Alex C.
Yelp
First off, if you find yourself in Osaka, you NEED to get the Osaka Amazing Pass. It's ¥3,600 for a 2-day pass, which works out to around $24USD. And includes admission to quite a few attractions throughout Osaka, including the observatory above the Umeda Sky Building.
The Umeda Sky Building is a beautiful architectural feat, and a beautiful building to admire within the Osaka skyline. Originally conceived as 4 major interconnecting buildings, due to Japan's economic in the 1980's, the plan was eventually downsized to 2 towers connected by a rooftop observatory.
Admission to the tower costs ¥1,500/adult without the Osaka Amazing Pass. And this site is easily reachable via the JR station; although there is a ~10min walk from the station to the building. At the time of this visit, there were still a lot of construction happening between the JR station and the Sky Building, so I anticipate there to be much more shopping and activities to do once all the work is completed. But for now, there's not a whole lot to see in-between.
Aside from the paths leading to the various office buildings, the ground floor leading to the observatory entrance has a few shops, most of which were either closed or under construction. After a quick elevator trip up to the 35th floor, there is a beautiful escalator with transparent 360 degree windows that allow you a spectacular view as you travel up to the 39th floor. Although this trip up is a really great spot to snap some pics, don't be despaired if you forget to do so, as you'll have another chance on your escalator ride back down.
The 39th and 40th floor affords some incredible 360 view of Osaka. And there's a (not surprisingly) overpriced cafe on the 40th if you want some light snacks or drinks to enjoy while soaking up the spectacular sights. For an additional ¥1,100, you can personalize a heart-shaped padlock to either take back with you as a souvenir, or lock them along with everyone else's locks at the skydeck observatory.