Visit Japan Web Tsutenkaku Tower
Visit Japan Web invites you to explore the Tsutenkaku Tower, a national tangible cultural property. If you visit the golden observation platform, you can enjoy a panoramic view of bustling Osaka and encounter the “Billiken” statue, believed to bring good fortune to those who touch the soles of his feet.
This current tower is the second one on the site. The original tower came into use in 1912. It resembles the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Unfortunately, the original structure suffered a fire in 1943, causing severe damage. Instead of repairing it, the government decided to disassemble the tower and use the steel for the war effort.
After the war, the citizens advocated for the reconstruction of the beloved tower. A private company, Tsūtenkaku Kanko Co. Ltd., was established, and Tachu Naito, Japan’s “Father of Towers”, was chosen to design it. The new eight-sided structure came into use in 1956.
The tower is famous for its neon lights, which change every few years. However, they were turned off during the oil crisis of 1974–1976. LED lighting has replaced the neon lights now. It displays a different color set every two months for example pink for cherry blossom in March and April. Hitachi has been sponsoring the tower since 1957 and the light designs typically feature Hitachi advertisements. Although one side of the tower usually reserves as a public service announcement. The lights at the top of the tower serve as a weather beacon, indicating tomorrow’s weather forecast through a combination of different colors.
