What other travelers are saying about Umeda Sky Building
Pros:
• Stunning city views from the rooftop especially around sunset.
• Unique architecture and a memorable skywalk at the top.
• Good location near Umeda Station.
Cons:
• The main elevator line gets extremely long.
• Staff offer an alternative route to the top that many people avoid because it does not include the glass elevator ride. In reality this option is much faster and not worse at all. I waited around five minutes instead of thirty and did not feel I missed anything because the rooftop is what matters most. You take the elevator down anyway so the experience is still complete.
Overall:
A great observation spot in Osaka and worth visiting if you choose the faster route offered by staff during busy hours.
The scenery here is lovely, and the architecture is absolutely striking. I especially liked the transparent escalator — such a cool design. It’s also a great spot to watch the sunset, with beautiful views as the sky changes colors. Inside the exhibition area, there’s a section introducing the architecture itself, and it’s definitely worth checking out.
Grab a drink, sit back, and enjoy the high-altitude view — it’s a wonderfully relaxing experience.
This is a must do in Osaka for the views alone. I pre booked my tickets on the Klook app, which I highly recommend. It was almost instant, and I just showed the QR code at the entrance. Even though it's a super famous tourist spot, the line was flowing and the staff were really efficient at moving everyone along. I timed my visit to arrive just before sunset, which was the perfect move. Just be prepared, it got packed very quickly around that time as everyone wants to see that golden hour glow.
The view from the open air deck is absolutely stunning. You get an amazing 360 degree look at all of Osaka as the sun goes down and the city lights start to sparkle. It was awesome that you can stay up there as long as you want and just soak it all in. A quick tip: there's a cafe on the floor just below the top deck if you get hungry or want a drink. Also, just know that once you decide to leave and go down to the bottom floor, you can't go back up.
When I visited, I also caught the German Christmas Market happening on the ground floor right below the building. It was such a nice surprise and a perfect way to end the evening, grabbing some festive treats after seeing the incredible city view. It made the whole experience even more magical.
A really nice 360 view of the city especially at night with an interesting building architecture to explore. Otherwise, it is pretty crowded. There's a cafe area up top indoors if you want to just grab a seat and take in the skyline. The top floor is outdoors and has uv lights to highlight certain colors.
Although many people say the view from Umeda Tower is stunning, I personally feel it isn’t that high, so the scenery isn’t as impressive as I expected. You can definitely find better views from higher spots in Osaka.
When I visited, the crowd was huge and the queue for the lift was very long. I ended up spending quite a lot of time just waiting to go up. For me, the time spent in the queue didn’t really match the view I got at the top.
However, the escalator leading up to the observation area is quite unique and beautiful—something I haven’t seen in other places. So that’s definitely a bonus point for visiting.
Overall, it’s nice—but not that amazing from above.
Umeda Sky Building is famous for its unique architecture and the spectacular Floating Garden Observatory on its rooftop. The building features two 40-story towers connected at their uppermost floors by a circular platform, offering panoramic views of Osaka. Its distinctive design and the breathtaking views it offers make it a popular attraction for both tourists and locals, especially for those looking to enjoy a skyline view of the city.
To reach the Umeda Sky Building escalator, which leads to the Floating Garden Observatory, first, make your way to the Umeda district in Osaka. The building is within walking distance from Osaka and Umeda Stations. Once you're at the Umeda Sky Building, you'll find the escalators inside that connect the two towers. These escalators are enclosed in a glass tube, offering a unique experience as you ascend between the towers.
The Umeda Sky Building itself is not open air, but the Floating Garden Observatory at the top offers an open-air viewing platform. This allows visitors to step outside and enjoy the fresh air along with a 360-degree view of Osaka from 173 meters above the ground. It's an ideal spot for photography and to take in the urban landscape.
Umeda Sky Building stands at 173 meters (568 feet) tall. It's one of the most recognizable landmarks in Osaka's skyline, known for its futuristic design and impressive height that offers sweeping views of the city from its observatory.
Umeda Sky Building consists of two 40-story towers that are connected at the top by the Floating Garden Observatory. In addition to the office and commercial spaces within the towers, the building's uppermost floors are dedicated to the observatory and related amenities, providing visitors with a unique and memorable experience above the city.
