Tokyo Tower is one of the most universally known symbols of the city.
With a height of 333 meters, it is the second-highest structure in Japan. In compliance with air safety regulations, it is painted orange and white, making it easily visible from a distance and bringing a dash of color to the futuristic skyline of the city.
Built in 1958 and modeled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Tokyo Tower was initially used as a broadcasting antenna and observation point, while today it is one of the city’s major tourist attractions: although it still transmits TV and radio signals, it has been visited by over 150 million people since it was built.
Two fast elevators take visitors up to the terraces, which offer breath-taking views over Tokyo from heights of 150 and 250 meters.
Beneath the tower is a four-story building, known as Foot Town, with restaurants, stores and even a playground.
On the first floor is an aquarium. It’s one of the largest in the world, with some 50,000 fish of 900 different species. There’s also a restaurant with a capacity of up to 400 people, as well as the elevators. On the second floor, there are stores and fast-food restaurants, while on the third and fourth floors you’ll find a series of rooms dedicated to interactive games based on the “One Piece” manga series, as well as a store selling one of the largest selections of comics in the city.
On the roof of Foot Town is a small children’s park. From here, you can avoid the lift if you like, and take the 660 steps up to the main observation deck. The choice is yours!
At night, the tower is lit up with 176 projectors: orange from October 2nd to July 6th, and white from July 7th until October 1st.
Let me leave you with an interesting fact: the tower is repainted every five years, and the job requires a whole year – and 28,000 liters of paint – to complete.
Language: English