Unspecified/General

From the top of Abeno Harukas, the tallest skyscraper in Japan, the observation complex known as Harukas 300 gives one of the most expansive views in the country across the sprawl of Osaka and far beyond. The building rises three hundred metres in the Tennoji and Abeno district in the south of the city and was completed in 2014, taking the title of Japan's highest building from earlier rivals and combining a department store, offices, an art museum and a hotel beneath the viewing floors. The observatory occupies the top three storeys, reached by a glass-walled lift that climbs swiftly to the sixtieth floor, where a glazed gallery wraps all the way around the tower and offers an uninterrupted panorama in every direction, taking in the grid of the city, Osaka Bay, the surrounding mountains and, on a clear day, distant Kyoto and Awaji Island. An open-air inner courtyard two floors below lets visitors feel the wind at height, and a cafe and bar allow a drink with the view. The design plays on light and reflection, and after dark the city spreads out as a carpet of lights, making sunset and evening especially popular times to ascend. Events, seasonal displays and a small shop add to the experience. Set directly above Tennoji station, one of the major transport hubs of Osaka, and easily reached by train and subway from across the region, with timed tickets sold on site and online, Harukas 300 is among the leading viewpoints in western Japan and a natural high point of a visit to the city. The building takes its name, Harukas, from an old Japanese word meaning to brighten or clear up, a fitting choice for a tower whose chief gift is its luminous outlook over the city. Below the observatory the complex functions as a complete urban destination, with one of the largest department stores in the country, an art museum showing changing exhibitions, restaurants and a hotel occupying its many floors, so that a trip to the top can be combined with shopping, dining or culture. Visitors often remark on the sense of openness given by the all-glass galleries and the airy inner court, and the staff stage seasonal events and light displays that change the mood of the deck through the year. Because Tennoji is a little south of the main tourist districts, the building also offers a convenient gateway to the temples and parks of that part of the city. With its combination of record-breaking height, panoramic views and a wealth of attractions beneath, Harukas 300 has become one of the signature modern sights of Osaka.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno-ku, Keihanshin, Japan

Website: https://www.abenoharukas-300.jp

Opening Date: 07/03/2014