The Tsutenkaku observation tower is the symbol of Osaka's iconic Shinsekai district. Right next door is the coiled snake-like TOWER SLIDER, which just opened in May 2022.
The 60-meter slide runs from 22 meters above ground into a basement, and takes just 10 seconds to descend! We visited the TOWER SLIDER to discover just how thrilling it really is!
What Is Tsutenkaku?
A 3-minute walk from Ebisucho Station on the Osaka Metro.
Shinsekai is one of the most popular sightseeing destinations in Osaka. In 1912, a steel tower was erected in the style of the Eiffel Tower over an imitation of the Arc de Triomphe. Being 64 meters tall, it was the largest of its kind in Asia, and was thus named "Tsutenkaku," meaning "connecting to the heavens."
It was unfortunately destroyed in fire but was rebuilt after much demand from locals in 1956. To this day, it stands as a beloved symbol of Osaka. The second-generation Tsutenkaku is 103 meters, making it 39 meters taller than the original.
Tsutenkaku can be easily reached after a 3-minute walk from Ebisucho Station on the Osaka Metro. From the #3 Exit, it'll appear before your eyes, making it impossible to get lost.
Tsutenkaku has 5 floors and a basement (the springboard observation deck is outside). On the 5th floor, you can witness jaw-dropping panoramic views of Osaka, and see the statue of Billiken, which is said to bring luck when you touch the soles of its feet. The other floors hold a variety of shopping facilities.
Being one of Osaka's most famous attractions, the tower remains open at night and beautifully illuminated, allowing for views of the Osakan cityscape after dark. The round neon lights at the top also serve as a weather forecasting station, revealing tomorrow's weather through a combination of colors.
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TOWER SLIDER – Tsutenkaku's Newest Attraction!
The slide is tubed-shaped, with one and a half turns around the elevator tower.
The 60-meter-long "TOWER SLIDER" runs down the east elevator tower in a spiral shape from the middle observation deck on the 3rd floor of Tsutenkaku into the first basement floor. It's designed to make Tsutenkaku into a more interactive and fun experience, rather than just a simple observation tower.
The ride entrance has support pillars, and can be used safely as an evacuation route in the event of an earthquake or other disaster. It is also seismically isolated with a spring-out structure, making it extraordinarily safe.
It costs 1,000 yen for high school students to those aged 65, and 500 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Only those between elementary school age and 65 can ride, and junior …
