Osaka landmark and the main attraction of west Ueda

This building is an Osaka landmark and the main attraction of west Ueda. Its two towers, connected by a glass-enclosed escalator, and forty storeys high and feature indoor and out door observatories. The outdoor, open-air observatory on the top o the buildings, known as the "Floating Garden observatory" is at an elevation of 170 meters and offers a stunning view of Osaka, the surrounding suburbs, and even awaji island. The observatory becomes packed on the morning of New Year's Day when people crowd on top to watch the first sunset of the year. Many events are he'd in and around the building and the basement floor has a food court that re-created the atmosphere of Osaka of the early twentieth century. The building itself, designed by architect Hiroshi Hara, is marvel to look at from either far away or up close.


text / ELIE INOUE