Abeno Harukas, Japan’s highest skyscraper complex
“Abeno Harukas,” a 300 m-high skyscraper complex (Abeno Ward, Osaka City), the highest in Japan, has fully opened on March 7. This building incorporates many environmental measures, such as the first introduction among high-rise buildings of biogas power generation that utilizes garbage generated from the building’s facilities.
This 60-story, 5-basement building brings together all the functions of a small city, including food, clothing and shelter, as well as an observatory, hotel, offices, a museum, and a department store. Harukas 300, an observatory on the 58th to 60th floors, the top three levels, is all glass-covered with a 360-degree vista, and commands views of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and Kansai International Airport, weather permitting. The Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel on the 38th to 55th floors has 360 guest rooms where visitors can stay while enjoying the beautiful views. On the 21st to 36th floors are offices adopting state-of-the-art equipment.
Commemorating its opening, the Abeno Harukas Art Museum on the 16th floor is currently holding “TODAIJI,” a special exhibition intended to display the treasures of Todaiji Temple (March 22, 2014 – May 18, 2014). Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Department Store, on the 2nd to 14th floors, is the largest department store in Japan with a total sales area of 100,000 m2. With areas outside the sale of goods, such as restaurants, rest areas and a theater, accounting for 25% of the total sales area, visitors can casually visit the building even with no shopping in mind.
