Umeda Sky Building

What this place is

The Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル, Umeda Sukai Biru) is a two-tower mixed-use skyscraper in Osaka, Japan. Located on the outskirts of the Umeda business district in Kita-ku, Osaka, the Umeda Sky Building consists of two 40-story towers interconnected at their two uppermost stories via glass bridges with escalators and elevators that cross an open atrium space. It is currently the fifteenth-tallest building in the prefecture. The towers reach a total height of 170 m (557.74 ft) while the overall height of the tower including the spires is 190 metres (623.4 ft). The towers were designed by Hiroshi Hara, and were constructed by Takenaka Corporation They were completed in 1993.

Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル) is one of the standout places to visit in Osaka. Give yourself unhurried time for photos, seasonal views, and nearby food stops. IC cards such as Suica, Pasmo, or ICOCA cover most trains and city buses.

Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Why it is worth the trip

An observation deck that lays out the whole city or valley in one sweep.

Sunset and blue hour, when the lights come on and the view changes completely within 20 minutes.

Glass floors, open-air decks or cafés built into the deck so you can linger rather than snap and leave.

What you can do here

Go up about 40 minutes before sunset to see the view in daylight, dusk and darkness on one ticket.

Pick out the landmarks using the directional panels around the windows.

Have a drink or dessert at the deck café and take the view slowly.

Send a postcard or get the commemorative stamp — most decks still have both.

Photos