated to mitigate disasters and improve the landscape. Later, with the decision of “Expo ‘2025 Osaka-Kansai”, the completion of road improvements aiming for barrier-free accessibility improved safety not only for pedestrians in the neighborhood and visitors to Shohikona Shrine, but also for visitors who took the opportunity of Expo ‘2025 Osaka-Kansai to visit the “Traditional City of Medicine”. The private buildings and facilities have also been improved in the local community. As for private buildings and facilities, the “Doshomachi Dori Landscape Creation Agreement” was formulated after gathering the community’s intentions, and was approved as an agreement in Osaka City, promoting operation and awareness to enhance the appeal of Doshomachi.

Project Inauguration

Doshomachi has more than 300 years of history as the “City of Drugs.” It is a traditional town where Shohikona Shrine and several pharmaceutical companies in Doshomachi open their archives and exhibits to the public, where visitors can learn about their history and culture, and Shohikona Shrine holds the “Shinto Festival” on November 22 and 23 every year. The Ikefes (Living Architecture Festival Osaka) held every fall attracts a large number of visitors with a focus on historical and modern architecture. Doshomachi Machizukuri Council was established in September 2015 in order to further develop the town into a more attractive place and to connect it to the future, and is developing “road maintenance projects,” “operation of Doshomachi Dori Community Landscape Development Agreement,” “SDGs initiatives,” “culture, history, events and other HP, SNS introduction”.

Project Activities

For each of the projects, we started from the drafting stage by inviting expert advisors and setting up committees. The draft plans were completed after confirming the intentions of almost all landowners in the target areas of Doshomachi 2-chome and 3-chome (Sakaisuji to Midosuji) by holding explanatory meetings for each project and conducting individual visits to confirm their intentions and hold hearings. After that, we held a series of discussions with Osaka City, the police, Kansai Electric Power Company, and others to explain the project to local residents each time, and the plan was finalized and construction work began. On the soft side, as part of the SDGs, the rooftop greening project involves growing grapes and brewing wine at seven locations around Doshomachi, deepening exchanges as well as the week before the Jinno Festival.

Future Prospects for the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

In preparation for the Kansai Expo, we are promoting further improvements in safety and attractiveness so that we can welcome more domestic and foreign visitors than ever before. Specifically, in addition to lighting lamps that resemble lanterns on the approach to the shrine in Doshomachi specifications, warm-colored lights will be used from the first floors of the buildings of companies along the street, in consideration of foot traffic at night. In addition to completing the sidewalks, we are proposing the installation of benches on the exterior of private buildings that anyone can use, and in terms of planting as urban greening, we are responding to consultations from each company with a focus on medicinal herbs, since this is the “City of Drugs. A promotional video that provides a quick overview of Doshomachi has been completed and will be posted on the council’s website.