Which skyscraper in Osaka was Japan’s tallest building when it opened in 2014?

Abeno Harukas was Japan’s tallest building when it opened in 2014.

The mixed-use skyscraper rises 300 metres above Osaka’s Abeno district. Its name comes from an old Japanese word meaning “to make bright” or “to clear up,” reflecting the project’s connection with views and illumination.

Abeno Harukas includes a department store, offices, a hotel, an art museum, and an observation deck called Harukas 300. The tower was completed in 2014 and surpassed Yokohama Landmark Tower as Japan’s tallest building.

The distinction later changed when Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower in Tokyo reached 325 metres in 2023. Abeno Harukas is also sometimes confused with Tokyo Skytree, which is much taller but is a broadcasting and observation tower rather than a conventional occupied skyscraper.