Tokyo Skytree
The tallest tower in the world, blending neofuturistic design with traditional Japanese beauty.
Last updated
via Wikipedia: Tokyo Tower · see source
Where it is
Coordinates: 35°42′36″N 139°48′40″E (35.7100, 139.8110) · Open in OpenStreetMap
Coordinates and connected clubs: the infobox of Wikipedia: Tokyo Skytree (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map: drawn by Codexery from OpenStreetMap tiles.
Tokyo Skytree, a.k.a Tokyo Sky Tree, is a broadcasting and observation tower located in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It has been the tallest tower in Japan since opening in 2012, and reached its full height of 634 m in early 2011, making it the tallest tower in the world, displacing the Canton Tower, and the third tallest structure in the world behind Merdeka 118 (678.9 m) and Burj Khalifa (829.8 m or 2,722 ft).
The tower is the primary television and radio broadcast site for the Kantō region. Skytree was completed on Leap Day, 29 February 2012, with the tower opening to the public on 22 May 2012. The tower is the centerpiece of a large commercial development funded by Tobu Railway and a group of six terrestrial broadcasters headed by NHK.
Lore & Background
The tower's design was published on 24 November 2006, based on three concepts: fusion of neofuturistic design and traditional Japanese beauty, catalyst for revitalization of the city, and contribution to disaster prevention. The base has a structure similar to a tripod; from about 350 m and above, the structure is cylindrical. There are observatories at 350 m (capacity up to 2,000 people) and 450 m (capacity 900 people). The upper observatory features a spiral, glass-covered skywalk.
The tower has seismic proofing including a central shaft of reinforced concrete, oil dampers, and a tuned mass damper system that can absorb 50 percent of earthquake energy. The exterior lattice is painted 'Skytree White', an original color based on a bluish-white traditional Japanese color. Two illumination patterns alternate daily: sky blue Iki and purple Miyabi, using LEDs. The height of 634 m was selected because the figures 6 (mu), 3 (sa), 4 (shi) stand for 'Musashi', an old name for the region.
Reader's Guide
The tower is located in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. Trains stop at the adjacent Tokyo Skytree Station and nearby Oshiage Station. The complex is 7 km northeast of Tokyo Station.
Sumida Aquarium is in the Tokyo Solamachi complex. The tower opened to the public on 22 May 2012. Entrance fees were announced as 2,000 yen to the 350 m level and an extra 1,000 yen to the 450 m level.
Did You Know?
- The tower reached its final height of 634 m on 18 March 2011 at 1:34 pm JST.
- The tower was certified by Guinness World Records as the tallest free-standing tower on 17 November 2011.
- The tower's illumination design was published on 16 October 2009, with two patterns alternating daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is Tokyo Skytree located and who owns it?
The tower is situated in the Sumida ward of Tokyo, Japan, and is owned and operated by Tobu Railway.
What is Tokyo Skytree actually used for?
Its core function is serving as the main television and radio broadcast site for the entire Kantō region, a role it took over from the older Tokyo Tower, which could no longer deliver complete digital terrestrial TV coverage.
When was Tokyo Skytree completed and opened?
Construction wrapped up on 29 February 2012, and the tower officially opened its doors on 22 May 2012.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Tokyo Skytree (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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