Private Behind-the-Scenes Art and Architecture Tour of the Umeda Sky Building and its Kuchu Teien Observatory

Umeda Sky Building, an Architectural Landmark of National and International Renown

Ongoing redevelopment in the Umeda Kita Yard area in Osaka has reached a fever pitch in recent years, including an expansion of Osaka Station. Towering over this area’s Shin-Umeda City complex – the earliest new development – is the landmark Umeda Sky Building, an architectural marvel far ahead of its time that has long attracted visitors both domestic and international.

Umeda Sky Building was the world’s first ever connected-tower skyscraper, built in 1993 with 40 floors above ground and standing 173 meters tall. In 2008, UK newspaper The Times listed it among the top 20 buildings in the world, alongside such iconic architectural achievements as Spain’s Sagrada Familia, Greece’s Parthenon, and India’s Taj Mahal, elevating its iconic status.

The ground-level Island Garden is a micro forest oasis in the midst of Shin-Umeda’s dense cityscape

The Chu-shizen-no-mori, or “Island Garden” below Umeda Sky Building is an urban wonder: a lush treescape replete with a soothing babbling brook. It’s hard to believe that this little green corner tucked away in the midst of ultramodern skyscrapers – embodying an aspirational balance between dense city and calming nature – was dreamed up and created more than 30 years ago.

Umeda Sky Building is also famous for its Kuchu Teien Observatory, a top level public deck offering a vast panorama of the city. This experience also lets guests enjoy the building from a new angle, perusing non-public areas and taking in the interior art gallery with commentary from a building guide.

See Hara’s original draft sketches and models for the building with guide commentary (Staff on duty vary with the day)

A model beside the tour desk on the 39th floor provides a bird’s eye view of the building’s architectural features, while drawings by architect Hiroshi Hara including the building’s first sketch and “aeropolis” concept provide a glimpse into the futuristic concepts behind it.

Hara is an acclaimed architect whose unique designs have garnered domestic and international attention. His works include museums, educational facilities, high rises, and domes. In addition to the Umeda Sky Building, he has designed such other iconic structures as Kyoto Station and Sapporo Dome.

Such an opportunity to look into the mind of an architect working at the top of their field through firsthand viewing of their sketches, designs, and models is rare – and sure to captivate and delight architectural aficionados and curious travelers alike.

The blue sky and city that spreads out before your eyes

The Case for Displaying Art in Non-Public Areas

Paintings and sculptures by some of the most prominent artists of the 20th Century line the walls of these non-public areas, curated by art director Fram Kitagawa. This was part of the design plan concept from the very beginning, with Hara and his development team wanting those working and doing business in the building to be in regular contact with art. Featured works by Le Corbusier, famed vanguard of modern architecture and city planning, have also seen a resurgence in interest with their inclusion as “The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement” on the World Heritage List alongside works by other luminaries such as Renoir and Escher. 

Paintings and sculptures by world famous architects, whose names you may just know, line the walls

Exclusively in this Wabunka plan, visitors can also view a panel of Picasso designs from the collection in a rare opportunity to see the artist’s markings on the usually hidden back side, as well as take home an art book featuring a full listing of all the works in the collection as a memento. Listed artist names are in English, with explanatory notes in Japanese.

Work by Roy Lichtenstein, famous for his pioneering critique of “pop art” through his work parody

The Secrets of Umeda Sky Building’s Design – and Story

The iconic status of Umeda Sky Building is tied to certain key elements of its design, from the mirrored exterior which turns the sky itself into a surface feature, to the central skybridge connecting its two towers, to the roof level Kuchu Teien Observatory that gives visitors the sensation of floating above the city. Participants in this experience can walk through the skybridge, which is off limits to the general public. Your guide explains all about the passageway’s design secrets, such as its vibration resistant construction, as you take in the view suspended 87 meters above the ground.

The inside of the skybridge connecting the two high-rise towers

The rooftop Kuchu Teien observatory is conceptually modeled on grand marvels of ancient humanity and fiction, such as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the flying island Laputa of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, which itself served as inspiration for the Ghibli animated feature film Laputa: Castle in the Sky.

This sense of pure inspiring spectacle sets the Kuchu Teien Observatory apart from commonplace high rise observation decks, imbuing it with a romance and wonder going far beyond simply looking at city scenery from on high. Even now, more than 30 years after its construction, the space continues to impress visitors with a futuristic utopian longing that feels as innovative as it was when Hara first put his pen to paper.

Follow up on your guided tour with a visit to Sky 40, the “cafe in the sky” on the 40th floor indoor observation area. Here you can use your drink ticket to enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage, such as Umeda Sky Building’s exclusive special blend coffee. Relax for a special moment with the city unfurling below you.

The negative space in the center of the observation deck has been called a “crater in the air”

Umeda Sky Building offers an up-close view of not only world-class architecture, but also world-class art. Discover its hidden charms and let it inspire you.