Osaka is a city best appreciated from above. While its streets are filled with vibrant shopping districts, historic landmarks and incredible food, it’s from an observation deck that you truly appreciate the city’s scale. From the glittering skyline stretching to Osaka Bay to the maze of neighbourhoods below, each observation deck offers a unique perspective.

Three attractions stand out as Osaka’s premier observation decks: Abeno Harukas, Umeda Sky Building, and Tsutenkaku. Although all three offer panoramic views, they provide very different experiences and vantage points, making the best choice dependent on your interests, budget and itinerary.

Abenoa Harukas vs Umeda Sky Building vs Tsutenkaku - Quick Comparison

Abeno Harukas

Height: 300m (984 ft)
Best for: Unobstructed views of Osaka from the tallest building on the city.
Entry fee: 2200 Yen

Umeda Sky Building

Height: 170m (557 ft)
Best for: City-Centre views, open air observation
Entry fee: 2040 Yen

Tsutenkaku

Height: 107m (984 ft)
Best for: Historic vibes in a vibrant and storied district
Entry fee: 1500 Yen

Abeno Harukas

Facts

Abeno Harukas is Osaka’s tallest building, standing at 300m (984 ft) tall, towering over all other buildings in the city. Opened in 2014, the tower sits to the south of Osaka’s city centre.

Views

The Abeno Harukas has unmatched panoramic views of the city from the 58-60th story of the tower – great if you want to see the city in its fullest. Enjoy views as far as Kyoto city and out towards Osaka Bay. From the Abeno Harukas, you can see Osaka’s famous landmarks, such as Osaka Castle, Tennoji Temple, Tsutenkaku Tower and Dotonbori, all from a high vantage point in the city. Because of the height, the Abeno harukas is a great spot to watch the senset.

On the 16th floor of the tower, there is a small, free observation deck with partially obstructed views.

For an extra fee, you can walk out onto the open air observation deck on the towers helipad, allowing for a more freeing view of the city.

Ticket Information

The standard entry admission for adults is 2200 yen, making it the most expensive observation deck out of the three major views. We recommend pre-purchasing tickets online in advance; the tickets allow you to skip past the lines. Tickets on Klook are occasionally discounted compared to door sales. The ticket coutner can be found on the 16th floor of the Abeno Harukas.

On-site facilities

There is a small restaurant on the 58th floor of the tower, allowing visitors to enjoy the great views of the city while having a light meal. The restaurant serves Japanese curry, Takoyaki, fries, and several other Japanese and Western delights. There is also a small gift shop, featuring many small gifts featuring a blue cloudy bear – the Abeno Harukas mascot.

Abeno Harukas is also famous for its surprisingly scenic restrooms. The toilet facilities on the observatory level feature floor-to-ceiling glass windows, allowing you to enjoy sweeping panoramic views across Osaka while using the facilities.

Location

Abeno Harukas is located to the south of Osaka’s city centre. Located directly outside Tennōji Station on the Osaka Loop Line, you can get to this famous tower with ease from just about anywhere in the city.

Final rating

The Abeno Harukas offers unmatched views of the cityscape, making it a great place to watch the sunset, with the furthest views possible. The unobstructed views of the city make the view unforgettable. However, we believe that the Umeda Sky Building has a slightly better, more intimate view of Osaka – thanks to it being closer to the many skyscrapers.

Category	Rating
View from Abeno Harukas	4/5
Value for Money	4/5
Facilities	4.5/5
Location	4/5
Overall	4/5

Umeda Sky Building

Facts

The Umeda Sky Building is an iconic skyscraper, mere minutes from JR Osaka Station and Umeda Station on the Osaka Metro. It has a height of 170 meters (557ft). The Umeda Sky Building was first opened in 1993 and serves as a multi-purpose commercial building.

Views

One of the highlights of the Umeda Sky Building is from the rooftop Kuchu Teien Observatory, also known as the Floating Garden Observatory. Perched 173 metres above the city, the open-air observation deck offers spectacular 360-degree views across Osaka’s skyline, stretching as far as Awaji Island and the surrounding mountains on a clear day. Whether you visit during the day, at sunset, or after dark, the ever-changing cityscape makes it one of Osaka’s most memorable viewpoints

The Umeda Sky Building offers up a closer look at Osaka. Unlike the Abeno Harukas, the Umeda Sky Building is roughly the same height as many of the city’s other skyscrapers, resulting in a view that feels like you are in the city, not just looking down on it. For this reason, many other travellers favour the Umeda Sky Buidling.

Ticket Information

The ticket counter for the Kuchi Teien Observatory is found on the 39th floor of the Umeda Sky Building. Adult admission is 2040yen. Tickets can be pre-purchased on Klook, and regular discounted promotions are offered for those who pre-purchase.

On-site facilities

One of the defining characteristics of the Umeda Sky Building observation deck is the escalator, which ascends from one of the building’s towers, through to the Floating Garden Observatory. The Umeda Sky Building has both covered and open-air spaces to look out towards the city.

The Umeda Sky Building has a couple of different restaurants, including the Sky Lounge, which is a popular location for dates, with high-quality food and remarkable views of the city.

Location

The Umeda Sky Building can be easily accessed from JR Osaka Station on the Osaka Loop line, as well as from Umeda Station on the Osaka Metro. The Umeda Sky Building is about a 5-minute walk from the station’s exit and is easy to navigate to.

Final rating

Category	Rating
View from Umeda Sky	4.5/5
Value for Money	4.5/5
Facilities	4/5
Location	4.5/5
Overall	4.5/5

Tsutenkaku

Facts

Originally constructed in 1912, Tsutenkaku was inspired by the Eiffel Tower, but was dismantled during World War II. The current structure was rebuilt in 1956 and has since become a symbol of the area. The main obserA special open-air deck at 94.5 meters offers an even higher vantage point for an additional fee.

Views

The main observation deck is at 87.5 meters (295ft) high, A special open-air deck at 95 meters (311 ft) offers a slightly higher vantage point, but is an additional fee. As the Tsutenkaku tower was built during a time when buildings in Osaka were much smaller, the view from Tsutenkaku feels completely different compared to Umeda Sky Building or the Abeno Harukas. The scale of these buildings is evident when you compare see the Abeno Harukas towering over Tsutenkaku – just a few city blocks away from Tsutenkaku.

Ticket Information

Adult tickets start at 1,500 yen, making this the cheapest entry out of the main observation decks in Osaka. Add-ons such as the Tower Slide (1100 yen), or the Walk & Dive experiences can be purchased online in advance or on the day. Tickets can be pre-purchased on Klook.

On-site facilities

Tsutenkaku is more than just an observatio deck. One of the most unique aspects that sets Tsutenkaku apart from the other towers is the 60-meter-long slide inside the tower. The slide, which can be ridden for an additional fee of 1100 yen, descends 26 meters across a 60-meter (186 ft) distance. Furthermore, The DIVE & WALK experience offered lets visitors step outside the tower and walk around its exterior at a height of 26 metres above the ground while securely attached to a safety harness. For those seeking an extra adrenaline rush, the experience also includes a controlled “dive,” where participants step off the tower and descend 14 metres from a platform 40 metres above the ground using a specialised safety system. The walk & dive experience costs 3000 yen. Both tickets can be pre-purchased on Klook, however, these add-ons do not include admission to the tower and has to be purchased separately.

Location

Tsutenkaku is located in the Shinsekai district of Osaka, between Jr Shin-imamiya Station & JR Tennoji Station on the southern side of the Osaka Loop Line. Tsutenkaku can be reach from JR Osaka Station within about 15 minutes on the Osaka Loop Line, or in about 10 minutes on the Osaka Metro.