Umeda Sky Building

A bird's eye view of Osaka.

Quick Look

Photography
Scenic
Free

About

Umeda Sky Building Observatory is a skyscraper that offers an unmatched view of the Osaka cityscape. Best known for it's unique twin tower architecture, it's beautiful 360 outdoor deck at the top, it definitely lives up to it's name as being a castle in the sky.

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Must Do's

  • Head to the second floor to get an unobstructed, outside view of the Osaka Cityscape

Rating

cost

4

/5

accessibility

5

/5

uniqueness

4

/5

*Learn more about my rating system here.

Cost

With a ticket costing only around ~1500 yen, I’d say it’s very affordable compared to other skyscrapers (generally more than ~2000yen). Given the amazing view it offers, I’d definitely say it’s worth the price!

Accessibility

Super accessible, as it’s right in the city center. Get off at Umeda Station or Osaka Station and walk for around ~8 minutes to arrive.

Uniqueness

Umeda Sky Building stands out to me for one main reason—you’re able to go outdoors and see an unparalleled view of Osaka. Very few skyscrapers offer such a clear, unobstructed view of the city they’re in.

My Experience

Having been up many skyscrapers, such as the CN Tower, Taipei 101, and CapitaSpring, I didn’t have high expectations when my local friend recommended we visit the Umeda Sky Building to enjoy the nightscape. However, it turned out to be quite different from what I expected! Buying a ticket grants you access to two floors. The first is an indoor floor that gives you a 360° view of Osaka. It’s a fascinating scene, but other skyscrapers offer comparable, if not better, indoor views. However, the second floor is something else entirely, it's in a class of it's own! It’s a 360° outdoor deck offering a clear, unobstructed view of the Osaka city; little to no ropes or barriers blocking your sight. The view from the top is as crisp as it gets, and it’s truly amazing. I think the building not being extremely tall actually works in its favor, as it gives you a clearer view of bustling district of Umeda. You can distinctly see the different trains, JR, Nankai operating in various directions and the numerous highways on the skybridges convering into the vicinity. I’d highly recommend going there at night or during sunset, as when I went during the night the view was amazing! There's also not a lot of people as well, so it's easy to get amazing pictures. One line Summary: One of the best views from a skyscraper, the 360 degree outdoor deck makes it worth going!