Tokyo Skytree [東京スカイツリー]
Tokyo Skytree and Sumida River
Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Skytree is a communicatinal tower opened in 2012 May, and is located about 1 km east of Asakusa area.
The height is 634 meters, and it is the heighest tower in the world.
It is one of the popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo.
The construction of this tower started in 2008.
In Japan, all terrestrial TV broadcasting services have changed to digital media broadcasting in 2011.
Because Tokyo Tower (333 meters high) was too low, Tokyo Skytree was constructed by 2012 as the new radio tower.
Entrance of Tokyo Skytree
Tembo Galleria in Tokyo Skytree
The constructure of this tower utilizes the one of the five story-pagoda of Horyuji Temple in Nara Prefecture.
Because the wooden pagoda is remaining for 1,400 years. (It was built in 607, and is the oldest wooden building in the world.)
When the Great East Japan Earthquake occured on March 11, 2011, Tokyo shook violently.
This tower was under construction and near completion, and this tower was also shaken.
But this tower was no damage.
Because, this tower was designed to correspond to the shaking of envisioned various great earthquakes in Tokyo.
The Great East Japan Earthquake became the first real test of the safety of Tokyo Skytree.
This tower has the first Observatory (Tembo Deck) at a height of 350 meters above the ground and the second Observatory (Tembo Galleria) at a height of 450 meters.
We can ascend to the observatories by the elevator.
Tokyo Solamachi
Shops in Tokyo Solamachi
At the foot of the tower, there is a big commercial complex Tokyo Solamachi (東京ソラマチ) with over 300 shops and restaurants.
The shops include the shops of Disney and Pokemon, and there is Sumida Aquarium (すみだ水族館) in the building.
How to get here
-
Nearest stations of subway.
Oshiage (●Z14 Hanzomon Line, ●A20 Asakusa Line) - Get off at Tokyo Skytree station of Tobu Line.
It is the next station of Asakusa, and it takes 3 minutes.
