The Symphony Hall, Osaka

The Symphony Hall in Osaka opened in 1982 as the first Japanese concert hall specifically designed for Western-style classical music. Over the years the hall has gained a reputation for its excellent acoustics, and the great Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan declared it to be “one of the best halls in the world.” After his 1984 appearance here with the Berliner Philharmoniker, he is said to have kissed the stage in gratitude for the hall’s sound.

The Symphony Hall in Osaka

The Facilities

It was the Japanese conductor Takashi Asahina who called for the building of a music hall devoted to classical concert performances. He requested a simple design focused purely on the music and without an orchestra pit or a movable stage like those in multipurpose venues. As a result, The Symphony Hall has an extremely sophisticated acoustic system. Every aspect of the interior, from the carefully designed walls to the cork-tile floor and the sound-reflecting boards on the ceiling, is designed to improve the listening experience for the audience. The hall was built to achieve a reverberation time of about two seconds when full, a quality especially prized for classical music.

The hall before a performance

The hall is an arena-style venue with 1,704 seats arranged around the stage, giving the audience clear sightlines as well as rich sound. In this way, visitors can enjoy both the sound of the orchestra and the movements of the conductor and musicians. At the rear of the stage is a large pipe organ built by Kuhn Organ Builders of Switzerland.

Taking a bow

The Cafe and Shop

Outside the performance hall there is a spacious lounge and cafe area, which is a good space to relax or share your thoughts during the intermission between performances. The Symphony Cafe and The Symphony Shop operate on performance days during opening and intermission times, with some post-performance operation depending on the concert. The shop sells original goods that can serve as souvenirs of your visit.

After the show

Access

The closest station to The Symphony Hall is Fukushima Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line. Walk north from the station and you will be there in about 7 minutes. It is also possible to walk west from Osaka Station in about 15 minutes. Other nearby rail options include Shin-Fukushima Station on the JR Tozai Line and Hanshin Fukushima Station, both about 10 minutes away on foot.

For the schedule and ticket information, please check the official website. Ticket inquiries can be made at The Symphony Ticket Center on 06-6453-2333. General inquiries can be made through the hall office on 06-6453-1010.

The Symphony Hall is approached through an avenue of trees