Tokyo Skytree is now the tallest tower in the world, measuring 634 meters (2080 feet).
This newest addition to the skyline is located in Sumida, Tokyo. Construction broke ground in July, 2008 and work was completed in February, 2012. Tokyo Skytree functions primarily as a commercial televison and radio broadcast tower. However, it has also become a tremendous city attraction. The tower opened to the public on May 22. There are two feature observatories at 350m (1150ft) and at 450m (1480ft). Observatory tickets have been in high demand. Tickets are sold out now until mid-July.
If you cannot go inside Tokyo Skytree, you can still hang around. The tower is the centerpiece of a coordinated commercial development effort called Skytree Town. There, Tokyo residents and tourists can find a shopping mall, aquarium, dome theater, commercial building space, and an open area park to relax in. According to one news source, over 1.1 million people have visited Skytree Town in the first 5 days. That’s a lot of curious Japanese!
If you like thronging crowds, now is the time to go! If you prefer a less manic scene, you may want to wait for some of the novelty to wear off. Fortunately, the tower is tall so you can check it out from a distance any time. Turns out the Skytree is illuminated at night with LED lights. The tower reflects ‘skyblue’ and ‘purple'; two colors that alternate daily.
Check out the official SkyTree website in English.
