No visit to Osaka is complete without a stroll through Shinsekai, a quintessentially Osakan district known for its yokocho (restaurant alleys), kushikatsu izakaya (pubs specialising in deep-fried skewers) and retro – some say kitschy – decorations. Standing tall as the neighbourhood landmark is the 103-metre Tsutenkaku tower.. Built in 1912 for one of Japan’s first amusement facilities, Luna Park, the steel structure remains a symbol of the city.
Catch some iconic Osaka views at the fifth-floor Tenbo Paradise, a 91-metre-high open-air deck (an additional ¥500). Instead of gazing at the horizon, thrill seekers can stand on the transparent floor at Tip the Tsutenkaku. There’s also a club-inspired observation deck on the fourth floor, complete with disco balls and neon lights. For a change of pace, the Tsutenkaku Garden is a natural respite from the concrete jungle. Located 26 metres above ground, the traditional landscaped garden is free to enter.
The tower is home to the Eight Deities of Good Fortune, including Billiken-san, an American good luck charm that became popular in Japan in the early twentieth century and is now an unofficial mascot of Osaka.