Central Public Hall

Chuo Public Hall is located in a prime location with excellent access to multiple routes. The nearest station is Naniwabashi Station on the Keihan Nakanoshima Line, just a 1-minute walk from exit 1. It's also a 5-minute walk from Yodoyabashi Station on the Keihan Main Line and Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, and about a 10-minute walk from Kitahama Station on the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line. There is also a bus stop nearby, with the Yodoyabashi (City Hall) stop just a 5-minute walk away for Osaka Municipal Bus routes 8, 62, and 88. Additionally, there is a Times parking lot, making it accessible by car as well.

Chuo Kaikan was built with a donation from Einosuke Iwamoto, the second son of the money exchange shop "Iwamoto Shoten" in Minami Ward (now Chuo Ward) of Osaka City. In 1909, he participated in the "Industrial Mission to the United States" and learned that many American millionaires were spending their personal fortunes and inheritances on charity and public works, which inspired him to do the same. He donated one million yen (worth several billion yen in today's currency) from his own personal fortune and his father's inheritance to Osaka City, and construction of Chuo Kaikan began in June 1913. However, shortly after construction began, Einosuke Iwamoto suffered a great loss in stock trading and committed suicide in October 1916 without seeing the completion of Chuo Kaikan. Two years later, in November 1918, Chuo Kaikan was completed and designated as an Important Cultural Property in 2002.

There is a guided tour available at the Central Public Hall. You can be guided through the exhibition room where you can learn about the history of the hall, as well as the special room with beautiful paintings on the ceiling and walls and stained glass. There are two types of fees: 500 yen for the basic course of the guided tour only, and 2,500 yen for a set that includes a guided tour and lunch at the restaurant. Applications are accepted starting at 9:30 am on the first day of the month two months prior to the date of the tour. You can apply online through the Osaka City Lifelong Learning Information System "Ichou Net" or by phone. In addition, the meeting rooms and conference rooms are also available for use. You can check the availability of these rooms on "Ichou Net", the same website used for the guided tour.