Built on reclaimed land, the 225-hectare Maishima Island is divided into four zones: sport, education, recreation, and health. The sports zone takes up around 120 hectares of the island’s total area.
The largest structure is the Maishima Arena, a multi-purpose facility primarily used for amateur baseball and capable of accommodating around 10,000 people. It also hosts volleyball, basketball, handball, badminton, and tennis, with seating available for over 7,000 spectators. The development of the entire area cost over 120 billion yen.
There are beautiful parklands and a seaside promenade stretching about 1 km along the island’s artificial rocky beach. This area is popular with joggers, walkers, and cyclists.
The island also features a yachting centre, with the Maishima Marine Yard housing up to 125 watercraft.
Along the promenade, visitors can explore a pottery centre, where you can purchase locally made pottery or watch artisans at work. For the more adventurous, there’s also a helicopter port offering scenic excursions.
Two buildings of architectural interest on the island are the waste incineration plant and sludge treatment facility. While they might not sound like typical leisure attractions, their Dr Seuss-like architecture makes them standout landmarks. From the outside, they resemble whimsical theme park buildings—but be warned, there’s nothing fun about sludge. These two sites are best admired from the bus window as you arrive on the island.
Access:
- From Nishi-Kujo Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line:
Take the Osaka City Express Bus No. 81 to Maishima Sports Island. There are six bus stops within Maishima. - From Sakurajima Station on the JR Sakurajima Line:
Take the Osaka City Special Bus No. 81 to Maishima Sports Island, with six bus stops inside Maishima.
