Tsutenkaku Tower
In 1912, a 75-meter steel tower modeled after the Eiffel Tower was built atop a building inspired by the Arc de Triomphe. It is said that Nangaku Fujisawa, a Confucian scholar from the early Meiji period, named it Tsutenkaku, meaning “a tall building reaching toward heaven.” The original tower was later dismantled following a fire, but strong public demand led to the construction of the current second-generation Tsutenkaku Tower in 1956. Standing 108 meters tall, it is 33 meters higher than the original.
It’s kind of retro and pretty cute. The Shinsekai area around it is lively, with kushikatsu places one after another—perfect for eating and wandering at the same time.
Tsutenkaku itself isn’t that tall, but it’s still fun to go up for the view and rub the Billiken statue for a bit of good luck.
It’s not really a polished, fancy kind of spot, but it feels very down-to-earth. If you want to experience Osaka’s local vibe, it’s a great stop.
