In survey after survey, Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka's Shinsekai district comes in second among the structures that most strongly symbolize the spirit of Osaka, the first being Osaka Castle.

The original Tsutenkaku, which means "the path-to-heaven structure," was raised in 1912 just south of its present location.

It burned down in the bombing of World War II and was rebuilt in 1956. The new tower was designed by Tachu Naito, the same architect who built Tokyo Tower. An eight-sided structure, Tsutenkaku stands 103 meters tall and is lit by neon lights in the evening.