Harukas 300 - a photo on Flickriver

Harukas 300

            Abeno Harukas, Osaka, Japan

For those who have been following the perils of Mrs R during the week in the Umeda Sky Building the day wasn't over and even some retail therapy in one of Osaka biggest department stores didn't help. HEP 5, is a shopping complex with specialty shops geared for the younger generation that just so happens to have a giant red Ferris wheel on its roof...

I went on it alone...

But that's not the subject of the picture. Osaka is home to Japan highest skyscraper - part of the Abenobashi Terminal Building - Abeno Harukas tops out at 300m. Not particularly high when compared to the construction egos of America, China and now the Middle East and the U.A.E., but then Japan has the sense to build practically considering its geography in the earthquake zone of the Pacific rim. From afar it's not a particularly striking building consisting of three box structures stepped together, but if the observation deck is anything to go by then it's certainly hiding its light under a bushel. The ride in the internal lift is like the Millennium Falcon jumping to light speed... an array of lights that travel with you up the tower creating a sense of rapid speed and distracting you from any awareness of time. Like most things we encountered in Japan they are very good at presentation and Harukas is no exception. You exit the lift at the 60th floor... you know this from the giant illuminated sign backlit through the lift wall. Once out into the open you really do notice that it is open... a stunning three storey open air observation deck covering floors 58, 59 and 60.

The 60th floor is the Observatory Gallery at 288m - a glass walled balcony that runs around the outside and affords panoramic views of Osaka as well as overlooking the Sky Garden below on the 58th floor. Just like the Orizuru Tower in Hiroshima, this is a relaxing and enjoyable place to watch the sun setting over Osaka and the city streets don their neon. There is no sense of a fast turnover of visitors for you can stay as long as you like and it never feels crowded. We arrived in plenty of time for sunset and sat in the garden with a couple of drinks awaiting the spectacle. I can't find any fault with Harukas 300 and if it's a choice between this and the Umeda Sky Building this wins it for me as again I consider this great architectural design that's good for the human spirit. Pleasant, open air that creates a sense of freedom and instant relaxation.

My only gripe is from a photography point of view. Yes, you can take a tripod up, which I didn't have on account of carrying one all day over a city isn't fun, and besides, I hate having to use slow shutter speeds when hand holding in low light as well as using high ISO. So apologies for is particular upload but I wanted to show this building's gem. I'm shooting through the inner windows of the gallery looking down on the Sky Garden with  the city streets of Osaka in the distance.

Mrs R had a great evening and didn't even reach stage 1 so the day ended on a high, if you pardon the pun.

PS: the heliport deck is the actual 300m in case you were wondering where the title came from.
PPS: I did shoot the sunset, however what looks ok in the back of the camera sucked on the computer screen back home on account of fringing or stress lines in the glass windows!

Taken on: October 11, 2017

Tags:

Japan

Osaka

Harukas 300

observatory

gallery

Sky Garden

heliport

300m

skyscraper

tower

architecture

building

tallest in Japan

Andy Rouse

Canon

EOS

5D3

5DMkIII

EF24-105mm f/4L « less

Sets appears in: • Japan - 2017

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Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III, f/4.0, 1/30 sec, 24mm, ISO 5000 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Lens:	EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.033 sec (1/30)
Focal Length:	24mm
ISO:	5000
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CC (Windows)
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