Abeno Harukas, Skyscraper in Abenosuji, Japan.
Abeno Harukas is a 300-meter tower in Abenosuji, Osaka, with 60 floors above ground and 5 basement levels. Its glass curtain wall steps back in three stages, and the lower floors hold the Kintetsu department store and the Harukas Art Museum, with offices, the Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel and the Harukas 300 observation deck above.
The tower replaced the 1937 Abenobashi Terminal Building, designed by Setsu Kuno, after planning began in 2006. Construction started on 9 January 2010 and the building opened fully on 7 March 2014. It was Japan's first building over 300 metres and remained the country's tallest until 2023.
The observation platform draws local residents who come to watch sunsets or celebrate special occasions with a panoramic view. The shopping center in the lower floors reflects the Japanese preference for multi-story department stores where people can spend an entire day.
The observation deck on floors 58 to 60 is reached by dedicated elevators; the office floors above 17 require a security pass at the 17th-floor gate. The building connects directly to Osaka Abenobashi Station and adjoins Tennoji Station. A free shuttle bus runs from Osaka Uehommachi Station.
The name comes from the old Japanese word harukasu, meaning to brighten and clear the surrounding space. This linguistic detail points to a philosophical attitude toward urban development that goes beyond mere function.
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