Landmark & Tower · Fukushima / Umeda

Gate Tower Building ゲートタワービル

The office tower that a highway goes through: the Hanshin Expressway passes straight through floors 5 to 7 of this 16-storey building in Fukushima, a strange compromise that has become a viral Osaka sight.

About

When the landowners and the highway authority could not agree on the land, the Gate Tower Building, completed in 1992, was designed with an expressway exit ramp running through its middle. The floors around the road are elevator machinery and stairs; the road itself is a separate structure that does not touch the building, so offices above and below are not shaken. Seen from the riverside, a slow, wide exit ramp vanishes into the building and comes out the other side. It is a short walk from Umeda Sky Building, and the view from the Fukushima side of the Dojima River, or from the bridge to the west, gives the clearest shot.

Highlights

• Expressway ramp passing through floors 5-7 of an office tower
• Viral architectural oddity since 1992
• Ten minutes walk from Umeda Sky Building
• Good daytime and night shots from the riverside

Tips

• The best angle is from the south side along the Dojima River in Fukushima; from below, the ramp and building line up.
• Combine with Umeda Sky Building and the Fukushima izakaya area.
• It is a private office building, so view from outside only.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

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