Take a ride on Japan’s only Don Quijote Ferris Wheel, the epic Ebisu Tower in Dotonbori, Osaka.
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Obviously no trip to Japan is complete without a visit to Japan’s most famous discount chain, Don Quijote. For the ultimate Don Quijote experience in Japan, you need to take a spin on the Ebisu Tower Don Quijote Ferris Wheel in Osaka’s Dotonbori district.
From prices to the outstanding views at the tap, here is our ultimate guide to taking a spin on the Don Quijote Ferris Wheel Ebisu Tower in Osaka, Japan in 2025 (with photos).
This article was originally published on 16 February 2024.
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Don Quijote in Japan
Talk to any traveller who has been to Japan and it won’t be long before conversation likely turns to Don Quijote, a famous Japanese discount store that has over 600 stores in Japan (and other overseas branches). It is one of the most famous chain stores in Japan.
Founded in the 1980s in their first store in Tokyo, there are now over 700 Don Quijote stores worldwide including shops in the USA (Hawaii), Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia.
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Osaka Don Quijote stores
Whilst shopping in Don Quijote is always fun, Osaka should definitely be a Don Quijote pilgrimage for superfans – there are over 30 Don Quijote stores in Osaka alone (including 10 MEGA Don Quijotes).
But best of all, Osaka is home to Japan’s only Don Quijote ferris wheel – Ebisu Tower, complete with Donpen branding and cute characters galore.
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Introducing the Don Quijote Ferris Wheel Ebisu Tower
Japan’s most joyful sky wheel that offers Osaka’s best aerial views, this fun ferris wheel is perched on the side of the Don Quijote Dotonbori branch overlooking the Tombori River.
From the ferris wheel capsule windows, you can see all the sights of Osaka and Dotonbori up high including the Tonburi river and its tourist cruise, Tsutenkaku Tower and Abeno Harukas.
Look closely and you might even spot the mysterious Tonburi Wolf character down below playing his harmonica.
Accessible via the Don Quijote Dotonbori store in Osaka, this ferris wheel is one of the best ways to see the Osaka cityscape from up high – and this might be the only time you’ll see a penguin fly (Donpen is all over it).
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Giant kushikatsu man in Osaka
One of the more weird and wonderful things to look out for in Osaka when going up on the Don Quijote Ferris Wheel, be sure to take a snap of the giant kushikatsu man and his mammoth skewers whilst in the air.
This huge chef head of an angry looking man is a classic kushikatsu motif and mascot of one of the most iconic kushikatsu restaurants in Osaka – Kushikatsu Daruma. Their food is delicious too!
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Don Quijote Ferris Wheel Ebisu Tower vital statistics
One of the most fun things to do in Osaka, we rode the Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel and it was a ‘revolution’ (literally, we did one full spin of the wheel).
The Ebisu Tower opened in 2005 and is a rare elliptical oval Ferris Wheel that is almost 80 metres in height. In fact, Ebisu Tower is the world’s first oblong Ferris wheel and has 32 gondolas all of which travel at 10 m/min.
Is the Don Quijote Ebisu Tower the most unique ferris wheel in Japan? We think it is very quirky and elliptical ferris wheels are pretty rare so it is definitely one of the more popular and iconic rides in Japan.
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The experience aboard Ebisu Tower / Don Quijote Ferris Wheel
After buying tickets at the machine on the third floor of Don Quijote Dotonbori, you then join a queue for your ride.
There is plenty to look at whilst you are waiting as there is a huge wall of Donpen character statues and illustrations, plus some photo spots .
Once you reach the front of the queue, it is time for this Don Quijote and Donpen themed ferris wheel to take flight (ironic really as Donpen the penguin probably can’t fly).
One of the most unusual things about taking a spin on the Don Quijote Osaka Wheel is that your seats swing around 180 degrees as the door shuts – it is in fact the world’s first ferris wheel with horizontally rotating seats.
Kind of like revolving chairs, it is an unusual feeling but a great design feature as it means you get to see an unobscured view of southern Osaka from up high with very few buildings in the way. It is also a unique way to see Osaka at night.
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Staff at the Ebisu Tower also kindly offered to take a picture of us in the capsule before the door was sealed – so this is a cool Don Quijote photo souvenir!
The full journey / one spin on the Don Quijote Ferris Wheel takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.
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Ebisu Tower / Don Quijote Osaka Ferris Wheel price
So how much does a ride on Ebisu Tower cost?
The Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel in Dotonbori Osaka costs 1,000 Yen per adult for a 15 minute ride, as of October 2025 – get a 100 Yen discount when using your Amazing Osaka Pass.
Each Don Quijote ferris wheel capsule can accommodate up to four people.
Get 100 yen off from the regular pass by showing your Osaka Amazing Pass card ticket – get your Osaka Amazing Pass here with Klook >
Expect to queue a little before getting on board, especially during peak tourist season.
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Ebisu Tower opening hours in 2025
The Don Quijote Ferris Wheel is open and spinning from 11am to 10pm (last entry at 9.30pm).
Please note it opens later on Tuesdays from 1.30pm due to weekly maintenance.
It sometimes also closes during bad weather and public holidays.
The actual Dotonbori Don Quijote store is open daily from 10am to 4am. Be sure to also check out the 10 Yen cheese coin shop near it (big queues but tasty!)
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Other Don Quijote theme park rides in Japan
Did you know there were once plans for a Don Quijote rollercoaster in Roppongi, Tokyo?
A “half-pipe” dream and since abandoned, there were once plans afoot for a Donki roller coaster on the roof of its Roppongi store in Tokyo.
The Don Quijote rollercoaster was actually 100% completed in 2006 and ready to open but alas the plans fell through after opposition from local community groups who thought it would create too much noise and attract crowds.
So you’ll just have to make do with the Donki Ferris wheel for now!
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Address
Don Quijote Dotonbori Ferris Wheel Ebisu Tower, 7-13 Soemoncho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 542 – 0084.
How to get to the Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel at Don Quijote Dontonbori
The Ebisu Tower Don Quijote Ferris Wheel is approximately 5 minutes walk from Exit 14 of Namba Station in Osaka.
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