Abeno Harukas: The Skyscraper That Stands Above the Rest

The Abeno Harukas Skyscraper is the tallest building in Japan. It’s also home to Japan’s largest department store – and it doesn’t stop there.

The building complex has a railway station, an observation deck, a hotel, an art gallery, a garden, and lots of restaurants. The Abeno Harukas building offers something for everyone!

About the Abeno Harukas

About Abeno Harukas Osaka
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“Harukas” is an abbreviated form of the word harukasu. Harakasu means “to brighten.” The building claims to brighten the hearts and futures of the people who visit it – and lead the way to a better tomorrow.

The designers wanted it to be the first building in Osaka to get the sun each morning. They claim the observation deck will leave you feeling invigorated.

Whether you agree with the hype or not, Abeno Harukas is worth checking out! You won’t find a cooler combination of fun and unusual things to do anywhere.

What You Can Do in The Abeno Harukas Building

Things to do at Abeno Harukas
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One word: everything!

You can shop in Japan’s largest store. You can take in a magnificent view of Osaka from 1,000 feet up in the air.

You can eat in 45+ restaurants, which offers many types of cuisine.

Art fans love the museum. It’s full of Buddhist and Western art. They often have other types on display as well.

Architecture fans will have plenty to look at, too. You won’t find a more unique building complex anywhere in Osaka.

The Abeno Harukas building is where it’s at!

The BuildingAbeno Harukas Building

The Abeno Harukas Skyscraper stands 300 meters (984 feet) above the ground.

Here’s a breakdown of what the building has to offer:

  • A Train and Subway Station. The Osaka Abenobashi Station is on the ground floor.
  • The largest department store in Japan. The Kintetsu Department Store starts on the 2nd basement floor and goes all the way up to the 14th floor. It gives you over a million square feet of shopping!
  • An art museum. The Abeno Harukas Art Museum on the 16th floor specializes in Buddhist and Western art.
  • A Hotel. You can stay in the Osaka Mariott Hotel on floors 38 -57.
  • An observation deck. The observation deck gives you great views over Osaka. It’s on floors 58 – 60.

With so much to do in one place, you might not know where to begin!

We’re going to start at the top and work our way down.

Let’s begin with the observation deck.

Harukas 300 Observation Deck

Abeno Harukas View
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It wouldn’t be Japan’s tallest building without an observation deck, would it?

The Japanese love observation decks. With views like the ones you get from the Harukas 300, you will too!

You’ll see the city from nearly 1,000 feet up in the air. The deck gives you an incredible view of Osaka any time of day or night.

Special light shows take place each night. The glass panes and the area around the building light up with all sorts of hologram projections and lights. Sound effects accompany the show, which adds a nice touch.

Light Show Times

  • 7:15pm
  • 7:45pm
  • 8:15pm
  • 8:45pm
  • 9:15pm

*Note: The light show may be canceled at any time due to weather conditions or other factors. It’s best to confirm that the show will be running on the day you plan to go.

Getting to the Observation Deck

Abeno Harukas Getting to the Top
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To get to the top of the building, head to the ticket counter on the 16th floor.

You’ll take the high-speed elevator from there. The super-fast elevator whisks you all the way up to the 60th floor in just 45 seconds.

The 60th floor features glass windows from floor to ceiling. The gallery gives you an incredible view of Osaka – and beyond.

Heliport TourAbeno Harukas View from Top

Want to see the city from even higher up in the air?

You can take a guided tour of the heliport for 500 yen. It’s on the very top of the building. It’s even higher than the observation deck – and that’s really saying something!

For More Information

Harukas 300 Heliport Tour

Dining and the Gift Shop

Abeno Harukas Top Floor
fazon1/Depositphotos.com

Don’t like heights? Just want to shop and relax?

Head to the 59th floor. You can relax in the cafe, souvenir shop, or children’s play area.  The 58th floor offers a bar, a restaurant, and an open-air garden.

The view from the bar rocks – while keeping you feeling safely indoors. The restaurant and garden both offer cool views over Osaka as well.

Harukas 300 Observation Deck Hours

  • 9:00am – 10:00pm

Admission

Same Day Tickets

  • Adults: 1500 yen
  • Children 12-17: 1,200 yen
  • Children 6-11: 700 yen
  • Children 4-5: 500 yen

*Note:  Once you leave the observatory, you can’t go back in – unless you buy a 1-day ticket.

One Day Tickets

One day tickets let you enter and exit the observatory as many times as you want on the same day.

  • Adults: 1,950 yen
  • Children 12-17: 1,650 yen
  • Children 6-11: 950 yen
  • Children 4-5: 750 yen

Prior Reservation Tickets

Prior reservation tickets cost 2,000 yen.

You can buy them at the counter in the Abeno Harukas building or at FamilyMart convenience stores.

You can buy the ticket up to 2 months ahead of time. You can order it until the day before you visit.

Online Tickets

You can buy your tickets online as well.

You must order your tickets at least three days before you plan to visit. You’ll need a Japanese credit card – and the ability to read Japanese.

For More Information

Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory Homepage

To Purchase Tickets Online:  Harukas 300 Tickets Page (Japanese only)

Osaka Mariott Hotel

Want to stay in a hotel inside Japan’s tallest building?

You can with the Osaka Mariott. The hotel gives you great views over Osaka from your room.

You’ll stay somewhere between the 38th and 58th floor. These rooms aren’t for people afraid of heights!

ZK Restaurant

Even if you don’t want to stay in the hotel, it’s still worth visiting the hotel’s restaurant.

The ZK restaurant sits 270m (almost 900 feet!) above ground level on floor 57. You get a great view of the city as you enjoy your meal.

The restaurant serves a variety of Japanese and European dishes. Your choices include the ever-popular teppanyaki.

Abeno Harukas Art Museum

Art lovers will enjoy the world-class art museum on the 16th floor.

The museum doesn’t have any permanent collections to display all year long. Instead, they offer a steady rotation of exhibits.

The museum specializes in two types of art – Japanese Buddhist and Western. It recently featured some Western exhibitions by well-known masters (like Matisse).

There’s been more of a mix than usual lately. For example, the museum recently exhibited art used in the Studio Ghibli movies. They’ve also featured woodcuts by ukiyo-e master Hokusai.

Abeno Harukas Art Museum Hours

  • Weekdays: 10:00am – 8:00pm (last entry 7:30)
  • Weekends/Public Holidays: 10:00am – 6:00pm (last entry 5:30)
  • Closed Mondays (except when Monday is a holiday) and over the New Year period

Admission

Varies depending on the exhibit.

For More Information

Abeno Harukas Art Museum Homepage (Japanese only)

The Garden Terrace

The Garden Terrace offers an open-air space with some beautiful greenery and views.

It’s also on the 16th floor (right next to the museum). It’s a great place to take a break and, if you’ve purchased a department store bento, to eat your lunch!

Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Department StoreAbeno Harukas Kintetsu

The Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Department Store deserves its fame.

It’s Japan’s biggest department store. In a country full of gigantic stores and malls, that’s quite an accomplishment!

You can shop in 100,000 square meters spread across 14 floors and 2 buildings. For those of you who can’t picture 100,000 square meters… 100,000 square meters is over 1,000,000 square feet!

Talk about shop till you drop!

To Find the Places You Want to Shop

Does the idea of trying to find anything in a mall so big make you nervous? Don’t sweat it!

Each floor focuses on certain types of goods. The layout makes it very easy to find what you’re looking for.

Bridges and escalators go between the wing and the main building. You’ll find cafes throughout the store. They’re there in case you get overwhelmed and need a break!

Floors – From the Top Down

  • Floors 12 through 14 are a giant dining area. You can choose from among 44 different restaurants in the department store featuring a wide selection of cuisine.
  • Floors 9 – 11 sell household goods, furniture, jewelry, and kimono.
  • You can shop for children’s clothes on floor 8.
  • Men’s fashion is on floors 6 and 7.
  • For women’s fashion (and some beauty services), head to floors 2 – 5.
  • You can shop in a grocery store and food market in the basement.

The Rooftop Garden

You’ll find a cool little garden on the roof of the wing building.

It has a vegetable patch and a small shrine. The shrine is a nod to the neighborhood’s traditional role as part of a pilgrimage route.

The garden offers a quiet retreat from the noise and bustle of the rest of the store. You can get to it from the 10th floor.

The Foreign Customers Salon

The Foreign Customer’s Salon offers special services for foreign visitors. It’s on floor 3.5 in the Wing building.

The staff speaks English and Chinese. They’re happy to help you claim the tax exemption on things you bought in the department store.

They also have power outlets and free Wi-Fi. Tourists from around the world appreciate the chance to check and charge their devices!

Other services the salon offers include:

  • Luggage storage
  • Takyubin (delivery) services
  • Five percent discount coupons to use in the store
  • Currency exchange
  • An international ATM
  • General tourist information
  • Guided tours of the department store

*Please note:  You need to make reservations in advance if you want to take the tour.

You can get to the salon on an escalator from the main building’s third floor.

The Foreign Customer Salon opens during regular business hours. It closes on New Year’s Day.

The Drug Store

The Kokumin Drug Store is right by the salon.

It offers a number of things tourists tend to like. They include cosmetics, souvenirs, and Hello Kitty merchandise.

Hours

Floors

  • B2 – 3.5: 10:00am – 8:30pm
  • 4 – 11: 10:00am – 8:00pm
  • 12 – 14 Abeno Harukas Dining: 11:00am – 11:00pm
  • B2F Abeno Ichiba Shokudo: 10:00am – 10:00pm

Admission

Free – though you’ll probably feel tempted to buy something!

For More Information

Kintetsu Department Store Abeno Harukas Homepage

Is Abeno Harukas Worth Visiting?Abeno Harukas Worth It

It depends.

What are your priorities in Japan? Have you already seen an observation deck? Do you plan to do a lot of shopping?

If you haven’t seen a Japanese observation deck yet, Abeno Harukas is an excellent place to see one for the first time. You can combine a visit to the deck with the many other attractions in the area (like the store or the museum).

If you’ve already enjoyed Japan’s incredible views, you might want to save your energy for something else. Unless, of course, the weather gets bad!

Hardcore shoppers will love the place. Where else can you find 14 floors and over a million square feet of shopping madness?

I’m not into the whole shopping scene, so I could take or leave Abeno Harukas.

That said, the building is a must visit for architecture fans. You don’t see design elements like this every day!

Getting to Abeno Harukas

Abeno Harukas Building
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You won’t find an easier attraction to get to in Japan than the Abeno Harukas Skyscraper.

The building has a train station (Osaka Abenobashi) on the first floor! Five different JR and subway lines go to the station. Lots of bus routes stop right outside.

As if that wasn’t enough, the building sits across the street from JR Tennoji Station. Tennoji Station is another major Osaka transportation hub.

It’s incredibly easy to get to Abeno Harukasu from anywhere in Osaka – and beyond!

From Osaka Station

Take the JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service for Kansai Airport. Get off at Tennoji Station.

Once You Get to Tennoji, take the elevators down to the Midosuji Subway Station. It’s on the first basement level.

Follow the underground corridor towards the Kintetsu Department Store Abeno Harukas entrance.

The trip takes about 18 minutes and costs 190 yen.

From Namba Station

Transfer to the subway Midosuji Line for Nakamozu. Get off at Tennoji.

Once You Get to Tennoji, follow the directions above to walk to Abeno Harukas.

The trip costs 230 yen. It takes approximately 7 minutes.

By Air (from Osaka International Airport and Kansai International Airport)

Abeno Harukas Getting There by Air
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Kansai International Airport

From Terminal 1: Go to bus stop 7outside the 1st-floor doors. Other buses leave from this stop, so be sure to board the bus bound for Abeno Harukas. Tickets can be purchased from the vending machines located outside the 1st floor.

From Terminal 2: Go to bus stop 8outside the 1st-floor doors. Other buses leave from this stop, so be sure to board the bus bound for Abeno Harukas. Tickets can be purchased from the vending machines located outside the 1st floor.

Disembark at Abenobashi, the final stop. Look for the entrance to the Kintetsu Department Store Abeno Harukas.

Osaka International Airport

An airport limousine bus runs between Osaka International Airport and Abenobashi Station. The bus ride takes about 30 minutes.

It leaves from the South Terminal’s bus stop 11, and North Terminal’s bus stop 1.

Another bus leaves from these stops, so make sure you’re boarding the bus for Akenobashi (Tennoji).

The limousine bus runs between 7:45am – 9:15pm and costs 640 yen for an adult, and 320 yen for a child.

Tickets are purchased from a vending machine on the bus platform.

Disembark at Abenobashi, the final stop.

Insider Tips

Abeno Harukas Tips
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  • Visit Abeno Harukas towards the end of your trip to Japan. Even if you don’t plan on shopping, there’s a good chance you’ll add a few impulse buys to your luggage!
  • Visit the observatory late in the afternoon (if you can). It’s much less crowded. You’ll get to enjoy a combination of daytime and nighttime views. You’ll also get to see the gorgeous sunset before the light displays come on.
  • Go on a weekday. The building gets quite crowded on weekends. If you go on a weekend, you may have to wait a long time to see the view.

Have You Been to Abeno Harukas?

If so, what did you see or do there? Did you check out the view from the top of the building? Did you take in some Buddhist artwork, or were you more concerned about catching the latest sales?

Please let us know in the comments – we’d love to hear what you think!

Top Attractions in Osaka

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Louise

Louise first arrived in Japan in 2003 as a JET Programme participant, intending to stay for just one year. She had no idea she would end up spending eleven years exploring the country that has become her second home. Although able to navigate the big metropolises of Tokyo and Osaka with ease, Louise's real love is rural life, spending six years in beautiful Shimane prefecture. Now back in her native New Zealand, Louise is exploring her passion for writing.

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