Kuchu Teien Observatory — Attraction in Osaka

This place got worse after covid. Not the view or the architecture, that's still brilliant!

Unfortunately this is one of the places that shows parts of Japan changing for the worse customer service wise however.

If you're revisiting like myself and you want to leave your relationship insignia on a love lock like in the photos, you actually have to book special tickets online, AND it has to be done a day prior to your visit! Then you pick up a ticket down stairs with your online booked tickets, take a new ticket upstairs, bring it to the engraver, who hands you another ticket, which you then fill in, before handing back to the same engraver, who finally makes your lock. Confused? Yeah I'd too...

Now this wouldn't bother me if;

a) the website was clear on its instructions to do so, (but the tickets without the lock pad are the only ones advertised) and b) if you could also purchase this ticket at the ticket office on the day.

The problem is you're expected to know about it ahead of time, but then you also pick it up on the day 😶. Truthfully this isn't one of those attractions that people usually book ahead of time. So it's a terrible, inefficient and profit losing system.

Another thing I can't understand is why the tickets including the lock pad can't be purchased on the day. Considering the engraving is done on the day, it just makes sense that there's no difference offering it down stairs where everyone can know about it, instead of just online, where only about 25% of your customers look.

Last time I bought my tickets in person, and this time again, so over 5 years and 2 visits I've now missed out both times. Of course as always in Japan the rules are absolute and there's no work around, so I guess I'm waiting another 3 years to give you my money 🤣

Whatever, less business for your Company...

Nothing more than just an observatory. The design of the building is quite interesting and it would be nice to chill atnight while enjoying the sunset there. There is even a clock stating the time of the sunset. The ticket is quite expensive if you don't have the osaka amazing pass. The more informative side is the design process of the building itself with a lot of the thought process being document. This spot is more towards chilling rather than sightseeing as I believe it is more comfortable than other sight seeing spots that i have experienced. There is really nothing much to see other than the view which makes it kind of lackluster and doesn't justify the price. On a side note, there is an anime shown in the observatory which is kinda touching and makes you feel more connected / relatable to the construction of the building. Staffs are very friendly and the place is well kept. Final verdict - not really worth the price for the entertainment it produces other than the views it provides. It is a place more to couples to take their leisure time drinking beer while enjoying the sunset from the...

The building is called the Umeda Sky Building for those who can't reach Chinese characters. Of the observatories in Osaka, this one had the best views during my time there, with views of the river, business district, nearby mountains, etc. The top is a large circular area with an indoors and outdoors area. On the way up, you take an escalator that is suspended between 2 giant buildings. There's a cafe in the indoors area, and the view of the sunset is great (the sun slowly moved behind the nearby mountain causing the river to glimmer; very scenic). The price is about $11. You need to go up to the 3rd floor by escalator before going to the top. The ticket office is near the top, so you can get pretty high up before needing to buy a ticket. I would recommend getting there 30 mins-1 hr before sunset so that you can get both day and night views (sunset is around 7:10-7:30...