Tokyo Tower

In short

Tokyo Tower is a 333-meter-tall comprehensive radio tower completed in 1958 and serves as a landmark of Tokyo. As a self-supporting steel tower, it was the tallest in the world at the time, surpassing the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is also registered as a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

• ​Two Observation Decks​​: Features the Main Deck at a height of 150 meters and the Top Deck at a height of 250 meters.
• ​Glass Floor​​: The Skywalk Window on the Main Deck allows you to look straight down 150 meters.
• ​Two Light-Ups​​: Features the classic Landmark Light and the Infinity Diamond Veil, which creates infinite patterns of light colors.

History and Highlights

Tokyo Tower is a 333-meter-tall comprehensive radio tower that has become a landmark of Tokyo, completed on December 23, 1958. It was jointly designed by Naito Tachu, a professor at Waseda University known as "Doctor Tower," and Nikken Sekkei.

It was determined that a tower height of 333 meters was necessary to transmit radio waves throughout the Kanto region centered on Tokyo. On the other hand, founder Maeda Hisakichi seems to have had the sentiment that "if we're going to build it anyway, let's make something that surpasses the height of the Eiffel Tower." It is said to be a coincidence that the 333-meter tower opened in Showa 33 (1958). Upon completion, it was the tallest self-supporting steel tower in the world at the time, surpassing the Eiffel Tower.

The tower's colors appear to be red and white, but strictly speaking, they are two colors: "international orange" and "white." These colors are designated by the Civil Aeronautics Act. Repainting is carried out roughly once every seven years, entirely done by hand using Hake brushes.

In 2013, it was registered as a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Main Deck and Top Deck​​: The Main Deck is 150 meters high and has two floors. The Top Deck is 250 meters high and is accessed via the advance-reservation-only Top Deck Tour. This area was originally a work platform for antenna maintenance and was opened as an observation deck in July 1967.
• ​Skywalk Window​​: A glass floor on the 1st floor of the Main Deck that allows you to look straight down 150 meters.
• ​Two Light-Ups​​: The Landmark Light is the classic illumination that highlights the tower with 180 lights, appearing silver in summer and orange in winter. The Infinity Diamond Veil began in 2019, where 268 LED lights create infinite patterns of light colors. There is also a legend that watching the moment the lights turn off with your lover will bring happiness.

Tips for Exploring

It is a 5-minute walk from Akabanebashi Station on the Oedo Line and a 7-minute walk from Kamiyacho Station on the Hibiya Line.

From the rooftop of "Foot Town," the building at the base of the tower, an outdoor staircase of about 600 steps leads up to a height of 150 meters. It can be climbed in about 12 to 13 minutes. Specific days are designated for opening the upward staircase, and it is canceled on rainy or stormy days.

Looking up from the base is also recommended. Public relations staff have mentioned that the curves between the four legs and the surprising thinness of the steel frames are beautiful. They also note that it was constructed over half a century ago using manual calculations. Zojo-ji Temple is about 290 meters to the southeast, and Azabudai Hills is about 520 meters to the northwest.