The gloriously tacky 103m-high Tsūten-kaku (Tower Reaching Heaven) is a retro-futuristic mass of silver steel with an observation deck that gives views over the rather gaudy entertainment district of Shin-sekai. As much an icon of Osaka as the pointy-headed baby Billiken found at the summit, this one is great for families with children and fans of pop culture.
Get an Eiffel
The original tower was built in 1912 as a wacky hybrid of the Eiffel Tower. At 64m high, it was once the second-tallest structure in Asia. What you see is actually the second tower. Even higher at 108m, it was built in 1956 by Tachū Naitō, designer of the iconic Tokyo Tower.
Ascend in two lifts. The first takes you to the mid observation deck filled with merchandising, where you wait in a queue to get to the next lift. Things can feel cramped, so it’s not ideal for people with claustrophobia. At the top, you’ll enjoy wonderful views of Shin-sekai and get to see Osaka’s most famous statue of Billiken, toss in a coin and rub the soles of his feet for good luck before checking the neon views of gaudy Shin-sekai below.
Glide Back Down
You’ll pass back through the shop on the way down, but happily, if the queue for the lift looks bad, take the stairs or the "Tower Slider" – a slide built to withstand earthquakes – from the third-floor observation deck. The second option is a lot more fun but requires prebooking a ticket (adult/child ¥1000/500).
