If you’re looking for a romantic place to enjoy gourmet food in Osaka, Japan, the Umeda area is the best choice! Located at the heart of Osaka, Umeda is lined with high-rise buildings and top shopping malls, but you can enjoy more than just shopping: you can also ride the ferris wheel to enjoy a panoramic view of the Osaka skyline, or enjoy a meal as you admire the beautiful night view at a restaurant on the upper floors. It’s the perfect place for a special evening.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular elevated spots for a view in Umeda that you won’t want to miss. We’ve made sure to select spots unique to Umeda, like perennial favorite Umeda Sky Building’s Floating Garden Observatory, HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel, which is popular for all ages; shopping mall GRAND FRONT OSAKA’s fashionable dining area, UMEKITA FLOOR; HERBIS PLAZA ENT mall for some quality time, and the gourmet spot in the sky, Hankyu 32nd Avenue SORANIWA Dining! This is the list you’ll want to check when you want to make your trip to Osaka more romantic and special.

Popular Night View Spots in Osaka

Umeda Sky Building’s Kuchu Teien (Sky Garden) Observatory

Completed in 1993, Umeda Sky Building’s unique architectural style has made it one of Umeda's most iconic landmarks. It was named one of the "Top 20 Buildings Around the World" by leading British publisher DK. The structure consists of two connected 40-story skyscrapers, one to the east and one to the west. The top three floors - the 39th, 40th, and the rooftop - are home to the Kuchu Teien (“Floating Garden”) Observatory, which is popular with visitors from both Japan and abroad.

The observatory is designed to offer 360-degree panoramic views, creating a romantic atmosphere meant to take you out of the everyday. Uniquely, although it's named a “garden,” this “floating garden” is not really a verdant plant garden; instead, the endless sky and breathtaking views make it feel like your own private garden.
From the observation deck 173 meters above ground, you’ll be captivated by the breathtaking views that stretch out over the Yodo River: Osaka's iconic cityscape, and even Osaka Bay in the distance.

HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel

Located on the seventh floor of the HEP FIVE shopping mall, this 75-meter-diameter red Ferris wheel has become an iconic Umeda landmark since its opening in 1998, and holds a special place in the memories of many in Osaka. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a panoramic view of the Osaka cityscape - one that’ll snatch your breath away during day or night.

During the day, you can enjoy a far-reaching view that stretches all the way to Osaka Castle and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Kobe. At dusk the setting sun paints the city in warm colors, and at night the twinkling lights of the city make for a fantastic cityscape view. The ferris wheel’s bright red gondola itself, the symbol of HEP FIVE, is also popular because it looks great in photos! There are also signs inside the gondola that tell you the names and locations of buildings on the ground to clue you in while you enjoy the scenery.
The 15-minute aerial stroll on the ferris wheel offers not only spectacular views, but also a special connection to the city of Osaka. It's a spot that brings new discoveries and excitement every time you visit.

Little known Osaka restaurants where you can enjoy fantastic night views

UMEKITA FLOOR

Located on the 6th floor of the mall GRAND FRONT OSAKA’s North Building, UMEKITA FLOOR is a stylish, sky high gourmet area with a sophisticated atmosphere. You can choose to enjoy your meal not just inside the individual restaurants, but you can also take advantage of the common seating area to sample food from different restaurants at the same table. By removing the traditional boundaries between its restaurant interiors and public space, in UMEKITA FLOOR the lively atmosphere spreads from inside the shops to outside, for a dining experience that leaves you free to choose. It’s the perfect space for those who want to enjoy a casual, high-quality meal.

UMEKITA FLOOR has a total of 163 common seats, and the terrace area is especially popular, with its open space, where you can feel a pleasant breeze as you take in the beautiful Umeda night view.
The floor is home to 14 select restaurants that offer a wide variety of dining experiences, including izakaya bars, bistros, Italian and Japanese eateries. Notable restaurants include SUSHIBAR Hanami, which serves beautiful sushi, and wines selected by its sommelier; and Seijuro, an Osaka specialty okonomiyaki restaurant known for its secret sauces and carefully selected ingredients.

Teppanyaki x Wine Akakuro

Teppanyaki x Wine Akakuro is a teppanyaki ("hibachi" cuisine, grilled on an iron plate) restaurant that offers an elegant dining experience.
This upscale teppanyaki restaurant is nestled in the downtown shopping mall HERBIS PLAZA ENT. Its interior gives a feeling of openness, with 7-meter-high ceilings and large windows offering views of the Umeda cityscape. With private rooms and a spacious dining area, Akakuro is a great spot for special occasions for both day and night.

Dishes here are made using rare Noto black cattle wagyu meat, carefully selected high-grade seafood, and fresh seasonal vegetables. The chef uses the Vide Pro for low-pressure cooking to maximize the flavor of the ingredients. Akakuro is the perfect restaurant for birthdays, anniversaries, or a special day of your trip.

Hankyu 32nd Avenue SORANIWA Dining

If you want to dine serenely in the sky, head to Hankyu 32nd Avenue SORANIWA Dining, 127 meters up.

You’ll find a variety of restaurants on the 27th to the 31st floors, offering a superb dining experience with exquisite views, from the new to the long-established. There’s an observation space in front of the escalators on each floor, which offers a panoramic view of GRAND FRONT OSAKA and Osaka Station.

・8TH SEA OYSTER Bar

At 8TH SEA OYSTER Bar on the 31st floor, oysters procured from all over Japan are purified for 48 hours at the Toyama Deep Seawater Center in order to provide truly safe-to-eat oysters. Their patented technology exceeds national standards to ensure safety and quality.

In addition to raw oysters, the restaurant also serves them fried, in gratin, marinated, and more, with a variety of Japanese and Western-style preparation methods. You can combine your oysters with ingredients like sea urchin, asparagus and avocado to get the most of their flavor. 8TH SEA OYSTER Bar also offers exclusive wine made specially for their oyster dishes, developed in collaboration with Spanish winery Miguel Torres Chile, allowing you to enjoy the ultimate pairing.

・New Matsuzaka

Matsuzaka is a long-established teppanyaki restaurant with a history of about 70 years. With its beautiful night view, carefully selected dishes, and heartfelt service, here, you can experience the special world of teppanyaki as if you were in a scene from a TV drama. The chef will cook the finest steaks on a hot plate right in front of you until they are juicy, tender, and full of flavor, so you can enjoy the luxurious taste along with the savory aroma.

New Matsuzaka, located in Hankyu 32nd Avenue SORANIWA Dining, offers a more sophisticated gastronomic experience. Enjoy a multi-course meal of Matsuzaka wagyu, Kobe beef, or seafood in a stylish and relaxing space, as you look out at a view of the HEP FIVE Ferris wheel, the Osaka North area, and Mt. Ikoma. This is the perfect venue for a special occasion dinner or a treat for yourself.

Umeda boasts skyscrapers and beautiful skylines that rival some of the largest cities in the world. You can enjoy not only a wide variety of gourmet food, but also luxurious locations looking out on spectacular night views. The Umeda area is easy to access and offers something for everyone. Why not plan a gourmet trip with the night sky today and discover your own special Umeda experience?

For more details on how to get to Umeda, see here.

For more information on Umeda, check out some of our Trip Ideas.

*Information in this article is accurate as of the date of posting. There is a possibility that details regarding these products and services have changed, or that some shops have since closed.