Don Quijote Dotonbori Ferris Wheel

Ebisu Tower is an oval Ferris wheel standing 77.4 meters tall, located at the Don Quijote Dotonbori store in Soemoncho, Chuo Ward, Osaka. It first opened in March 2005, but operations were suspended in June 2008 after issues were discovered. Even during the suspension, it remained popular as a Dotonbori symbol alongside the Glico sign. Responding to many requests to resume, it reopened after renovation in January 2018. The newly added waiting area has a Japanese-style design and is decorated with lucky-charms, including Donpen-kun dressed as “Ebessan” or a beckoning cat, as well as a gold-leaf Donpen-kun atop a treasure chest. One ride takes 15 minutes, offering views of Namba’s cityscape, Abeno Harukas, Tsutenkaku, and, from the top, even coastal scenery around Port Town. The 32 gondolas can rotate 180 degrees horizontally, and the interior uses a bench-style seat where four people can sit side by side—featuring a world-first technology. The gondola interiors use Japan-inspired color schemes, each with a single “lucky Donpen-kun” illustration.