There are two main spots in Osaka for panoramic city views: one is the long-established Umeda Sky Building, and the other is Abeno Harukas. Completed in 2014, Abeno Harukas held the title of Japan’s tallest building for nearly a decade until it was surpassed by the Mori JP Tower at Azabudai Hills in Tokyo in 2023. Now recognized as the tallest building in Western Japan, it stands 300 meters tall with 60 floors, housing the Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel, office spaces, Kintetsu Department Store, an art museum, and a subway station.
It is easily accessible by train, and floors 58 through 60 serve as observation decks featuring an open-air courtyard in the center—perfect for photography.
From above, you can see the intricate network of JR and Kintetsu railway lines below.
Keitakuen Garden and Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts
Shitennoji Temple
Nagai Stadium
The central area across all three levels of the observation deck is open-air, which isn’t very pleasant on rainy days. Seating is available around the perimeter where visitors can dine, and the food prices are surprisingly affordable.
Since our hotel was located in Shinsaibashi, we took some time to explore the Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori areas before heading back. The commercial district is highly developed and extremely crowded, filled with tourists from all over. One advantage is that the entire Shinsaibashi shopping arcade is covered, so rain isn’t an issue; however, the downside is the overwhelming crowds—it feels just like Nanjing Road—and popular restaurants often have long queues. Fortunately, if you venture slightly into the side streets, you’ll find plenty of dining options with far fewer people.
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