Tsutenkaku Tower, Osaka

Speaking of sightseeing in Osaka, Osaka Castle and Dotonbori represented by “Kuidaore dolls” are famous, but Tsutenkaku Tower is also a symbol of Osaka tourism. Tsutenkaku, located in the center of the Shinsekai area with a Showa retro atmosphere, is actually a major tourist spot in Osaka, where around 1 million tourists visit every year.
Today, more than 60 years since its establishment, it has been designated as a national registered tangible cultural property. It is a spot that you should definitely visit along with the gourmets of Shinsekai area.
In recent years, buildings such as Abeno Harukas and Skytree have been built that are much higher than former high-rise buildings and towers. However, Tsutenkaku is not only a view from the height of 108 meters, but also there are various highlights in the building.
The interesting point of Tsutenkaku can be seen from its unique structure. Normally, towers and high-rise buildings are in a state where the entrance is integrated with the building, but the entrance to Tsutenkaku is not integrated with the tower’s feet, and has a structure that goes underground.
Once in the basement, go up to the 2nd floor with an elevator, then go up to the observation floor of 84 meters above the ground on the 4th floor with the elevator through the 2nd and 3rd floor. The 5th floor is an 87 meter observation floor where you can see the view of Tennoji Park and the newly created Abeno Harukas.
From the perspective and view, Abeno Harukas appeared at the nearby Tennoji Station as the tallest building in Japan, but you can also enjoy the view from this Tsutenkaku.
By the way, on this observation floor, the statue of Billiken that was once popular all over the world as “God of Happiness” is displayed. This billiken was established at the time of Luna Park opening in Japan more than 100 years ago and has long been a symbol of happiness, and this is the third generation on this observation floor.
From the observation floor on the 5th floor, you can go to the observation floor on the 4th floor, just below the floor, or you can go to Tsutenkaku Special Outdoor Observatory “Tenbo Paradise” by paying an additional entrance fee of 500 yen. Please note that this special outdoor observatory cannot be entered by children under 5 years old.

The beginning of the Shin-Sekai dates back to 1903

“Shin-Sekai” is a downtown in southern Osaka City famous for “Tsutenkaku Tower”, “Jan Jan Yokocho Alley”, signboard of lantern shaped like big puffer. The beginning of the Shin-Sekai dates back to 1903, the exposition held at Tennoji and the current Shin-Sekai. Tennoji Park was built in the east half of the site, and Tsutenkaku Tower (the first generation) as a symbol in the center and a fee amusement park on the south side were created in the remaining half of the west.

Manzai and Kamigata rakugo every weekend on Saturdays and Sundays

As a result of this, playhouse huts and movie theaters gathered and developed, the Shin-Sekai was made to be formed. Currently, both the amusement park and the movie theater are closed, but the observatory of Tsutenkaku Tower is crowded with tourists from a distance. At the Tsutenkaku theater “TENGEKI” underground in the basement just under the Tower, they are entertaining the audience with manzai (a comic dialog) and Kamigata rakugo (that performed in the Kyoto and Osaka region) every weekend on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Billiken and signs of the lantern shaped like puffer

About 130 meters north and south, kushi-katsu (pork cutlets on skewers) shop, Doteyaki (sinewy beef cooked in Miso paste and Mirin) shop, Shogi (Japanese chess) and Igo (board game of capturing territory) club “Jan Jan Yokocho Alley” where about 50 shops are lined up is fine. When it is Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, lots of tourists visit and enjoy commemorative photo shoots with the Billiken and signs of the lantern shaped like puffer backing.

“Tsutenkaku Tower” in the sense of “a high building leading (tsu) to the heavens (ten)”

The observation tower of the symbol of Naniwa “Tsutenkaku Tower”. In 1912, as a symbol of the Shin-Sekai, a steel tower like the Eiffel Tower was built on a building with a motif of Arc de Triomphe. This tower boasting the height of 64 meters, the highest in the East as then, was named “Tsutenkaku Tower” in the sense of “a high building leading (tsu) to the heavens (ten)”. After that, it was dismantled by a fire, but in 1956 it was rebuilt upon the request of the citizen, and the situation continues up to today. The second generation Tsutenkaku is 103 meters, 39 meters higher than the first generation.

There are many interesting places

On the 5th floor there is an observation deck overlooking Osaka, and Billiken statue that luck comes when stroking the soles of the feet, with 700,000 visitors a year. In the Shin-Sekai where is the popular spot of Osaka Namba, there are many interesting places including Tsutenkaku Tower, a symbol. Please visit by all means.

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