Osaka plans to build Japan’s tallest Ferris wheel, set to open in autumn 2015

▲ Osaka plans to build a multifunctional entertainment mall featuring Japan’s tallest Ferris wheel. (Photo / fromthe I Love Osaka fan page)

Reporter Tsai Wenjun / Comprehensive report

Following the completion of Japan’s tallest building—Abeno HARUKAS—Osaka is set to claim another national first. Japanese developers plan to construct a multifunctional leisure complex around Expo Commemoration Park, featuring a large shopping mall, an aquarium, and other entertainment facilities. The most eye-catching feature will be a 130-meter-tall Ferris wheel, which is expected to become Japan’s tallest upon its completion in 2015.

According to Japanese media reports, this large-scale multifunctional amusement facility will cover a total area of approximately 220,000 square meters. The planned three-story large shopping mall alone will occupy 88,000 square meters. In addition to Japan’s tallest Ferris wheel, the leisure and recreational facilities will also include an aquarium, a cinema with Japan’s largest screen, and a pioneering entertainment facility that combines education and fun, allowing visitors to learn English while they play. The complex will also gather a variety of international and local specialty cuisines. Upon its expected completion in autumn 2015, it will become a new tourist attraction for visitors.