Maishima Incineration Plant

The Maishima Incineration Plant (Osaka City Environment Bureau Maishima Plant) is a waste incineration facility built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay and jointly managed by Osaka City, Yao City, and Matsubara City. It is famous for its striking, fantastical exterior that hardly looks like an incineration plant, and with advance reservation you can join a free guided tour of the interior. The building was designed by Austrian artist/architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Its bold design features high-contrast red, black, and white walls, a tower shaped like a golden turban, and many curves; it also incorporates greenery near the roofline, reflecting an aim for harmony with nature. During the tour, staff explain the unique interiors and you can observe the working incineration facility. The area around the plant is a green park, and nearby there are open spaces and BBQ facilities. While access generally requires city buses or sightseeing buses from central Osaka, it is a rare opportunity to appreciate world-renowned architecture while learning how everyday household waste is processed.