The authorities in Osaka city, Japan, opened on Friday a request-for-proposal (RFP) process for non-gaming facilities for Phase 2 of Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay (pictured in a file photo) that will be home to MGM Osaka, Japan’s first integrated resort (IR) with casino.
The land area to be developed under Phase 2 was confirmed as covering 42 hectares (103.8 acres).
That is according to a recent announcement from the city and prefectural governments. They are overseeing development of Yumeshima, where the JPY1.51-trillion (US$9.33 billion currently) MGM Osaka is being developed by casino group MGM Resorts International, local conglomerate Orix Corp, and other local investors.
About JPY1 trillion has previously been mentioned as the likely development cost of Phase 2, and that figure was again reported on Friday by local media.
Separately, Japan’s central government recently announced that a ferry and cruise ship terminal is to be built on Yumeshima for completion in the late 2020s, ahead of MGM Osaka’s scheduled launch in 2030.
Hirofumi Yoshimura, the governor of Osaka prefecture, said in a Friday press briefing on Phase 2, as reported by local outlets: “Combining Yumeshima Phase 2 and Osaka IR [Phase 1] we aim to create a world-class hub – an extraordinary space that carries on the legacy of the Osaka-Kansai Expo.”
Mr Yoshimura was referring to Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, which was held on Yumeshima from April 13 to October 13, 2025.
According to documents reviewed by GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent, the Phase-2 RFP has two stages. The first is to identify proposals deemed “excellent” regarding non-gaming content, based on criteria established by the local authorities.
The period for acceptance of content proposals will run from January 12 to January 15, 2027. Early February 2027 would see the first-stage selection.
The second stage – applicable to RFP submissions that pass the first stage – is a competitive bid for purchase of the land. Local media said the land-purchase price was likely to be more than JPY100 billion.
September 14 this year will be the date when the minimum price for the land will be officially announced. Selection on the land bid is due to be decided in early-February 2027.
The Osaka city authorities had previously disclosed that two groups whose earlier Phase-2 content proposals had been selected as “excellent” would combine their efforts. The merger of the consortiums, led respectively by Obayashi Corp and Kanden Realty & Development Co Ltd, was announced on May 27.
Local media reported on Friday that the Osaka business community broadly supported the merger, arguing that a single proposal would be better suited to a project expected to require an investment of around JPY1 trillion.
Obayashi Corp and six other companies had in their individual proposal suggested: a large arena; motorsport facilities including a racing circuit; a car-themed park; and a luxury hotel.
Kanden Realty – alongside Keihan Holdings Co Ltd, Sumitomo Corp, Takenaka Civil Engineering & Construction Co Ltd, Nankai Electric Railway Co Ltd, and Yoshimoto Kogyo Holdings Co Ltd – had made the other proposal featuring: a resort complex with luxury hotels; water parks; and a variety of commercial facilities.
