Attraction
Osaka Castle
Osaka's rebuilt castle keep, first raised by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 1580s, now a history museum with an eighth-floor lookout over a large moated park.
Umeda Sky Building
Twin 40-storey towers joined at the top by the Kuchu Teien Observatory, with a 360-degree open-air rooftop deck open until late evening.
At a glance
- Type
- Observation deck
- Area
- Umeda (Kita-ku), Osaka, Japan
- Opening
- Open daily · 09:30–22:30
- Official site
- skybldg.co.jp
Good to know
- Open-air rooftop deck
- Cafe on 40th floor
- Wheelchair access via Tower East lift
- Open late
Why we recommend it
The Umeda Sky Building is one of Osaka's most recognisable modern landmarks: two 40-storey towers linked at the top by a broad bridge structure, so that from the ground the pair look like a giant gateway. It was designed by the architect Hiroshi Hara, built by Takenaka Corporation and completed in March 1993. The towers rise to 170 metres at roof level, and stand a short walk north-west of Osaka Station in the Umeda district.
The draw for visitors is the Kuchu Teien Observatory, the "floating garden" spread over the top two floors. The ride up is part of the experience: the top floors of the two towers are linked by glass bridges, and escalators and lifts carry you across the open atrium between them, high above the ground. At the top there is an enclosed viewing floor with Cafe Sky 40, and above that a 360-degree open-air rooftop deck, a fine place to watch the sun go down and the lights come on across the city. The rooftop may close in heavy rain.
The observatory opens from 9:30 to 22:30, with last admission at 22:00, which makes it one of the few major viewpoints you can visit after dinner. There is an admission charge for adults and children aged four to twelve, and under-fours go free; the Osaka Amazing Pass covers entry during the day and gives a discount in the evening. Wheelchair users should take the high-floor lift from the first floor of the East Tower. A visit takes about an hour, longer if you wait for sunset, and clear evenings get busy.
Below ground is a small market-style arcade of restaurants designed to recreate the look of early twentieth-century Osaka, which is a pleasant place for an informal meal before or after the view.
From JR Osaka Station, leave by the Central North Exit and walk through or past the Grand Front Osaka complex; from Hankyu Osaka-umeda and Osaka Metro Umeda stations the signposted routes also run through Grand Front Osaka and then cross the road to the building; the walk takes about nine minutes from JR Osaka Station. Combine it with shopping in Umeda or with an evening in the restaurants and bars around Osaka Station.
Umeda Sky Building FAQs
What are the observatory's opening hours?
9:30 to 22:30, with last admission at 22:00.
Is the rooftop open-air?
Yes, the top level is an open-air 360-degree observation deck; it may close in heavy rain.
Do children pay?
Children aged four to twelve pay a reduced fare and those under four enter free.
Is it covered by the Osaka Amazing Pass?
Yes, the pass gives free entry during the day and a discount in the evening.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, wheelchair users should take the high-floor lift from the first floor of the East Tower.
When was the building completed?
In March 1993, to a design by the architect Hiroshi Hara.
How do I get there from Osaka Station?
Leave JR Osaka Station by the Central North Exit and walk through the Grand Front Osaka area, then cross the road to the building; the walk takes about nine minutes from JR Osaka Station.
When is the best time to go?
Around sunset on a clear day, for daylight and night views in one visit.