HARUKAS 300: Why Osaka’s Highest Observatory Is Worth a Look

Osaka is known for street food, shopping, and comedy, so whether you spend your time weaving through the crowds of Namba and Dotonbori or navigating the labyrinth of shopping malls in Umeda, it’s a down-to-earth city with plenty to offer travelers. What most visitors miss out on experiencing, however, is Osaka at its most beautiful. For that, you’ll have to head 300 meters into the air and discover Osaka’s best views at the highest observatory in Kansai: ABENO HARUKAS.

The HARUKAS 300 observatory sits atop 57 floors of shopping, dining, art galleries, offices, and accommodations, perched high in the sky above Osaka to offer visitors a unique perspective (literally) from what was once Japan’s tallest building. The space is famous for its 360° floor-to-ceiling windows, and these crystal-clear portals not only offer views of the whole city, but even give keen-eyed visitors a chance to spy the furthest reaches of Kansai! A trip to Osaka can be a whirlwind, but when you’re ready to relax and take it all in, it’s time to visit HARUKAS 300.

Fortunately, ABENO HARUKAS is located along the central axis of the city, which means you can not only look out over the city’s busiest neighborhoods, but easily move between them, too. Whether you want to plan a day shopping in Umeda, taking pictures with the Glico man on Dotonbori in Namba, or feasting on Osaka specialties in Shinsekai, the location makes HARUKAS 300 observatory easy to slot into your busy itinerary, and the direct underground connection to Tennoji/Osaka Abenobashi Station means you don’t even have to go outside on hot summer afternoons or chilly winter evenings! The observatory is an obvious addition to just about any trip to Japan – we’ve put together some of our favorite ways to enjoy HARUKAS 300 below, so you don’t miss a thing!

HARUKAS 300 Observatory (ハルカス300 展望台)
ABENO HARUKAS 58~60F, 1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno Ward, Osaka
→ Entrance on the 16th floor.
Hours: 9:00 – 22:00 | Final entrance at 21:30.
Directions: directly connected to Tennoji Station (JR Osaka Loop Line, Hanwa Line, Yamatoji Line / Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, Tanimachi Line) and Osaka Abenobashi Station (Kintetsu Minami Osaka Line)
→ 7 min from Namba, 15 min from Umeda, 21 min from Shin-Osaka, 43 min from Kyoto!
Official Website (en) | Ticket Info

What to Do at HARUKAS 300: Photo-Taking Fun

Float Over the City of Osaka

HARUKAS 300 feels like a palace of glass, with floor-to-ceiling windows in every single direction to make it seem like all of Osaka is at your fingertips. But what you might not realize is that in some places, those windows don’t just meet the floors and ceiling, but go far above your head and beneath your very feet. Search for the observatory’s glass floors to embrace the sense of floating high above the streets below – it almost feels like you’re about to take off and fly out over Osaka!

Get All the Best Snapshots

There’s something to be said for taking a moment to soak up the spectacular views, but when you’re ready to start snapping photos, there are plenty of tempting options. Travelers who like a good commemorative photo will want to stop by the heart-shaped frame on the 58th floor, as well as the designated photo spot on the 60th floor, where you can get a professional picture taken (it’s 1,500 yen for a nice print).

If you’re more interested in the city all around you, you can keep an eye out for famous landmarks around the observatory, which are especially easy to catch through the lens of a camera. Tsutenkaku Tower is clearly visible, located nearby in Shinsekai, but if you have good eyes (or use the binoculars), you can also spot Osaka Castle, Kansai Airport, Kobe’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, or as far as Kyoto Tower!

Climb Your Way Up to the Heliport Tour

Ready for something really exhilarating? If you’re willing to climb the extra stairs, then you can join a tour and head up to the very top of ABENO HARUKAS to spend a few minutes on the helipad. A full 300 meters above the city streets below, with the open air above you and Osaka stretching out in every direction, your time on the roof of the building feels like a visit to the roof of the world. The tours run every 50 minutes and require a special reservation*, but if you like high places, the heliport is worth a visit.

^{*Reservations are an additional 1,500 yen, and can be made at the information counter on the 60th floor.}

What to Do at HARUKAS 300: Low-Key Relaxation

Watch the Sun Set Over Osaka Bay

Who says you need to DO anything at all to enjoy your time at HARUKAS 300? With plenty of seating available in the open-air Sky Garden (天空庭園) on the 58th floor, we recommend finding a comfy chair and watching the sun sink into the sea. Perfection.

Sip Drinks at the Sky Garden 300

If you’d prefer to relax with some refreshments, the observatory’s cafe Sky Garden 300 can also be found on the 58th floor, offering guests a variety of drinks and snacks. Sit out in the open air of the Sky Garden, or stay inside to avoid the heat or cold as you admire the view on the other side of the glass.

Some of the most popular items on the menu include sweet treats like the Abeno Soft Cream or Abeno Pancake, paired with themed drinks like the Sky-Blue or Sunset Latte (ramune-yogurt and strawberry, respectively). But they also have basic options like tea and coffee, as well as a variety of heartier meals, from pasta to Japanese katsu curry. Keep an eye out for fun limited-edition items on the menu, too!

Celebrate the Season in the Open Air

Since the Sky Garden is open to the elements, it’s a great place to get a breath of fresh air and enjoy good weather, and the observatory uses the space as a venue for a variety of seasonal events. During the summer, you can reserve a spot to join a Japanese-style barbecue held on the wooden deck! In the colder months of the year, you can indulge in the luxury of one of Japan’s best inventions: the kotatsu.

These tables come with their own space heaters and heavy comforters to keep your whole lower half warm and cozy, even in the dead of winter, and HARUKAS 300 has a whole row of them for guests! You can reserve a meal of oden or shabu-shabu ahead of time, and arrive to enjoy a traditional evening of hot-pot under the kotatsu – surrounded by super-modern glass walls and breathtaking views.

Travel Tips: Get the Most Out of Your Visit

Visit Japan’s Coolest Bathrooms

We all know that Japan’s bathrooms are shockingly clean and the toilets are full of fancy features, but if you’re looking to visit the coolest bathrooms throughout Japan, we’d like to propose the ones on the 59th floor of ABENO HARUKAS as candidates. Between the sleek fittings, the light flooding in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the unbeatable backdrop, you’re all set to take the best bathroom selfies of your life.

Fall in Love with ABENOBEA at the Gift Shop

For all of us on the Japankuru team, it feels a little like we’ve been burying the lede, because one of our favorite things about HARUKAS 300 was getting to meet ABENOBEA – the observatory’s very own bear-shaped mascot.

You might have already noticed this cool character in the photos above, with his heavy-lidded eyes, perky ears, and dreamy sky-themed patterning – we certainly couldn’t take our eyes off ABENOBEA when we saw him arriving to greet guests during our visit.

You’ll have to get lucky to see ABENOBEA in person (or check his schedule), but you can always go find his merch at the SHOP HARUKAS 300 on the 59th floor. The gift shop has some normal souvenirs with photos of the building and the beautiful view, but it’s also jam-packed with ABENOBEA goods, from fluffy stuffed toys and little bear-shaped pouches to pins, magnets, pens, stickers, mugs, bowls, and themed snacks and candy (default souvenirs for locals in Japan). There are even ABENOBEA omikuji fortunes that come with cute charms, and an ABENOBEA-themed purikura photo booth. There’s a lot for new ABENOBEA fans to enjoy, alongside some nice items for anyone who just wants a memento of their visit to Kansai’s tallest building.

Explore the Illuminated Garden on the Way Out

Don’t forget to stop into the free-to-enter garden on the 16th floor before you go! During the winter, this little open-air green space is illuminated after dark, so it’s a lovely treat after watching the sun set from the observatory above – the perfect finale to your visit to HARUKAS 300!

See Some of Kansai’s Best Views From Your New Favorite Osaka Relaxation Spot

If you’ve ever wished you could fly high above the streets of Osaka, a visit to HARUKAS 300 is about as close as you’ll get without wings (or a pilot’s license). On top of the spectacular surroundings, the observatory offers unique activities like VR bungee jumping, and frequently works with popular anime series and Japanese celebrities for fun collab events, so there’s always something new to see! When your trip to Osaka is starting to feel a little too fast-paced, a visit to HARUKAS 300 is a lovely way to slow down and get your bearings. Between the sweeping 360° city views, the Sky Garden’s open-air seating, and little extras like seasonal events and the 16th-floor garden on the way out, it’s the kind of destination that offers relaxation without taking a whole day from your trip to Osaka!

▶︎ Find more tips for your full Osaka travel itinerary here!

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