Utsubo Park

Utsubo Park
Utsubo Park in 2006
Map
TypeUrban park
LocationNishi ward, Osaka City
Coordinates34°41′06″N 135°29′34″E / 34.685055°N 135.492786°E / 34.685055; 135.492786
Area9.7ha (0.097 km2)
Created21 October 1955
Operated byOsaka city
StatusOpen all year

Utsubo Park (靱公園, Utsubo-Kōen) is a large public, urban park, situated at Utsubo-Hommachi in Nishi-ku, Osaka, Japan.

The park was constructed at the site of a former air field of the United States Army, so the land is a long rectangle shape characteristic of a runway (700m x 150m). This place was one of the busiest fish wholesale markets (Zakoba fish market and Utsubo dried fish market), from Edo period until 1931, at that time a new wholesale market was opened at Fukushima ward.

The Utsubo Tennis Center occupies a large area of the western part of the park. Some international tennis tournaments have been held there. The most famous one is the HP Open and World Super Junior Tennis Championships.

Around the eastern part of this park, many cafes and bakery have opened after 1990. Sometimes open-air wedding are held at the rose garden. This area is becoming one of the fashionable places in Osaka city.