OSAKA - Osaka's iconic Tsutenkaku Tower marked the 70th anniversary of its reopening on Wednesday after being rebuilt following a fire.
A major landmark in the Shinsekai district, a neighborhood that once thrived as an entertainment district frequented by day laborers, the 108-meter tower remains popular amid growing inbound tourism, and hopes are rising that it can be leveraged to support regional revitalization together with a new rail line due to open within the city in 2031.
Tower staff handed out magnets commemorating the anniversary at the entrance to the observation deck on the fifth floor, 87.5 meters above ground, which was filled with visitors, including families with children and tour groups.
"I've been coming here since I was a child. The weather was nice, so I thought I'd come and enjoy the view to commemorate the occasion," said Kazuhiko Nishimura, a resident of neighboring Sakai who was born on the day the tower reopened.
The first Tsutenkaku Tower was completed in 1912 but was dismantled after a 1943 fire.
According to its operator, Tsutenkaku Kanko Co., the number of annual visitors dropped to around 210,000 in fiscal 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic but has surpassed 1.3 million in recent years.
In addition to its observation decks, the tower offers attractions including the popular Tower Slider, where visitors can slide from the third-floor observatory to the basement.
"The tower continues to stand as a symbol of the Shinsekai district because of the support of its visitors," said Tsutenkaku Kanko President Ryuko Takai. "I have nothing but gratitude."
