Feel Rejuvenated by Animals in the Heart of Osaka! A Visitor’s Guide to Tennoji Zoo

At the bear enclosure located south of the “Bird Paradise Zone,” polar bears live here.
With their big bodies and charming faces and gestures, polar bears are a fan favorite.
They are among the largest bear species, and they’re great swimmers and divers.
You can enjoy watching them dive into the pool, play with toys, and show off their lively, cute side.
Right now, you can also see a polar bear parent and cub moving around together.

The “Asian Tropical Rainforest Zone” recreates a tropical forest.
With planted trees, winding paths, and rugged rocks, one way to enjoy it is to observe the animals while also spotting the clever “ecological exhibit” design.
You can enjoy exhibits of animals you can only meet at Tennoji Zoo, such as the kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird, and the drill, a monkey with a jet-black face that is rarely kept in zoos worldwide.

This plaza lets you feel the wonder and preciousness of life through hands-on encounters with animals.
Try feeding sheep and goats, and interact with adorable animals such as guinea pigs and Japan’s smallest horse.
Nearby, there’s also a popular spot where you can observe many kinds of birds, including penguins.
During the penguins’ “Snack Time,” you can enjoy watching them eat in an adorable way.

Around the African Savanna Zone, you’ll find enclosures for Amur tigers and red pandas.
The “Sichuan red panda” normally lives alone in forests and bamboo thickets at elevations of 1,800–4,000 meters.
They’re great climbers, and at Tennoji Zoo you can observe them resting in trees or playing cutely with toys.

Every year, Tennoji Zoo holds “Night ZOO” in summer and fall.
It’s a popular event where you can observe animals’ nighttime behaviors that you can’t normally see.
The zoo usually closes at 5:00pm, but during the “Night ZOO” period you can enjoy the grounds until 9:00pm.
Why not experience the animals’ different expressions at night, and the power of nocturnal carnivores?
Since the schedule changes every year, check the official website before your visit.

Tsutenkaku Tower is a structure with five above-ground floors and one basement level, and its 5th-floor observation deck at 87.5 meters features the gold-decorated “Golden Observation Deck” and the deity “Billiken,” said to bring good luck when you rub the soles of his feet.
This is the third-generation Billiken, known for his blond hair.
At the very top, the special outdoor observation deck “Tenbo Paradise” at 94.5 meters, with an 8.5-meter-diameter observation corridor, also includes the overhanging deck “TIP THE TSUTENKAKU,” with a see-through tip.

Ebisu-higashi in Naniwa Ward—home to Tsutenkaku Tower, Janjan Yokocho, and Spa World—is commonly known as “Shinsekai.”
The name dates back to 1912, when Tsutenkaku Tower and Luna Park, Japan’s second amusement park, opened here.
It came to be called “Shinsekai” to mean “Osaka’s new landmark” at the time.
Since then, it developed into an entertainment district, became the setting for many movies and TV dramas, and has become a must-mention spot whenever people talk about Osaka.

A supertall mixed-use complex that opened in 2014, standing 300 meters tall above ground.
From Basement 2 to the 14th floor, it houses Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Main Store (Kintetsu Department Store) and Abeno Harukas Dining.
The 16th floor is home to the Abeno Harukas Art Museum, which hosts a wide range of exhibitions from Japan and abroad.
On the 19th and 20th floors, as well as floors 38–55 and 57, you’ll find the Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel, and on the 19th floor, the live kitchen “COOKA” lets you enjoy seasonal vegetables, fresh seafood, and meat along with sweeping views from 100 meters above the ground.

Founded in 1929 in a location just steps from Osaka’s landmark, Tsutenkaku Tower.
This is the flagship store of “Kushikatsu Daruma,” which operates mainly in Osaka City.
The kushikatsu is fried in Daruma’s special original oil, which has less of that distinct oiliness and is easy on the stomach, making it very easy to eat.

A new-style entertainment restaurant where you can enjoy fishing and dining, located a 1-minute walk from Tsutenkaku Tower, one of Osaka’s most popular tourist spots. Inside, there’s a massive fishing pond with a total water volume of 120 tons, arranged around three boldly installed boat-shaped seating areas.
Your catch is prepared in your preferred style—sashimi, tempura, sushi, and more—making it even more delicious!

A yakiniku restaurant where you can savor Oita Prefecture’s Bungo beef, conveniently located within a 3-minute walk of Tennoji Station, a terminal where many of Osaka’s transportation options come together.
Bungo beef from Oita Prefecture has its oleic acid levels—key to its flavor—carefully managed by strict numeric standards.
It’s known for beautiful marbling, and because the fat melts at a relatively low temperature, it’s less likely to solidify in your stomach, making it easier on you.

A location directly connected to JR Osaka Station, often called Osaka’s gateway.
It’s convenient not only for sightseeing, but also for shopping and business, and is used by a wide range of guests from Japan and abroad.
Universal Studios Japan is Approx. 11 minutes away by a direct JR train, and it’s also great that you can reach Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara—home to historic landmarks—directly by JR as well.

A new brand in Osaka from Palace Hotel Tokyo, one of Japan’s leading luxury hotels, located in Marunouchi, Tokyo.
Beyond comfort, it offers a high-quality, comfortable stay with refined design and service that resonate with guests’ sensibilities.
Its thoughtfully designed rooms incorporate natural materials and colors, and are well regarded for having the functions you need in an easy-to-use layout.

A hotel filled with elegant spaces reminiscent of an 18th-century British aristocratic residence.
Despite its excellent location within walking distance of JR Osaka Station, once you step inside, a non-everyday world awaits, with European classic furnishings and a stately atmosphere.
All guest rooms are located on the 24th floor and above, giving you the panoramic Osaka cityscape all to yourself.