Tsūtenkaku Facts for Kids

Tsūtenkaku, a famous tower in Osaka, Japan.

Tsūtenkaku (which means "Reaching Heaven Tower") is a well-known tower located in Osaka, Japan. It's a famous landmark that also displays advertisements for a company called Hitachi. The tower stands 103 meters (about 338 feet) tall. Its main viewing area, where visitors can look out over the city, is 91 meters (about 299 feet) above the ground. This iconic tower is found in an area called Shinsekai, which is part of Naniwa Ward. A company named Tsūtenkaku Kanko Co., Ltd. is the owner of the tower.

History of Tsūtenkaku
- The First Tower
- The Tower's Demise and Rebuilding
Bright Signs on the Tower
How to Get to Tsūtenkaku
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History of Tsūtenkaku

The Tsūtenkaku you see today is actually the second tower built on this spot.

The First Tower

The very first Tsūtenkaku tower was built in 1912. Its design was inspired by the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. This original tower was 64 meters (about 210 feet) tall. At that time, it was the second tallest building in all of Asia! It quickly became a very popular place for people to visit in Osaka.

The first tower also had a special cable car. This cable car connected the tower to a nearby fun park called Luna Park. Visitors loved riding the cable car and exploring both the tower and the park.

The Tower's Demise and Rebuilding

Sadly, a fire badly damaged the original tower in 1943. Because World War II was happening, the tower was not repaired. Instead, it was taken apart. The steel from the tower was used to make things needed for the war effort.

After the war ended, the people of Osaka really wanted their beloved tower back. So, a private company called Tsūtenkaku Kanko Co. Ltd. was created just to rebuild it. They hired a famous designer named Tachu Naito. He was even called Japan's "Father of Towers" because he designed so many important ones. The new and improved Tsūtenkaku tower officially opened in 1956.

Bright Signs on the Tower

In 1957, the company Hitachi started putting bright neon signs on the Tsūtenkaku tower. These advertisements have usually been updated every five or six years. Hitachi last changed the signs in 2006. Newer signs were planned for 2011. These new signs use LED lights, which are more energy-efficient than the old neon ones. Other lights on the tower also show important information, like the weather forecast.

How to Get to Tsūtenkaku

It's easy to reach Tsūtenkaku using public transportation! Here are some ways:

By Train (JR West): Take the Osaka Loop Line or Yamatoji Line to Shin-Imamiya Station. Use the East Exit, and it's about a 10-minute walk.
By Train (Nankai Railway): Take the Nankai Main Line or Koya Line to Shin-Imamiya Station. Use the East Exit, and it's about a 10-minute walk.
By Subway (Osaka Municipal Subway Sakaisuji Line): Take the brown line to Ebisuchō Station. Use Exit 3, and it's only a 3-minute walk.
By Subway (Osaka Municipal Subway Midosuji Line): Take the red line to Dobutsuen-mae Station. Use Exit 5, and it's about a 10-minute walk.
By Tram (Hankai Tramway): Take the Hankai Line to Ebisucho Station. It's about a 3-minute walk from there.