The Island Garden & Forest in Osaka

A man-made forest next to the Westin Hotel Osaka

By Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

Lobby lounge of the Westin Osaka viewed from the garden

The sign says the water blows out from the 'Reverse Falls' every 30 minutes. Reverse falls?

This is the 'Reverse Falls'. The water blows out from a lower place to higher place. I see! It's defying nature!

Wooden bridge leading to the center of the forest garden

Sign explaining this garden is called 'The Island Garden-Island Forest'. It says this garden is surrounded by some of the most hi-tech buildings in Japan and from here the 'Floating Garden' and the 'Sky Bridge' of the Umeda Sky Building can be seen through the tree-tops

Purple hydrangeas were in full bloom in the garden

Winding path leading to the center of the garden

Wooden bridge and trees in the man-made forest created in the middle of Osaka city

Color of flowers varies from white to light yellow to deep yellow

When I was staying at the Westin Hotel Osaka the other day I spotted a garden just outside the lobby lounge of the hotel. It looked so 'green', despite the fact this hotel is located amid skyscrapers, that I became curious and decided to explore it. When I walked through the terrace door of the hotel lounge colorful koi (carp) welcomed me from the pond they were swimming in. Delighted, I further explored the garden. It turned out that the garden is called, "The Island Garden-Island Forest", a man-made garden created in the middle of Shin (new) Umeda City. Through the tree-tops of the forested garden, you can see the 'Floating Garden' and the 'Sky Bridge' of the Umeda Sky Building next to it. The garden was almost deserted and serene, as though it was a true forest in a mountain!