This study focuses on the SUITO-OSAKA/Water Corridors area where an attractive river space has been developed over a period of 17 years by utilizing the waterfront environment. This was initiated with the development of “promenades” and three “piers,” followed by the conscious expansion of buildings open to the waterfront, riverside terraces, events on the promenades, and cruising tours. The objective of this study was to elucidate the locational relation between the “piers,” “riverside promenades,” and “Waterfront considered buildings” as well as to assess the role and effectiveness of the phased strategic processes of the river-administrator.

 We observed that the formation process of the “SUITO-OSAKA Project” in Osaka City comprised the following three steps: (1) the municipality (city of Osaka) took a leading role during the early stages of the project, which included the development of the piers and riverside promenades as well as local promotional events that used the river space and open café; (2) the waterfront usage strategy was transitioned early to private businesses, which enabled the continuous expansion of promotional activities without excessive influence from the municipality policies; (3) as users gathered to visit the existing “Waterfront considered buildings,” “riverside promenades” (where events were conducted by private businesses), and “piers” (which functioned as bases for cruising tours), new “Waterfront considered buildings” that intended to attract these customers developed. Furthermore, the following two locational characteristics were elucidated: (1) the spatial influence of the “Waterfront considered buildings” was more effective in areas that already contained buildings as compared with the areas where new “piers,” “riverside promenades,” and “Waterfront considered buildings” were simultaneously developed; (2) the “Waterfront considered buildings” and the “land use of the areas beyond the waterfront” (which determines the purpose of these buildings) are important factors. Subsequently, for the SUITO-OSAKA/Water Corridors area, this study indicated the importance of an integrated and continuous development of “piers” (which create human flow and activity), “riverside promenades” (the spaces that distribute this activity), and “Waterfront considered buildings” (land use of the areas beyond the waterfront that amplitudes human activity by making them stay in the river space) as opposed to their separate development.