Tsutenkaku
Tsutenkaku, The 103 M Tower That Rises Over Shinsekai In South Osaka, First Built In 1912 And Rebuilt In 1956, With An Observation Deck And A Lucky Billiken Statue To Touch. Best At Night When Its Lights Show The Weather, And Surrounded By Fried Skewer Shops. · Osaka, Osaka
Tsutenkaku is the tower that rises over Shinsekai, an old entertainment quarter in south Osaka. The first tower went up in 1912 and is said to have been modelled on the Eiffel Tower, with a neighbouring amusement park styled on Luna Park - confirm. It was taken down in 1943 and the present tower, about 103 m tall, was built in 1956 - confirm. The observation deck sits at roughly 91 m and is small, crowded and plain compared with newer Osaka towers. Its real draw is the character: a statue of Billiken, the god of things as they ought to be, whose foot visitors rub for luck, and neon that is often said to change colour with tomorrow's forecast - confirm. Below, Shinsekai is known for kushikatsu, deep-fried skewers, and for the rule against double-dipping in the shared sauce. The district is old and rough at the edges, so take care at night. It suits a short, lively stop of an hour or two before or after dinner, and it is not a view to cross the city for. Osaka has many better skylines, but few with this much street life.
1-18-6 Ebisu-higashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka, a short walk from Ebisucho or Dobutsuen-mae Station in the Shinsekai district, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
The observation deck is commonly open from about 10:00 into the evening, often until around 20:00 with last entry a little earlier - confirm, and expect changes by season and for maintenance. It is usually open every day, with occasional closures. The tower is a short walk from Ebisucho Station on the Sakaisuji Line, from Dobutsuen-mae Station, or from Shin-Imamiya, and IC cards work on the trains. Tickets are bought at the base and no booking is normally needed, though queues build at weekends and in the evening. Bring some cash for the skewer shops in the streets around, as small places may not take cards.