Umekita Road (Kita-Umeda Underpass)
When the Umeda Freight Station of the Japanese National Railways (currently JR) was built, the “Umekita Road” that had previously run east to west was abolished. However, the loss of the road began to have a detrimental effect on the lives of the people living in the area, so local people of influence formed the “Alliance for Umekita Road Restoration.” After they petitioned the Ministry of Railways (currently the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism), it was decided to open a road east to west underneath the railway within the station grounds. The “Kita-Umeda Underpass” was therefore constructed in 1928 and became the first major underpass in Japan. A ceremony was held to mark its opening and this was even reported in the newspapers. In 1991, at the timing of the completion of Shin Umeda City, the inner walls were painted and equipment such as lighting and ventilation facilities were added.
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Map of historical sites
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Umeda Higashi Trivia Walk
What kind of station was the Umeda Freight Station?
What differences are there between the underpass when it was constructed and the underpass now?
On the plaque that was installed to commemorate the completion of the underpass, it is written that its length is 503 meters. However, the current length is about 200 meters. Where does this difference come from?
Actually, at the time it was completed, the entrance to the underpass on the Umeda side was somewhere around the “Shibata 1” interchange, which is further east from the current entrance. This is the reason for the difference in length.
The official name was “Umeda Station,” but it was called “Umeda Freight Station” so that it would not be confused with the “Umeda Station” of the Hankyu Railway and Hanshin Electric Railway companies.
Originally, the Japanese National Railways (currently JR) Osaka Station was a station handling both passengers and freight, but insufficient station capacity became a problem and the freight facilities were separated off. It was due to this that the Umeda Freight Station was opened in 1928. After its opening, it became the station for handling container and other freight and played a major role as a base for freight transportation in Osaka. However, its functions were later transferred to the Suita Freight Terminal and Kudara Freight Terminal stations and it was abolished in April 2013.