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Officially called the Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel, everything about this says fun – it’s bright yellow, U-shaped, perched on top of the Don Quijote store in Dotonbori, Osaka’s neon-lit playground and covered with pictures of the store’s cute penguin mascot. But is riding the Ebisu Ferris Wheel in Dotonbori as fun as its exterior might have you believe? Here’s our review of the wheel, plus all the tips you need to plan your own visit.
Disclaimer… I don’t like heights at all, and I hate Ferris wheels. So, the Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel didn’t seem like the logical place to beeline towards first on my last trip to Osaka. But this was my fourth visit to the city, and this time, I was with someone who loves all sorts of fairground rides – plus, she’s a doctor, so I figured if I passed out from terror, I had help. If riding this thing was going to happen, it was going to be today.
Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
What Makes The Ebisu Wheel Different
I did have a sound theory for getting on this wheel when I avoid all others. The Ebisu Wheel isn’t shaped like an actual Ferris Wheel.
For starters, the pods aren’t swinging cars. They are fixed pods with a clear glass front. You sit in a seat running along the back, and have a clear view out of the window in front of you. I figured the stability would make it less scary than a normal wheel.
It’s also not a circle. It’s actually the world’s first oval wheel. You board at the bottom of the oval and then ride up and over the top – imagine it as an upside-down U.
The pods go straight up one side of the ride in a slow vertical rise, you then go over the top of the U and come back down in a straight vertical line. I was hoping this wouldn’t seem as scary as a normal Ferris wheel.
I was half right!
My Experience on the Wheel
As you can see, it’s all smiles before we start moving…
But, as we started our ascent, doubt crept in re this theory! The higher we got, the more rigid my body became and the tighter my grip on the railing, and it’s hard to grip when your hands are sweating.
About halfway up, the muttered swearing started. ‘Look,’ said my friend, pointing at some shiny thing below us – ‘Nope,’ said I.
All I could do was grip the handrail (look at the knuckles in the picture above) and stare at a fixed point in the distance – the Swissotel! If I’d had laser beams for eyes, that hotel and everything about six miles behind it would have been dust as I did not take my eyes off it! No, not even for a photo!
However, once we went over the top of the U, and started to descend, everything changed.
I relaxed. Oh – this is what everyone else feels like. This is fun. I actually managed to see something other than the Swissotel and enjoy the lights.
It’s actually a pretty smooth ride – other people have complained that it’s clunky, but I wasn’t scared by the motion at all – just the height. The view is to the south, overlooking Osaka. On a clear day, you could probably see toward Shinsekai and the Tsukentaku Tower, but you won’t see big sights like Osaka Castle as you don’t get a 360-degree view and the capsules face the wrong way.
The other slight downside re the view is that the ‘glass’ on the front of the capsules is a bit scratched, so the view itself is a little bit fuzzy. Some capsules suffer more from this than others.
Note that because the capsules face forward, you also don’t get a view of the famous Dotobori lights, as they’re off to the right. But you will come face-to-face with the giant Angry Chef.
Related Read: If you don’t know who the Angry Chef is, check out this guide to Osaka’s best food. Your stomach will thank me!
Covering the loop takes about 15 minutes, so it moves pretty slowly. Also, in reality, it’s only 77 metres high, which isn’t exactly that tall if you’re not scared of heights. To put that in perspective, the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is 144 metres high, the Statue of Liberty is 93 metres high, and the Monument in London is 64 metres high.
Despite my whimpering, I was glad I’d finally done it. It wouldn’t make my list of Top 10 Things to Do in Osaka, but I wouldn’t say avoid it. I think. It’s something you do for the experience of the wheel rather than the view, not least because of the scratched glass.
So, if you want to ride it too, here’s the answer to all the questions you probably have right now.
The Practical Information
What Are The Opening Hours?
It runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., but the last capsule boards at 9.30 p.m. Most people want to go up it in the evening, but as I said, the view over Osaka’s lights isn’t that good, so I think you’d enjoy it as much during the day as at night. I’ve also seen pictures of the view at dusk, and that seems to offer the best of both worlds.
How Much Does it Cost?
When we went, the cost was 1,000 yen per person – there is no discount for kids. You join the queue and purchase your ticket from the ticket machine located near the entrance. An important thing to note is that this does not take cards. You have to pay with cash.
If you are using the Osaka Amazing Pass, you’ll receive a 100 yen discount on your ride. There’s a special button for this on the machine.
Related Read: Find out more about the Osaka Amazing Pass here.
How Long Is the Wait?
There’s usually a queue, but it moves fast. According to the timestamps on my photos, we arrived at 5:27 and were in the capsule by 5:41. We were in Osaka in November on this trip, so it was dark at this time. I think that maybe if you come in the summer, when it gets darker a bit later or later in the evening, the queue would be longer. Google Maps has the peak time for people as 7-9 p.m.
Can You Book in Advance?
No. There are no skip-the-line passes or advance booking, so just show up and join the queue.
Related Read: 15 Things in Kyoto and Osaka you do need to book in advance.
Where’s the Entrance?
While you can see the wheel from all over Dotonbori, working out how to get into it isn’t actually that simple—we entered via the back of the store and followed signs, but then had to backtrack a bit so, enter from the front. The entrance is located alongside the canal walkway on the left-hand side of the Don Quijote store if you’re facing it.
Look for the large yellow struts and a red canopy – it’s not well-marked, but there is a sign if you look. Head up the steps to find the queue. The entrance is on the third floor, but you’ll probably hit the back of the queue before this.
Can Children Ride?
Children under three are not allowed on the wheel. Children under the age of six must be accompanied by an adult.
Need Extra Planning Help?
Our Japan trip planners can help. You might like our First-Timers Japan Planner, which will help you plan your trip to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka step-by-step, including tips on everything from picking hotels to sightseeing and dining. Or our super-duper Tokyo Disney Planner makes arranging your park trip MUCH easier. Find them in our Planners store – printable and digital versions are available.
How Many People Can Go in Each Car
They can seat four, but they don’t seem to mix groups. We were two, and we had our own car, which I was glad about. No one else needed to witness my meltdown!
How Are You Secured In?
There’s a lap bar that goes over all the people in the car. I can tell you it feels pretty secure, as I was gripping it very tightly.
Oh, and don’t panic when the ride first starts. The ride operator will secure the lap bar, and you will then start moving. At this point, you’re open to the air, and I had a brief moment when I thought, ‘Omg, did I imagine the glass on this thing?’ But your capsule will spin 180 degrees and seal into the pod.
If you’re claustrophobic, note that you are in a sealed pod, not an open car like most Ferris Wheels.
This video explains it
Is It Accessible?
The website doesn’t specify, but the narrow queue, stepped queuing area, and the way that you are secured into the ride make me think it’s not. I’ve seen other people answering this question to state that it’s not.
If you do want to ride a Ferris Wheel in Osaka, the Tempozan wheel, located near the Aquarium, has three wheelchair-accessible gondolas.
Save Money with Klook & Japlanease
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T&Cs apply. Some items, including Tokyo Disney and USJ tickets, are not available for discounts.
How Does It Compare to the Other Osaka Wheels?
Osaka has three main Ferris wheels – the other two are round ones. As you may have guessed, I haven’t been on either of those, but, here’s a quick comparison chart.
| Name | Height | Cost | Open |
| Ebisu Tower | 77 metre | 1000 yen | 11 a.m -10 p.m |
| Hep Five | 106m | 800 yen | 11 a.m to 10.45 p.m |
| Tempozan | 112.5m | 900 yen | 10 a.m – 9/10 p.m |
Does it Play the Donki Song The Whole Way?
Sadly not. But the inside of each gondola is decorated with a different image of DonPen, the store’s mascot. Each of the 32 capsules features a unique image. You know that there are people out there who have ridden in every one of them, especially.
So, there you have it. The details you need to ride the Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel in Osaka. If you’re still not quite sure how to schedule your days in the city, take a look at our three-day Osaka itinerary which will help.
