OSAKA - Osaka's iconic Tsutenkaku Tower celebrated the 70th anniversary of its reopening on October 28, marking seven decades since the landmark was rebuilt in 1956 as a symbol of the city's postwar recovery, while new attractions continue to draw visitors to the surrounding Shinsekai entertainment district.
The current tower, the second to stand at the site, reached its 70th birthday with commemorative merchandise, special admission offers and anniversary gifts for visitors. The milestone is known in Japan as "koki," a traditional celebration of reaching the age of 70.
From October 28 to October 30, visitors presenting a commuter pass issued by the Nankai Group can enter the observation deck free of charge, with admission limited to 1,000 people each day. The tower is also distributing commemorative magnetic sheets bearing a special 70th anniversary logo to the first 100,000 visitors.
The celebrations attracted tourists from across Japan, including a visitor from Miyagi Prefecture who described the tower as a remarkable symbol of Osaka.
Tsutenkaku's history stretches back more than a century to 1912, when the original tower was constructed with a design inspired by Paris's Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower. Standing 75 meters tall, it was celebrated as the tallest structure of its kind in East Asia at the time and quickly became one of Osaka's most popular attractions.
The original tower also featured a gondola system connecting it to the neighboring Luna Park amusement park, which introduced visitors to entertainment facilities considered cutting-edge for the era. Attractions included a high-speed rotating disc ride and a roller-skating rink, still a rarity in Japan at the time.
The area's collection of unfamiliar and futuristic attractions helped establish its identity as Shinsekai, meaning "New World," reflecting the excitement surrounding what was then an unprecedented entertainment destination.
However, the original Tsutenkaku disappeared in 1943 after a fire broke out at a movie theater directly beneath the structure. The damaged tower was subsequently dismantled during World War II, leaving the district without its most recognizable landmark.
Following the war, local residents campaigned to restore the tower as part of Osaka's reconstruction. Their efforts culminated in the completion of the second Tsutenkaku in 1956, restoring a familiar symbol to the Shinsekai skyline and helping revive the surrounding neighborhood.
The tower has remained a major tourist attraction ever since, adapting to changing visitor preferences while preserving its historical significance.
One of its most successful recent additions is the Tower Slider, a 60-meter-long slide introduced in 2022 that sends visitors on a high-speed descent through a tube attached to the tower.
The attraction has helped generate renewed interest in Tsutenkaku, drawing thrill-seekers alongside tourists visiting the observation deck and surrounding shopping streets.
The slide's speed and illuminated interior have become part of its appeal, although the experience can prove more intimidating than visitors initially expect. During an anniversary demonstration, a television reporter who had confidently approached the ride became increasingly nervous after hearing screams from other participants.
The descent proved faster than anticipated, with the reporter emerging surprised by the speed and impressed by the colorful lighting inside the slide.
Reflecting on the experience, he compared the sensation to Tsutenkaku's seven decades of history, describing it as a journey that somehow felt both long and short.
Seventy years after its reconstruction, Tsutenkaku continues to combine its role as a historical landmark with new entertainment experiences, maintaining its place at the center of Shinsekai as Osaka's tourism industry evolves.
Source: YOMIURI
