Tsūtenkaku Tower Day

What Is Tsūtenkaku Tower Day?

Every July 3rd is "Tsūtenkaku Day" (通天閣の日, Tsūtenkaku no Hi) in Japan. On July 3, 1912, the original Tsūtenkaku Tower (通天閣, literally "Tower Reaching to Heaven") was completed in the Shinsekai (新世界, "New World") entertainment district of Osaka — a tower about 75 meters tall designed by Shitara Sadao, which looked like the upper half of the Eiffel Tower placed on top of the Arc de Triomphe. It opened together with the Shinsekai Luna Park amusement park. The tower became a symbol of Osaka's ambition and commercial energy in the Meiji and Taisho eras.

The Original and Current Tsūtenkaku

The original 1912 Tsūtenkaku was damaged by a fire that spread from a neighboring movie theater in January 1943 and was then dismantled for wartime steel collection. The current Tsūtenkaku — the tower that stands today — was built in 1956 to restore the landmark to Osaka's skyline. Designed by Naitō Tachū, who also designed Tokyo Tower, the rebuilt tower stands 108 meters including its lightning rod, taller than the original, and it was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 2007. It features an observation deck offering panoramic views of Osaka. The tower features "Billiken" (ビリケン, Biriken) — a good-luck deity figure — as its symbol, reflecting the entertaining, populist character of the Shinsekai district it anchors.

Shinsekai and Osaka's Downtown Identity

The Shinsekai district surrounding Tsūtenkaku represents one of Osaka's most characterful neighborhoods — a working-class entertainment area famous for its kushikatsu (串カツ, skewered and fried foods) restaurants, retro signage, and ungentrified authenticity that contrasts sharply with more polished parts of Osaka. The area attracts both domestic tourists seeking "old Osaka" atmosphere and international visitors drawn by its distinctive visual character. Tsūtenkaku is central to Osaka's self-image as Japan's most unashamedly populist, humor-loving, food-obsessed city.

Fun Facts

• The name: "Tsūtenkaku" means "a tall building reaching to heaven." It was named by Fujisawa Nangaku, a Confucian scholar of the Meiji era.
• Shorter than advertised: The original tower was advertised as 300 shaku (about 91 m) tall, but it was actually about 250 shaku, or roughly 75 m.
• Three great lookout towers: The original Tsūtenkaku was counted, with Ryōunkaku in Asakusa, Tokyo, and Kobe Tower in Shinkaichi, Kobe, as one of Japan's "three great lookout towers."
• Billiken: The "Billiken" luck deity at Tsūtenkaku — a small, elfin figure originating from an American doll design of the early 1900s — was adopted as the tower's mascot and has become a symbol of Osaka luck. Rubbing Billiken's feet is said to bring good fortune, and countless visitors perform this ritual at the observation deck statue.
• Neon weather forecast: For many years, the neon lights near the top of Tsūtenkaku changed color to show the next day's weather — sunny, cloudy, or rainy. The much-loved service ended at the end of July 2022.