Author: Misyu Sakodo Tools used: Smartphone - iPhone 13 Pro
During a break from attending my favorite artist's concert, I embarked on a two-day Osaka Ferris Wheel Tour with a friend, visiting three different Ferris wheels.
I’ve often talked about the appeal of Ferris wheels and steel structures, but this time, for the first time ever, I told my friend, "I want to ride," and included it in our itinerary!
In this first installment, I’ll introduce you to a Ferris wheel with unique features found nowhere else in the world!
[Dotonbori Giant Ferris Wheel - Ebisu Tower]
There’s a Ferris wheel attached to the Don Quijote Dotonbori store in Namba, Osaka, which boasts two world-first features.
What are these two world-firsts, you ask?
The first is that it’s not a regular hanging Ferris wheel—it rotates along rails in an elongated oval shape.
The second is that when you get on, the Ferris wheel rotates horizontally, facing forward.
What?! It’s not round but elongated? Sounds interesting! And since it rotates on rails, it doesn’t seem scary at all. I knew I had to see, photograph, and ride it from the start.
Opening Troubles, a Long Hiatus, and a Comeback
In March 2005, the Ebisu Tower was completed along with the opening of the Don Quijote Dotonbori store.
It was installed as a symbol of entertainment and was loved by people from both inside and outside the city. However, due to a rail malfunction in June 2008, the Ferris wheel had to be shut down.
Despite not being operational, the Ebisu Tower remained a symbol of Namba, standing tall alongside the Glico sign, watching over Dotonbori. I don't know though.
Amid calls for its reopening, a survey asking whether people wanted to ride it again gathered a majority of positive responses.
Responding to these voices, ¥250 million was invested in safety enhancements and the installation of heating and air conditioning inside the cabins. Finally, in January 2018, it triumphantly reopened after a major renovation!
It’s been six years since the grand reopening. How crowded is it now...?
On this day, I had a jam-packed schedule (as is my usual style): travel from Tokyo to Osaka → visit and photograph the Tempozan Ferris Wheel → visit, ride, and photograph the Ebisu Tower → takoyaki → donuts → concert. Naturally, I was concerned about how crowded it would be.
But...!! Could it be...?! This crowded...?!
The Ferris wheel operates only from 2:00 PM, and by the time we lined up at 1:50 PM, we were already standing just before the “20 minutes from here” sign.
Completely unexpected. Even after six years since its renovation, the demand remains high—perhaps because of its two world-first features. It’s really a good thing!
There were also many international visitors, possibly due to the impact of inbound tourism.
We waited for about 15 minutes, which matched exactly the time indicated by the “20 minutes from here” sign.
Next time, in Vol.2, I’ll share my experience on the ride! Stay tuned for details about what kind of aerial stroll it turns out to be!
[Ride Time] 15 minutes per rotation
[Price] ¥600 per person
[Operating Hours] 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Last ride at 7:30 PM)
[Closed] Every Tuesday and Friday (subject to weather conditions and emergency maintenance)
Located at Don Quijote Dotonbori Store
