The plans to start the construction of the first Osaka casino resort in Osaka Bay have seemingly made the rapid railway operator Osaka Metro Co Ltd to apply for the respective permit to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The railway operator reportedly intends to start operating a 3.2-kilometre (2.0-mile) rail link to the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay by the middle of 2024. As reported, these plans are in line with the plans of the resort developers set to break ground for the casino resort by the same time.

Osaka Metro’s Application:

According to GGRAsia, the first integrated resort in Osaka has been scheduled to open in 2030 and the Osaka Metro has tailored its application to the governmental authorities to provide the transportation to and from the Yumeshima island already from the beginning of works. It seems that the idea is to serve the construction of the resort and maintain the line once the resort is open and ready to handle traffic to and from the island, that will soon be busy as the host of the ‘Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, Japan’.

Common Project Commitment:

The rail link application of the Osaka Metro announced on August 25, 2023 represents an infrastructural design that follows the project being developed by the Osaka city authorities and its private-sector partners. The private-sector stakeholders, led by US-based casino giant MGM Resorts International and Japanese operator Orix Corp, are closely tied with the Osaka officials and committed to bring the MGM Osaka integrated resort to the island of Yumeshima within the projected time frame, as reported by the GGRAsia.

Yumeshima Station:

For such purpose, Osaka Metro seems to have stepped in recently to speed up the process. As reported, the railway operator will commission the new “Hokko Technoport Line”  to connect the Cosmosquare station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line with the Yumeshima island. The stop on the island will be called “Yumeshima Station” and is set to represent a widely popular destination for gamblers and tourists looking for a unique Osaka experience.

Metro Line Operational by Mid-2024:

The rail transportation company reportedly noted that its metro section and station will be the main access line to the Osaka resort, provided the national government approves Osaka Metro’s plans. It seems likely that it will as the  IR [integrated resort] District Development Plan of Osaka prefecture and city anticipated the respective railway facilities in the subject location. If the plans are approved, Osaka Metro will reportedly start operating the new line by the end of June 2024.

Resort To Be Launched in 2030:

As indicated, MGM Resorts plans to break grounds for the Osaka IR on the Yumeshima island  by the middle of 2024. MGM Resorts CEO and president Bill Hornbuckle reportedly revealed that the company intends to open the resort in 2030. By that time, Osaka Metro may contribute to the development of the project to remain at the resort’s service immediately upon the launch.