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My Style ~ My Journey ~ My Inspiration

JapanOsakaTravel

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

by kumamonjeng March 8, 2019
written by kumamonjeng March 8, 2019
Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

When I reached Osaka I wanted to do something different, I don’t want to see the castle or shrines or temples anymore as I have seen quite a few in Kyoto and Nara. So I choose to visit Umeda Sky Buiding. It is one of the unique modern building in Japan which was completed in 1993; consists of two 40 story towers. The architect is Hara Hiroshi who also designed Kyoto Station. So you may find some similarities for these buildings.

Entering Osaka with Our Rental Car

When we arrived in Osaka city, I thought it will be very congested but to my surprise, there weren’t many cars at all near Unemda Sky Building.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Approaching the Umeda Sky Building

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Glass Domed Elevator

The Elevator will bring you to Level 35 then you have to switch to the glass-domed elevators up to level 39 to purchase the entry ticket.  This glass domed elevator is super unique and super long, feel like boarding a spaceship.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

40th Floor

If you don’t want to pay, you can go up to the 39th floor, it is free but there is no 360-degree unblocked view.  Part of the view was blocked.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Purchase your ticket from the machine

  • 1500 yen USD 13.40 for adult
  • 700 yen USD 6.30 for children (up to primary school)

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Floating Garden Observatory

According to the British newspaper The Times, Umeda Sky Building is one of the “Top 20 Buildings Around the World”. The two towers, East and West are connected at the top by the circular Floating Garden Observatory.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Osaka Skyline

Inside, you will see the panoramic view from the top of Yodo river, bridges, the sunset of Osaka city. The Osaka city skyline is incredibly stunning. What amazed me the most is the countless bridges connecting both sides of Yodo river.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Why there are so many bridges in Yodo River?

Osaka’s waterways are very important in the city’s economic history. Until about 1925 there were more than 1600 bridges in Osaka but only 850 bridges remain now, no wonder Osaka has the nickname of “Venice of Japan”

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Japan infrastructure

I spent some times counting the bridges from far left to the right.  So many of them side by side in one river.  Do they need that many?  Japan has one of the best infrastructures in the world and their bridges (600,000 in whole Japan ) and tunnels can be seen everywhere in the whole of Japan.  Question is do they really need that many?

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Much of the road infrastructure, such as bridges were constructed in the 1960s and 70s.  Maintaining this infrastructure is a big challenge.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Open Air Rooftop

You can also go out to the open-air rooftop, it is an observatory deck where you can walk outside. Please be warned of strong wind but with no glass window at all.  Due to typhoon Jebi, the open-air rooftop was closed during my visit.

Spotted an area for helicopter deck. (below picture)

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Cafe Sky 40

There is a cafe to get some drinks and snacks. There are plenty of spots to sit down or look out in a different direction.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Exhibition Room

There is a small exhibition room to show you the little model of Umeda Sky Building structure.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

The little model of Umeda Sky Building

This is how it looks like from the top of the Umeda Sky Building.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

19th Tallest Building in Osaka

At 173 meter high, the Umeda Sky Building is the 19th tallest building in Osaka, I am quite surprised it is not the tallest. However, it still has one of the most stunning skylines of Osaka. The building is used for office space.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Umeda Sky Building Gallery Shop

Get your souvenirs here if you need to buy something.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Catching the long capsule down to the 35th floor then switch to lift and go down to the parking lot at the basement.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Parking at Basement

I thought the parking cost a bomb in Umeda Sky Building but it is not at all. We paid 500 yen (USD 4.50) for slightly over an hour. The fee is 15 mins for 100 yen (USD 0.90).

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

Final thoughts:

If you wanted to check out the skyline of Osaka city, Umeda Sky Building is a good choice.  Go up to the 40th floor and enjoy the open-air sky garden.  The wind can be very strong so please be prepared.  Oh yes, the “glass domed elevator” is an interesting ride up too.

What do I like about Umeda Sky Building?

I have a good look at the infrastructure from the top and most importantly it made me wonder why there are so many bridges in Yodo river?  Seriously I think there are overbuilt.

Best Skyline from Osaka Umeda Sky Building Rooftop Floating Garden!

 

 

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"Venice of JapanBridges in OsakaCafe Sky 40Capsule to SpaceshipFloating Garden ObservatoryGlass Domed ElevatorHara Hiroshihelicopter deckJapan expertJapan infrastructurekansai itineraryKansai Self driveOpen Air RooftopOsaka skylineOsaka's waterwaysParking at Umeda Sky buildingUmeda Sky BuildingUmeda Sky Building Gallery ShopYodo River梅田スカイビル淀川
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30 comments

Ben Butler March 8, 2019 - 5:46 pm

That looks so amazing. I would love to get up there and take in the view one day.

Reply
Holly Southern March 8, 2019 - 7:36 pm

I love architecture, so cool buildings are kinda my jam. This one looks so unique and being able to enjoy that view??? YES, please!!!

Reply
ChelseaMamma March 9, 2019 - 8:04 am

OMG, those views are incredible, just WOW!!!

Reply
Joanna March 9, 2019 - 3:05 pm

When I travel I do love to go and see the panorama of a city from an observation deck. The rooftop from Umeda Sky Building looks amazing and you were lucky to visit on such a sunny day. Interesting to learn about the infrastructure of Japan and how they have so many bridges over rivers.

Reply
kumamonjeng March 19, 2019 - 12:44 am

Dear Joanna,

You are right, the weather is good and the sky is clear when I went up to check on the Osaka skyline. The only downside is the open air garden was closed for maintenance due to the recent typhoon Jebi.

Reply
Lyosha Varezhkina March 9, 2019 - 5:18 pm

looks beautiful! Osaka is such a lovely place the high up places (and not)

Reply
John Mulindi March 9, 2019 - 8:39 pm

The photos are just so beautiful! This I think is a nice place to visit. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
preet March 10, 2019 - 1:50 am

This place is a must! this will surely be added on my bucket list. thankyou for sharing this

Reply
Kalyan Panja March 10, 2019 - 2:17 am

The more I see of Osaka the more I get amazed. Nice reading your post.

Reply
Beth Pierce March 10, 2019 - 2:47 am

I still get amazed of all the structures we have built in the last century. This is no exception! It reminds me of being in airplane and looking down on a city from so high up; it almost doesn’t look real! The views are spectacular!

Reply
kumamonjeng March 19, 2019 - 1:02 am

Dear Beth,

You are totally right, it is like being in airplane except this is not moving.

Reply
Sara Welch March 10, 2019 - 2:49 am

Wow, those views are insane! I have such a terrible fear of heights, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy this, but I sure love looking at your photos!

Reply
kumamonjeng March 19, 2019 - 1:07 am

Dear Sara,

Umeda sky building is not as high compared to the Taiwan 101 tower. That one is even scarier. I remembered the wind at the top observatory at Taiwan 101 can blow you away.

Reply
Rachael March 10, 2019 - 8:38 am

This looks amazing. I always love going to the highest building in any city, those views are stunning,

Reply
TheSuperMomLife March 10, 2019 - 3:57 pm

Wow! Some of those views are amazing. I love taking pictures of things like this too.

Reply
Lisa March 10, 2019 - 5:36 pm

What a great building to visit in Osaka. It’s my dream to visit Japan, and I’m adding this to the list for when I do visit. Very interesting fact about the bridges there too.

Reply
kumamonjeng March 19, 2019 - 1:01 am

Dear Lisa,

We took an elevator from the basement car park the thirty-fifth floor before riding a spectacular 45-meter long escalator that seems to hang in mid-air. The escalator seems to be the best part of this trip. The view was stunning as you get the see the whole skyline of Osaka and yes the bridges, there are just too many of them and make one wonder why.

Reply
sincerelymissj March 10, 2019 - 6:40 pm

That is def. a beautiful skyline. I have never visited Osaka but Japan is def. on my bucket list to travel

Reply
kumamonjeng March 19, 2019 - 12:45 am

Osaka is the second largest cities in Japan. The city has quite a lot to offer, including food and culture.

Reply
Yeah Lifestyle March 10, 2019 - 8:37 pm

I love photography and Osaka looks like my kind of place where I can enjoy taking photos of its beautiful buildings and lines

Reply
kumamonjeng March 19, 2019 - 12:54 am

The architecture of Umeda Sky Building is stunning, especially at the top of Observatory garden. It was largely assembled at ground level before being hoisted to a height of 173 meters and fixed into place.

Reply
Irina March 10, 2019 - 9:18 pm

The glass elevator was so cool. Love all of your pictures. Id love to visit Osaka.

Reply
kumamonjeng March 19, 2019 - 12:46 am

Dear Irina,

The glass elevator is one of the interesting features to go up the top. I love the ride, really cool.

Reply
Catherine March 10, 2019 - 10:54 pm

What an incredible view of the city. I don’t know if I would have the courage to go all the way up there though!

Reply
kumamonjeng March 19, 2019 - 12:48 am

Dear Catherine,

The open-air garden would be scarier to look down from the top, the wind is super strong too.

Reply
Bev March 11, 2019 - 7:59 am

I totally love the view from the top, what a beautiful view of the city. And the prices are so good, very affordable.

Reply
Jane March 11, 2019 - 11:55 am

Some awesome photos and views! Will have to check this out next time I’m in Osaka.

Reply
kumamonjeng March 19, 2019 - 12:56 am

Dear Jane,

Umeda Sky Building floating garden is also a great location for making a proposal for the couples.

Reply
Allie March 11, 2019 - 3:43 pm

this is a major bucket list item! Just being in Japan, thanks so much for a lovely must see tip!

Reply
kumamonjeng March 19, 2019 - 12:50 am

Dear Allie,

Umeda Sky Building is a modern skyscraper in Osaka, I was a bit tired of visiting the castles and temples & shrines so make it a change to visit the modern part of Japan.

Reply

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About Me

I am the travel writer for Thinkerten. I lived in Japan, Australia, Malaysia and now based in Singapore. Speak 4 languages, Japanese, English, Malay, and Chinese. There are the many types of travels one can experience and mine are mostly focus on self-driving/road trip to explore the places I wanted to see and learn about. Only if you get out of your country, you will see the real you and understand more about yourself, to realize of your own identity, your own culture, and your root.

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