Tokyo Skytree 🇯🇵

Tokyo Skytree is a prominent broadcast and observation tower situated in the Sumida district of Tokyo, Japan, approximately seven kilometers northeast of Tokyo Station. Standing at a height of 634 meters, it is the tallest structure in Japan and the world's tallest tower. The structure serves as the primary transmission hub for television and radio signals across the Kantō region, taking over full digital terrestrial broadcasting duties from Tokyo Tower, which faced coverage limitations due to surrounding high-rise buildings.

The development was funded by Tobu Railway alongside a collective of six major terrestrial broadcasters led by NHK. Construction officially commenced in July 2008, and the tower opened to the public in May 2012. Its official name was chosen by a nationwide public vote in 2008. The height of 634 meters was selected as a mnemonic reference to Musashi, an ancient name for the surrounding region, utilizing Japanese numeric wordplay for the numbers six, three, and four.

The tower's architecture blends neofuturistic styling with traditional Japanese aesthetic concepts. The base of the tower is shaped like a tripod, transitioning into a cylindrical structure above 350 meters to provide panoramic views of the surrounding city and river. The exterior lattice is painted Skytree White, a color derived from a traditional bluish-white shade called aijiro. At night, the tower is illuminated with LEDs in daily alternating patterns: a sky-blue scheme named Iki and a purple scheme named Miyabi. To resist earthquakes, the tower integrates a central shaft of reinforced concrete, oil dampers, and a tuned mass damper system to offset seismic movement.

Visitors to the tower can access two public observation areas. The lower observatory sits at a height of 350 meters and holds up to 2,000 people, while the upper observatory is located at 450 meters with a capacity for 900 guests. The higher deck features a sloped, glass-covered spiral skywalk leading to the topmost platform, as well as a section of glass flooring offering direct downward views of the city streets. The surrounding commercial complex includes Tokyo Solamachi, which houses the Sumida Aquarium.

Travelers can reach the site directly by train via the adjacent Tokyo Skytree Station or the nearby Oshiage Station.

Tokyo Skytree in pictures