In Osaka There's A Highway That Passes Through A Building

The Gate Tower Building in downtown Osaka doesn’t stand out much at street level. However, look up to witness what appears at first to be an optical illusion – cars driving straight through the middle of the skyscraper. Yet, this is exactly what is happening, thanks to an agreement that was reached between the Japanese government and the original landowners in the 1980s.

The land dispute

Considering how much controversy can be caused by architectural design, as well as how often people get cheated or manipulated by wealthier, more powerful entities when it comes to land ownership, the story of the Gate Tower Building is a bizarre yet beautiful example of how compromise can actually work. It all started in the late 19th century when a wood and charcoal business called Suezawa Sangyo purchased the property rights to the plot. Over the years, their buildings on the land fell into disrepair. When they finally planned to redevelop the area in 1983, a new exit ramp connecting the Hanshin Expressway to downtown Osaka was already set to pass through. The landowners and the highway cooperation fought for five years until they ultimately reached a solution – why not have both?

The tower, center left, has a traffic tunnel passing straight through.

An architectural anomaly

How it works

Today, the Gate Tower Building is an office building owned by the TKP corporation. The building is 16 stories high, but only 13 of these are regularly occupied – floors five through seven were sacrificed to allow space for the road. Those who regularly occupy or visit the space hardly notice anything out of the ordinary aside from the elevator skipping floors four through eight.

This stretch of the Hanshin Expressway is quite busy, as it leads traffic straight to Umeda, the largest downtown hub in Osaka and gateway to Osaka Station, home to most of the major train lines that run through the metropolis. Umeda is also where most of the suit-clad workforce commutes on a daily basis to work from their cubicles. So, it’s quite possible that many who work in the Gate Tower Building actually drive through it on their way to work!

The Gate Tower Building is a wonderful example of how something radically new and interesting can come about when people actually work together. If you’re ever in Osaka, don’t forget to stop by – or pass through!

Gate Tower Building, 5-4-21 Fukushima, Fukushima-ku, Osaka, Japan

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.