6 best rooftop gardens in Osaka to relax and enjoy free city views

Osaka Station is a major transport hub and one of the city's busiest places, so you'd be forgiven for rushing through the massive station building without paying much attention to it. But if you're in need of a break from the frenzy, you don't actually need to leave the station at all.

The Osaka Station City complex is home to three green spaces, all located on the North Gate Building: a traditional Japanese garden (Yawaragi no Niwa), a rooftop farm with its own vineyard and rice paddy, and a terrace with plenty of seating and views across the northern cityscape and Mt Rokko in the distance.

The largest of these, the Kaze no Hiroba (literally ‘wind plaza’) terrace, connects to the 11th floor of Lucua Mall. There’s even a FamilyMart, so you can grab a bento or some beer and otsumami (snacks to go with alcohol) to enjoy while relaxing in the breeze and taking in the city views.

For an even greater sense of peace, take the stairs from the 11th floor up to Tenku no Noen (meaning ‘sky farm’). The calm of this compact but fruitful farm feels like a world away from the streets below. Take a seat on one of the benches and watch the gardeners tend to seasonal flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Yawaragi no Niwa, 7am–11pm daily; Kaze no Hiroba, 7am–12midnight daily; Tenku no Noen, 10am–6pm daily.

When you think of architectural extravagance, it’s not usually a mall that comes to mind, but this one might just change that. The award-winning Namba Parks is a sight to behold: an open-air central concourse runs the length of the building, carving a canyon through eight floors of fashion, entertainment, lifestyle, cosmetics and dining.

Above it lies an expansive, multi-level rooftop garden featuring mini jungles, rock gardens, streams and even waterfalls. From here, you can take in views of the lively streets of Namba, all from the serenity of a green space that’s home to more than 400 plant species and countless spots to take a breather. From lawns, benches, cafés and restaurants to a co-working space with wifi and power outlets on the seventh floor, the garden shifts from meditative to majestic in an instant.

Namba Park’s rooftop is especially beautiful in summer, when the greens are lush and there are plenty of shaded corners to retreat to. It’s also well worth visiting at night, when it’s illuminated to stunning effect from sunset to midnight, making it a great spot for an evening stroll, even in winter.

10am–12midnight daily

Abeno Harukas is best known for the Harukas 300 observation deck on the 58th through 60th floors and its namesake art museum on the 16th floor. What it's less known for are its two rooftop gardens: a plaza-style garden on the 10th floor of the Kintetsu Department Store, and a smaller, glass-walled terrace on the 16th floor.

The 10th-floor Kintetsu garden features a small shrine, flower beds and benches. Located on the same floor as the mall’s restaurants, it’s the perfect place to wait out a reservation, rest your feet after a shopping spree across the mall’s 16 floors, or simply look up and appreciate the scale of Osaka’s tallest building.

The 16th-floor Abeno Harukas garden sits below the observation deck and offers impressive views of central Osaka and Tennoji Park, as well as Mt Ikoma and Mt Kongo to the east. Look closely and you can even make out Osaka Castle holding its own among the high-rises.

This garden closes at 6pm, but to extend your evening, take the elevator to the 19th floor, where you can enjoy a cocktail at the Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel bar while watching Osaka Bay twinkle under the night sky. If you’re on a budget, pick up a drink from the FamilyMart on the 17th floor to enjoy with the view before the garden closes.

Abeno Harukas garden, 10am–6pm daily; Kintetsu garden, 10am–8pm daily

The Osaka OCAT building may be best known as a bus terminal – Western Japan’s biggest, in fact – but it also hides a well-kept secret. Atop its roof lies a 3,300sqm garden focused on fragrance. Here, you’ll find lavender, rosemary, thyme and other aromatic herbs, alongside 200 species of trees and 10,000 plants. In fact, half of the rooftop serves as a community farm, where residents rent allotments and take part in urban farming tutorials.

While the floors below see passengers coming and going from across the country and commuters grabbing a bite after a long day, the rooftop offers a serene escape – perfect for waiting for a bus or taking a break from navigating the city. More often than not, you’ll find the garden quiet, with just a handful of people eating, waiting or simply basking in the greenery.

9am–5pm daily

The Hankyu Umeda department store’s rooftop plaza on the 13th floor may not offer the sweeping views of other rooftop gardens, but it makes up for it with convenience. Located in the heart of Osaka, directly above Osaka-Umeda Station, this elevated garden features a relaxing space with seating, shade, restrooms and vending machines.

It shares the floor with several restaurants that overlook the plaza, allowing diners to enjoy a meal beside the garden greenery. Alternatively, you can bring your own bento to eat outdoors. It’s an ideal spot to escape the sprawling shopping madness below.

From May to October, the rooftop also hosts a beer garden (pictured above). This market-style pop-up offers a selection of all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink options under the city lights, with views over Osaka Station.

Rooftop garden, 10am–10pm daily; seasonal beer garden, 5pm–10pm daily, weather depending

Grand Green Osaka has transformed the railyard neighbouring Osaka Station into a chic, expansive cultural and commercial complex. One of its key features, the sprawling Umekita Park, fully opened earlier this year in March. This lush 11-acre park is home to concert halls, hot springs, water fountains and art installations.

For views of the park, the surrounding cityscape and the iconic Umeda Sky Building, head to the terrace garden on the 9th floor of Grand Front Osaka’s South Building. At night, illuminations across the park and its water features create a magical atmosphere, especially when seen from the garden’s elevated vantage point.

Much like the Hankyu rooftop garden, this space is designed for convenience. Book a table for dinner or drinks at one of the terrace’s restaurants and bars, or grab a coffee and snack from the many cafés, bakeries and delicatessens on the floors below.

11am–9pm daily