Toki-no-hiroba Plaza

Toki no Hiroba (Time and Space Plaza) is a rooftop (5th-floor) open space at JR Osaka Station. It is a free passageway that spans over the tracks, linking the South Gate Building (Daimaru Umeda) on the south side and the North Gate Building (LUCUA) on the north side. A “free passageway” means it can be used at no cost even by people who are not using the station. It opened in May 2011 along with the launch of Osaka Station City. The plaza was designed by Yasui Architects & Engineers and JR West Consultants. Toki no Hiroba measures about 37 m east–west and 83 m north–south, and it is covered by a single-slope roof roughly 180 m east–west and 100 m north–south. A gold clock and a silver clock are installed at the north and south ends, and with benches and cafés, it is also a popular meeting spot. From the plaza you can look down at trains arriving at the six platforms on the 2nd floor, making it a great spot for train lovers too. Events such as Christmas illuminations and mini concerts are also held irregularly.