Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) is a communication and observation tower completed in 1958. Located in Shiba Park in Tokyo's Minato Ward, it is one of the most iconic landmarks of the Japanese capital. The tower is used to broadcast 24 television and radio programmes and attracts some three million visitors each year.
The photo above shows the roof of FootTown, a four-storey building with shops and restaurants built under the tower, the Main Deck at 150 metres, and the Top Deck at 250 metres height.
The Main Deck holds several souvenir shops, a wax museum, and even a Shinto shrine (see below). During the coronavirus pandemic, those shops were all closed.
The Great Shinto Shrine of Tokyo Tower was completed in 1977 to commemorate the tower's twenty-fifth anniversary. It was renovated in 2008 and 2019.
There is a staircase between the roof of FootTown and the Main Observatory. Visitors can scale the six-hundred stairs in 15-20 minutes (eight when descending). The Top Deck can only be reached by two elevators from the Main Deck.
The Top Deck is at a height of 250 metres.
The view of the Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba, and the newly reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay from the Top Observatory.
The view towards the east, with Kachidoki Bridge (left) and Tsukiji Ohashi spanning the Sumida River.
Tokyo Skytree, as seen from the Top Deck.
The view towards the southwest with Mount Fuji on the horizon and Roppongi Hills Mori Tower to the right.
Although Tokyo Tower is no longer the highest viewpoint in Tokyo, it still offers spectacular views of Japan's capital. Ironically, the (free) roof deck of the nearby Roppongi Hills' Mori Towers provides the best view of Tokyo Tower (see the photo at the top of this page).
Tokyo Tower Facts
- Modelled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, at 332.6 metres, Tokyo Tower stands 13 metres taller than its French role model.
- Tokyo Tower has two observation platforms, at 150 and 250 metres. The Top Deck was originally designed as a work platform for antenna maintenance but opened to the public in 1967.
- Tokyo Tower weighs in at 4,000 tonnes, 3,300 tonnes less than the Eiffel Tower.
- It is one of the world's tallest, self-supported steel (truss) towers.
- The tower is painted in international orange and white, using 28,000 litres of paint, the equivalent of 140 drums.
- It is illuminated by 176 floodlights installed and lit up in orange light in winter and white incandescent light in summer.
The photo above shows the roof of FootTown, a four-storey building with shops and restaurants built under the tower, the Main Deck at 150 metres, and the Top Deck at 250 metres height.
The Main Deck holds several souvenir shops, a wax museum, and even a Shinto shrine (see below). During the coronavirus pandemic, those shops were all closed.
The Great Shinto Shrine of Tokyo Tower was completed in 1977 to commemorate the tower's twenty-fifth anniversary. It was renovated in 2008 and 2019.
There is a staircase between the roof of FootTown and the Main Observatory. Visitors can scale the six-hundred stairs in 15-20 minutes (eight when descending). The Top Deck can only be reached by two elevators from the Main Deck.
The Top Deck is at a height of 250 metres.
The view of the Rainbow Bridge, Odaiba, and the newly reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay from the Top Observatory.
The view towards the east, with Kachidoki Bridge (left) and Tsukiji Ohashi spanning the Sumida River.
Tokyo Skytree, as seen from the Top Deck.
The view towards the southwest with Mount Fuji on the horizon and Roppongi Hills Mori Tower to the right.
Although Tokyo Tower is no longer the highest viewpoint in Tokyo, it still offers spectacular views of Japan's capital. Ironically, the (free) roof deck of the nearby Roppongi Hills' Mori Towers provides the best view of Tokyo Tower (see the photo at the top of this page).
Address: 4-2-8 Shiba-koen, Minato, Tokyo 105-0011; phone: 03-3433-5111
Hours: daily Main Deck 09:00-23:00 (last admission 22:30), Top Deck Tour 09:00-22:45 (last tour 22:00-22:15). During the coronavirus pandemic, opening hours are restricted to 10:30-20:00.
Admission: Online tickets can be purchased on the official Tokyo Tower website. Group discounts and One-day passes are available.
Hours: daily Main Deck 09:00-23:00 (last admission 22:30), Top Deck Tour 09:00-22:45 (last tour 22:00-22:15). During the coronavirus pandemic, opening hours are restricted to 10:30-20:00.
Admission: Online tickets can be purchased on the official Tokyo Tower website. Group discounts and One-day passes are available.
Main Deck | Top Deck Tour | |
---|---|---|
Adult (19 years old and over) | 1,200 JPY | 2,800 JPY (online ticket), 3,000 JPY (ticket counter) |
High School (16-18 years old) | 1,000 JPY | 2,600 JPY (online ticket), 2,800 JPY (ticket counter) |
Junior High, Elementary School (7-15 years old) | 700 JPY | 1,800 JPY (online ticket), 2,000 JPY (ticket counter) |
Children (from 4-6 years old) | 500 JPY | 1,200 JPY (online ticket), 1,400 JPY (ticket counter) |
Link:
- Tokyo Tower Views (by Ben Bansal)