Tsutenkaku Tower
通天閣
Osaka's signature tower, standing in the retro Showa-era district of Shinsekai. On its golden deck waits Billiken, whose soles bring luck if you rub them.
Shinsekai's symbol, the second tower of its name
Tsutenkaku is an observation tower in Shinsekai, a lively entertainment district in Osaka's Naniwa Ward. Its name carries the meaning 'a tall building that reaches to heaven'.
The first Tsutenkaku was built in 1912 as the symbol of the Luna Park amusement park. Shaped like the Eiffel Tower set on top of the Arc de Triomphe, it stood about 75 m tall and was said at the time to be the tallest in the East. It was damaged by fire in 1943 and taken down, but a campaign by local people led to the present, second tower being built in 1956.
The second tower is 108 m tall including its lightning rod. It was designed by Tachu Naito, whose other works include Tokyo Tower. In 2007 it became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
The golden observation deck and Billiken
The main deck is the Golden Observatory on the 5th floor, 87.5 m above the ground. True to its name, it is decorated in gold, and from it you can look out over the city of Osaka. The 4th-floor Observatory of Light turns lively at night with lights and a mirror ball.
The 5th floor is home to a statue of Billiken, a god of good luck. Rubbing the soles of his feet is said to bring you luck. His link with Tsutenkaku goes back to 1912, when a Billiken statue, part of a worldwide craze at the time, was enshrined at Luna Park. The current statue, installed in 2012, is the third.
Higher still, stairs lead out to Tenbo Paradise, a special open-air deck at 94.5 m, where you can enjoy the view with the wind in your face.
A slide and hands-on attractions
The Tower Slider is a 60 m slide that spirals round the tower from 22 m above the ground down to the first basement floor in about 10 seconds. There is also Dive & Walk, which combines Walk, in which you walk round the edge of the roof 26 m up while clipped to a safety line, and Dive, in which you jump from about 40 m up towards the observation deck below.
The 3rd floor has a diorama of Shinsekai as it was about 100 years ago and photos from the time, and the first basement floor has Waku Waku Land, a collection of showroom shops run by food makers with ties to the Kansai region.
Getting there
It is about a 3-minute walk from Ebisucho Station on the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line and the Hankai Tramway, and about 6 minutes from Dobutsuen-mae Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line or Shin-Imamiya Station on the JR Loop Line. Tsutenkaku has no car park, so the train is the easiest way to get there.
You can also buy tickets online in advance. Check the official website for opening hours and prices.
Tips
- The classic way to pay your respects is to rub the soles of Billiken's feet. On the observation deck there is also a service that takes your photo with him.
- On the deck, small wooden statues of the Shichifukujin (Seven Gods of Good Fortune) surround Billiken, and together they are called the Eight Gods of Good Fortune. Each has a stamp, so collecting them as you go round is a fun idea.
- Last entry times differ between the decks and the shops. If you are going for the night view, check the times on the official website before you set out.
Sources
Updated 29 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
