New Biz Investment Projects Now Underway In Osaka

<B>New Biz Investment Projects Now Underway In Osaka</B>

By Maria Lenhart

Osaka, the city best known as a leading Japanese business capital, is investing in a raft of new tourism infrastructure projects that not only will serve business travelers, but broaden the city's appeal as an international meetings and travel destination.

Major projects in various stages of development include the Universal Studios Japan theme park, a monorail system, a new runway for Kansai International Airport, an additional line for the Bullet Train and a 640-room Hotel Nikko Bayside Osaka.

Just opened this summer is the Osaka International Convention Center, a downtown facility with such amenities as a 2,754-seat, multi-purpose theater with big-screen video equipment, and an eight-language simultaneous interpretation system and a movable stage. The center also includes a rooftop circular conference room equipped for international meetings of up to 550 attendees, 25 smaller meeting rooms, an exhibit hall and a plaza-like area with an atrium ceiling and indoor trees available for receptions.

Also new is the Osaka Maritime Museum, which features high-tech attractions that include a 3D virtual theater and a simulation theater with seat movement. The museum also includes life-size ship replicas and interactive exhibits.

By far, the city's major new tourist attraction promises to be Universal Studios Japan, which will be the first Universal Studios theme park located outside of the United States when it opens next spring.

Along with boosting tourism to Osaka, the park is expected to stimulate development of the multimedia and telecommunications industries in the city.

A major component of Universal Studios will be the 640-room Hotel Nikko Bayside Osaka, which is scheduled to open in spring 2002. Located at the entrance of the park, the 33-story hotel will offer panoramic views of Osaka and such amenities as a full-service health spa with saunas and hydrotherapy treatments. Also featured will be a rooftop restaurant, a grand ballroom and four conference rooms.

While leisure business will be the main focus of the hotel, business travel and corporate meeting and incentive business also will be targeted, according to Hideki Shiroma, marketing manager for Nikko Hotels International in Tokyo. Located in the Kanahana district of Osaka, the hotel is in a fast-growing area of business development and is only a 15-minute transit ride from central Osaka, he said.

While the Nikko is the major hotel under development in Osaka, other upcoming properties include a 332-room property, as yet unnamed, to be operated by the Hotel Keihan chain when it opens in July 2001. Opened earlier this year are the 194-room Hotel Monterey Osaka and 120-room Toyoko Inn Temmabashi.