Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

The city of Osaka had been an international corridor to traders from the world over since the 5 th century AD. This was the milieu where people met for the purpose of business, culture, information which fostered an entrepreneurial spirit in the people of Osaka. The commercial mindset along with its financial affluence provided a strong foundation to the cultural development of Japan. One of the premier sightseeing destinations of Osaka is the prefectural gymnasium located in 3-4-36 Nanbnaka, Naniwa-ku in Osaka. It is approximately a couple of minutes' stroll from the Nankai Dentetsu Nanba railway station which is also the route from the Nanba Subway station. Know all the facts about the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium from AsiaRooms.com.

Built in the year 1952, in the background of the post-war scenario, during the dearth of building material, by redirecting material that were housed in an airplane depot. What initially started off as the All Japan Gymnastic Championship shortly following the inauguration, the hall has served as the enduring scene for the March Grand Sumo Tournament which remains stacked each year with a throng of Sumo aficionados in a breathtaking arena with the charged Naniwa environ paralleling the zest of the wrestlers. The arena has been witness to several human dramas such as the Nichibo Kaizuka volleyball team which is dubbed “Toyo no Mojo” or “The Witches of the Orient that won the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics”.

As the residence of indoor sports through 32 years now, and the training of world-rate athletes, the construction has been restructured in 1985 after being home to the Grand Sumo Tournament. The construction was given a facelift in 1987 by a 4-floor edifice with a double storied basement. The entire area measures about 30,000 sq. meters. In 1997, the premises were used as a basketball venue on the occasion of the Namihaya National Sports Festival and the third East Asian Games 2001 Osaka in May that year for Taekwondo and Judo matches.

If you click on the official site of the institute, you will be able to obtain a glimpse of its location and seating arrangement of the three consecutive floors, along with the Grand Tournament Information, the Prefectural Gymnasium etc. There is also a rapid guide to the venues that are supposed to host Ozumo's Six Grand Sumo Tournaments and the current details about ticket booking. There are a quarter of locations that will host the international event. These include the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo in the months of January, May and September, the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, in July, the Fukoka Kokusai Center in Fukoka in November and the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka in March.

Visit this indoor sporting arena that is capable of housing about 8000 people to savor the taste of what Japanese martial arts is all about.