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Last updated on May 16th, 2026

A travel guide blog for our visit to the Shinsekai Tsutenkaku Tower and its surroundings, offering a fun and nostalgic experience.

Shinsekai (新世界), which means “New World” in Japanese, is a district in Osaka that was developed before the war and then neglected in the decades afterward. It was designed as the entertainment district in the early century. With its rich history, this part of the town is the best place to experience old Japan. The old neighborhood is full of colorful, retro signboards and billboards. The defining landmark of the area is the Tsutenkaku Tower (通天閣), which adds uniqueness and memorability to the area.

Today, Tsutenkaku Tower and Shinsekai together are popular places to visit in Osaka and can fill two to three hours of your Osaka itinerary. For a detailed guide to visiting Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku Tower, read on in this travel blog.

How To Get to Shinsekai Tsutenkaku Tower

To reach the Tsutenkaku Tower in Shinsekai, you have several transportation options.

From Osaka Station, take the JR Loop Line to Shin-Imamiya Station. It’s just a 6-minute walk from there.

If you’re using the Osaka metro, you can take the Midosuji Subway Line to Ebisucho Station on the north side, or the Sakaisuji Subway Line to Dobutsuen-Mae Station on the south side. From there, an easy, short walk will get you to the area. The closest metro station to the tower is the Ebisucho Station, only a mere 3-minute walk away. While you’re in the area, you can also explore the Janjan Alley and the Shinsekai area.

Getting to Shinsekai Tsutenkaku Tower:

JR: Get to the Shin-Imamiya Station on JR Loop line and walk 6 minutes.
Osaka Metro: 6 minutes walk from Dobutsuen-mae station on the Sakaisuji Subway Line.
Osaka Metro: 3 mintes walk from Ebisucho Station on the Sakaisuji Subway Line, exit #3.

Tsutenkaku Tower and Slider Ticket

There is no general admission fee to visit the surrounding Shinsekai district and view the tower from the outside. However, if you want to access the observation deck for panoramic views or use the tower slider, there are separate admission fees for each. You can obtain single entry access admission tickets for these attractions or use the Osaka Amazing Pass / Osaka e-Pass for free entry.

Tsutenkaku Tower and Slide Details:
– Operating hours: Tsutenkaku is open daily from 09:00 to 20:00 (Last entry: 19:30)
– Entrance Fee: ¥1,000 for Tsutenkaku, and an additional ¥1,000 for the slide

Our Visit to Tsutenkaku Tower – A Symbol of Osaka

During our visit to Tsutenkaku Tower, we used the Osaka Amazing Pass for free entrance. The Tsutenkaku Tower and Slider were accessed from the basement level through a door that led downward.

Firstly, we went to the basement to get the admission ticket. You can either purchase an admission ticket or exchange it using the Osaka Amazing Pass / Osaka e-Pass. Please note that you can only choose one option each time due to the separate queues for each attraction.

Queue to buy the Tsutenkaku Tower and Slider Ticket

The queues can be quite long, and waiting for more than 1 hour at peak times is common. We recommend arriving early. We decided to first visit the Observatory deck because it seemed to take less time than the slide, and we wanted to save the excitement for last.

Separate queues for Tsutenkaku Tower and Slide

There is assistance available to manage crowds and hectic situations. Again, seperate queue for Tsutenkaku Tower and Slider.

Follow the line to reach the observatory deck using the elevator. Throughout the journey on to the walk way to the lift, you will be surrounded by various vending machines and mango tempting you to make a purchase. After that, we took a slow lift ride with a brief introduction to the tower inside the lift.

Tsutenkaku Observatory Deck

Finally, we reached the Tsutenkaku observatory deck! The magnificent Tsutenkaku Tower is an observation tower that is 103 meters high, offering breathtaking views of the city. Its observatory deck is located 88 meters above the ground, providing a panoramic view of the entire city of Osaka.

In my opinion, the view is somewhat limited as the tower is not as high as others, or perhaps the surrounding buildings have grown taller since it was built.

Don’t forget to rub the special deity: Billiken goddess‘ feet and make a wish. These golden legs are said to bring luck to people. There’s an exhibition area to showcase some history of this tower and Osaka, history lovers would enjoy this section.

To get to the lower floor, you’ll need to use the stairs from the 4th floor next to the Biliken. There will be information to guide you. Once you reach the 2nd floor, you’ll find an interactive museum with small exhibitions and displays showcasing the history of the observatory. You can also find merchandise featuring popular manga and exclusive goods related to Tsutenkaku and Osaka.

There’s also a section dedicated to various flavors of Pocky available for purchase, making it a great place to stock up on gifts. Additionally, you’ll see the iconic “Glico man” in action here!

Tsutenkaku Slider

If you want to ride the Tsutenkaku slider, we need to go back to the basement floor to get the admission ticket again. You will be asked to sign the waiver form on the spot. The line is shorter and there are fewer people compared to the tower during our visit.

The slide is quite interesting and lasts probably 10 seconds. It’s not too extreme and is truly a fun experience. I highly recommend it if you enjoy fun activities.

Overall: A Visit to Tsutenkaku Tower and Slide

In short, the visit to Tsutenkaku Tower and its slide was a unique experience. While the tower may not be as impressive as newer and taller buildings like the Umeda Sky Building or Abeno Harukas, the view over Osaka from the top is still quite nice. It’s worth a visit, especially if you’re in the area. Additionally, it’s free for Osaka Amazing Pass holders.

After spending time in the tower and on the slide, we continued to wander around Shinsekai and tried the Kushikatsu. We really enjoyed the old Osaka vibe and even came back at nighttime to see the lighting.

Lastly, this travel guide to Tsutenkaku Tower and Slider is part of travel blog in Kansai region. Free feel to continue to read on our Kansai trip to other interesting places including Osaka, Kyoto, and Uji.

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Last updated on May 16th, 2026

Plan your visit to Osaka Bay Cruise Santa Maria to enjoy the sea breezing and bay activities during your visit to Osaka.

We went on the one-hour Osaka Bay Cruise Santa Maria, which was included in the Osaka Amazing Pass. It was a nice and slow cruise, providing a welcome break from the hectic city. The views were wonderful, and it was a great way to see the Osaka Bay area and its activities. Overall, it was a great experience! We will share our experience in this comprehensive travel guide blog for the Osaka Bay Cruise Santa Maria.

How To Get to Osaka Bay Cruise Santa Maria

The Osaka Santa Maria sightseeing cruise is located at the Tempozan Harbor Village area, close to the Kaiyukan aquarium and the Ferris wheel. To get there from Osaka city, take the metro toward the Osakako Station (大阪港, C11) on the green line.

Once you get off the subway, it’s about a 10-minute walk from the station (Exit 1) to the Tempozan Harbor Village area.

Walk to Osaka Bay Cruise Santa Maria Port Area

When you arrive at the area, head towards the cruising area where you can find the ticket counter to purchase tickets. This is also the place to exchange tickets if you reserved online or are using the Osaka e-Pass.

Osaka Bay Cruise Santa Maria Ticket

Touring the Osaka harbor bay with Santa Maria Cruise requires a fee. Tickets can be reserved online or bought on the spot, but priority will be given to those with reservations. You can also purchase a combined ticket for the Osaka Bay Cruise Santa Maria and Osaka Aquarium if you plan to visit both attractions. This will cost less than ¥1,000 if you buy your tickets together.

There are two types of Osaka Bay Cruises: day cruises and twilight cruises in the evening. There is only one cruise per hour. The day cruise is open from 11:00 to 17:00 and does not require reservations, while the night cruise starts at 19:00 and does require a reservation..

Osaka Bay Cruise Santa Maria (Day Cruise)
Ticket Fee: Adults ¥1,800, Children ¥900 (Available from Klook)
Departure time: Every hour from 11:00 to 16:00 (*Schedule may change depending on the season)
The Day Cruise will last about 45 minutes.

Osaka Bay Santa Maria Twilight Cruise
Ticket Fee: Adults ¥2,300, Children ¥1,150
Departure Time: Only one cruise during evening time on Weekends and holidays (Operates only from late April to October 2024. No service in June.)
The Twilight Cruise will last about 60 minutes.
Note: The twilight cruise will be suspended if there is a private night cruise in operation.

Pro Tips: The Osaka Bay Cruise is free with the Osaka Amazing Pass / Osaka e-Pass. Without the pass, the cruise would cost at least ¥1,800, so I would recommend getting a pass for the free ride. You can also get exclusive discounts at Kaiyukan Osaka Aquarium using the pass.

Our Santa Maria Cruise Ride

During one of our visits to Osaka, we took advantage of a free ride on the Santa Maria because we had the Osaka Amazing Pass. The boarding place is located next to the Kaiyukan Aquarium, Tempozan Ferris Wheel, and LEGOLAND, making it a great day out. If you visit the Kaiyukan Aquarium or Tempozan Ferris Wheel in Osaka, you may want to consider taking this boat ride as well.

The Pirate-Style Cruise Ship

The Osaka Bay Sightseeing Santa Maria Cruise ship is modeled after the Santa Maria, the ship that Columbus sailed to discover the New World. This pirate-style, four-story ship has different seating areas for enjoying the cruise ride.

The boarding area is clearly marked. The total time for the boat ride itself is around 50 minutes. You are asked to arrive 15 minutes before your booked cruise trip. The actual cruise time takes 45 minutes for the day cruise. It is a nice and slow cruise to explore the Osaka Bay area. You could also take an evening cruise. Both cruises were free using the Osaka Amazing Pass / Osaka e-Pass, but you can only choose one of them.

The Santa Monica Cruise ship provides both indoor and outdoor seating.

The spacious indoor area is ideal for protection from the sun and wind. There’s also a restaurant where you can purchase food and drinks. Additionally, the boat has a downstairs area that serves as a small museum, displaying photos and a couple of exhibits.

Osaka Santa Maria Cruise Outdoor Seating

Getting out from indoor area, there is a semi-outdoor area and an outdoor deck at the front and back of the ship. Benches and seating areas are available on the deck. At the very front is the highest point, where you can get a great view of the scenery. There are plenty of photo opportunities.

Santa Maria Cruising Experience

We spent most of our time in the deck area, which is a popular spot for locals and overseas tourists like us. We managed to take a picture when it wasn’t crowded. The outside area was a bit cold and windy, so wearing proper clothing is necessary. It’s better to go in the evening to avoid the sun.

The Osaka Santa Monica cruise was relaxing and comfortable. It takes you around Osaka’s central areas and provides information about the historical and cultural background of Osaka. The view of Osaka Bay itself wasn’t particularly picturesque, but we could see the bridge, Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Universal City, and Port of Osaka by the Kaiyukan Aquarium.

However, there was no information provided about what we were seeing, which was disappointing. As someone who prefers natural views, islands, and nice coasts, I didn’t find it very spectacular. Nonetheless, I enjoyed feeling the wind on my face and the bay view.

Overall, it’s worth taking the cruise, but I was a little disappointed. It’s not bad if you have the time, but it’s not too exciting either.

Overall: A Cruise with Osaka Bay Cruise Santa Maria

All in all, the Osaka Bay Cruise Santa Maria experience was great! Although the weather was a bit windy and cold, we enjoyed the cruise around Osaka Bay. There wasn’t much natural scenery to see other than industrial plants and bridges, but it was still a good way to see the Osaka waterfront.

If you’re short on time in Osaka, I would skip the Osaka Santa Maria cruise ride. However, if you have the Osaka Amazing Pass / Osaka e-Pass and want to spend an hour relaxing on a boat, then maybe this is for you. Since Osaka Amazing Pass holders can enjoy this ride for free, there’s no reason not to try it. It would be nice to relax and watch the bay after a whole day of walking.

Lastly, this travel guide to Osaka Castle is part of travel blog in Kansai region. Free feel to continue to read on our Kansai trip to other interesting places including Osaka, Kyoto, and Uji.