PL Tower (Great Peace Prayer Tower): Osaka’s Strangest Building
The PL Tower, formally known as the Great Peace Prayer Tower, rises dramatically over the suburbs of Osaka, creating one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the Kansai region at over 600 ft high. Built as a monumental expression of peace, artistic freedom, and spiritual unity by the PL Kyodan the tower stands as a monument to all the perished souls of war throughout all time.
A Monument Rooted in Peace and History
Completed in 1970, the PL Tower was part of a period in which Japan was embracing bold, visionary architecture. The tower was built by PL Kyodan, an organization founded by Tokuharu Miki and later led by Takashi Miki also known as the Church of Perfect Liberty. Rather than serving as a traditional religious structure, the tower was conceived as a universal monument for peace—a place where the prayers and hopes of people throughout the world could symbolically rise toward the heavens. The church founders designed the structure themselves using a scaled clay model to shape the form of the building, appointing Nikken Sekkei as the architect to oversee construction.
A Mysterious Interior
The tower’s interior contains prayer halls, memorial spaces, and a viewing area used by PL Kyodan for private rituals and peace-related observances. Because the upper levels of the PL Tower are not open to the public, limited information is known about the exact design.
The church of Perfect Liberty owns a large amount of land in the vicinity and operate a hospital, a golf course, a school and other sports facilities. The organization remains a mysterious movement which is not affiliated with any of the major religious traditions of Japan. In the late 20th century the group claimed more than 2.5 million adherents worldwide.
Urban Juxtapositions: Best Photography Spots
Some of the best angles for photography can be seen from the streets surrounding Tondabayashi-Nishiguchi Station. My personal favourite being on the hill near the Former Tanakas’ Residence where the street aligns perfectly to frame the tower and is a popular Instagram spot.
Visiting the Tower
The tower is located about an hour south of Central Osaka, the nearest station is Tondabayashi Station on the Kintetsu-Nagano Line and it is then a 30 minute walk to the project. Visitors can enter the ground level, where there is a small reception, but not the upper floors of the tower.
Project Details
Completed: 1970
Architect: PL Kyodan / Nikken Sekkei
Photographs : © Finbarr Fallon (2025)
