Sakishima Cosmo Tower Observatory

The Sakishima Cosmo Tower, officially the Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building, rises 256 metres over the reclaimed bayside district of Nanko in Suminoe Ward. Its 55th-floor observatory, at roughly 252 metres above the ground, is one of the highest viewpoints in Osaka and, because it sits out on the waterfront rather than in the dense city centre, it offers a completely different perspective from the towers of Umeda and Tennoji.

Getting to the top is part of the fun. From the lower floors you ride a glass elevator up the outside of the building, then transfer to a long escalator enclosed in a glass tube that runs at an angle up to the observatory, the bay opening out beneath you as you climb. The observation deck itself is a bright, glass-walled ring that circles the tower for a full 360-degree panorama, with benches and low lighting that make it a relaxed place to linger.

Because the tower faces the water, the views are dominated by Osaka Bay. Look west and you can pick out Awaji Island, the great span of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, planes coming and going from Kansai International Airport, and the cranes and container ships of one of Japan's busiest ports. Turn inland and the whole eastern skyline of Osaka spreads out, with Abeno Harukas and the Umeda cluster clearly visible and, on clear days, the mountains beyond. Directly below sits the Intex Osaka convention centre and the ferris wheel and attractions of the Cosmosquare area.

What sets the Cosmo Tower apart is its opening hours. While most observation decks close in the early evening, this one stays open until 22:00, which makes it a superb and surprisingly uncrowded spot for night views. Sunsets over the bay here are spectacular, the sky and water turning gold and then deep blue while the port lights and the distant city begin to sparkle. Because it is off the main tourist trail, you often have long stretches of glass to yourself, and at around 1,000 yen for adults it is one of the best-value high viewpoints in the city.

The surrounding Nanko district rewards a little extra exploration. The Osaka Prefectural Government offices occupy much of the tower, and nearby you will find the ATC shopping and exhibition complex and a waterfront promenade good for a stroll before heading up. This is also a convenient stop if you are passing through the bay area to reach the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan or the ferry terminals.

Access takes a couple of transfers but is straightforward. Ride the Osaka Metro Chuo Line to Cosmosquare Station, then change to the driverless Nanko Port Town Line, known as the New Tram, and ride one stop to Trade Center-mae Station, from which the tower is a three-minute walk. Note that the observatory is closed on Mondays. Come in the late afternoon, watch the sun drop into the bay, and stay for the lights: for a quiet, panoramic and affordable evening view, the Cosmo Tower is one of Osaka's underrated gems.