23 Interesting Facts About Tokyo Skytree

If you reside in Japan, or are keen about the Japanese culture but living abroad, it is simple to get used to all sort news about the most advanced technological wonder been selected and used here, and it is correct that we are in an age where technology is been implemented in ways we have never assumed are probable before. Yet, once in a while, there is an invention and something that we never thought is even possible is been affixed to our lifestyle and become a zenith of human achievement. 2006 was the first time when the Tokyo residents gathered about the new concept to construct the tallest tower in the world right in the heart of the city. The idea was to displace the old broadcasting towers around the whole Kanto region with one tall tower that will expand over all the skyscrapers around it and implement digital terrestrial television broadcasting transmission services to all TV stations and telecommunication corporations. The idea was affirmed by the Tokyo administration and 6 years later the tower was officially developed.

So, here are 23 Amazing facts about Tokyo Skytree that will leave you totally awe-struck.
Image: Flickr

1. Tokyo Skytree: Uniting Radio Tower, Shopping Center, and Observation Desk

Most people correlate the Tokyo Skytree tower with its luxurious observation decks but first and foremost, it’s Tokyo’s radio tower. It has the primary purpose of providing the Kanto area with stable radio waves, along with copious TV and radio stations in Tokyo using the tower. Because of Tokyo Skytree’s stature, the tower also has a cloud and lightning detection function, gathering valuable research data.
Source: dailymail.co.uk

2. Behind the Name

Once the design was recommended and allowed for, it was time to provide the tower with a name. The method of picking a name for the tower was letting the general public to recommend names for it and a special committee had vetted 6 final candidate names for the tower in 2008.

• Tokyo Sky Tree
• Tokyo Edo Tower
• Rising Tower
• Mirai Tower (Future Tower in Japanese)
• Yumemi Yagura (Dream lookout in Japanese)
• Rising East Tower

In 2008, there was a national general vote and 30% of the voters selected to call it “Tokyo SkyTree”. The name of Tokyo Skytree came from the picture of a massive tree that points towards the skies. One of the bases for the name of Skytree predominating is the warm and hopeful image that it evokes.
Source: japan.travel.com, Image: Flickr

3. The Creator 

Tokyo Sky Tree Tower was concocted by the sculptor Mr. Kiichi Sumikawa. The tower was constructed with a very Japanese-like shape in mind, as it is stimulated by the curvature of a Japanese sword and the acceleration of the pillars typically found at shrines and temples.
Source: dailymail.co.uk, Image: Flickr

4. The Meaning of the Changing Colors

In general sense, the blue lights of Tokyo Skytree tower symbolize the chic and trendsetting spirit of Edo, the majestic purple hints at Edo’s beauty and style, while the orange colors elicit the image of a unique flag called “nobori.” These are the three main color patterns, but during some exceptional periods such as Christmas and cherry blossom season, Tokyo Skytree also tends to shine in wholly different colors.
Source: dailymail.co.uk, Image: Flickr

5. All About the Height 

In November 2011, the Tokyo Skytree was given the rank of the world’s tallest tower as granted by the Guinness World Records. It has a height of 634 meters, almost double in size to Tokyo Tower. It replaced Tokyo Tower in being the main radio tower in Tokyo. There is a reason behind why Tokyo Skytree has this measurement and that is because it was easier to remember this way. The numbers 6 (mu), 3 (sa), 4 (shi) implied Musashi Province which is the previous name for the province where the Skytree is constructed. It is now the second tallest building in the whole world, coming right after Burj Khalifa. Since some decades, many towers have been built all over the world which have surpassed the height of Tokyo Tower.

Source: japan.travel, Image: Flickr

6. What You Can See 

Tembo Deck has a height of 350 meters and the Tembo Galleria is at 450 meters. Depending on the climate, you can see as far as 75 kilometers from the Tembo Galleria and view the magnanimous Mt. Fuji. In extension, we suggest contemplating the view of the Tokyo streets while dyed in red during the twilight, as well as the twinkling night view.
Source: japan.travel

7. Tembo Galleria

Tokyo Skytree’s Tembo Galleria is a glass corridor and grants a view that is even more brilliant than the one on floor 350. It’s one of Tokyo’s most famous sightseeing spots and really lets you have an overview of the mega-metropolis of Tokyo to the fullest. Shaped like a sloped spiral, the Tembo Galleria will make you perceive like you’re walking on air!
Source: trulytokyo.com, Image: Flickr

8. Excellent Photo Spot

As the Tembo Galleria is 100 meters higher than the Observation Deck, you can view even faraway into the distance. It’s an outstanding photo spot that makes for great memories to go back to. So take your time and relish the stroll. To reach for Tembo Skydeck, you will have to use the elevator system which will take you to the 455th floor. Here, you will have to change the elevator for the 450th floor. To go back, an elevator will carry you to the 345th floor where you will have to change for the 350th floor.

Source: theluxevoyager.com, Image: Flickr

9. Highest Point

Sorakara Point is the highest point of the Skytree that is open to visitors. The amazing thing about it is the effect that it produces only by the means of lights and mirrors. To go back and forth from here, you will again have to access the elevator which is again a different story.

Source: livejapan.com, Image: Flickr

10. Sky High Restaurant

If the height doesn’t make you squeamish, why not experience a meal high up in the air? Sky Restaurant 634 can be located on Tembo Gallery’s floor 345. Savor inventive cuisine that fuses the traditional tastes of Edo with modern French cuisine in an aesthetic attempt to seize the spirit of Edo!
Source: appetiteforjapan.com

11. It’s All In the Design

The proposed design for Tokyo Skytree was profoundly influenced by the Neo-futurism movement of the early 21st century in the arts, design, and architecture around Tokyo while at the same interval, the design was intended to shield classic Japanese traditional design theories. The outcome was a comprehensive fusion linking those two architectural styles allowing both aesthetic and functionality to be merged into the iconic image of the tower. The base of the tower was devised to look like a huge tripod which holds the observation decks and the transmitting equipment within its intricate structure while at the same time, the tripod design was enabling the whole structure to be fully Earthquake immune. The tripod exterior is hiding the main 125 meters (410 ft) interior pillar and supports the building to endure both powerful Earthquakes and very powerful winds by consuming most of the energy in case of a very strong Earthquake or powerful Typhoons.
Source: futuristarchitecture.com, Image: Flickr

12. Sky Tree Town

Tokyo SkyTree was built in the core of the complex of buildings and attraction zones to enable guests to enjoy purchasing and family-oriented attractions. The entry to the SkyTree Town is right under the tower and it involves the Tokyo Solamachi Shopping Center, the 31 stories high office building, the Sumida Aquarium building, The Konica Minolta Planetarium Dome, The Postal Museum, and the parking area encircling the tower. SkyTree Town was composed to let visitors enjoy full day attractions from morning to night time, including restaurants for the morning, lunch and dinner, easy passage for wheelchairs, and lots of playground enticements for kids. If you require support and guidance in regards to any of the town attractions, there is a visitor’s information center which its staff speaks English, Chinese, Korean, and Thai. The information center also gives a map and floor guide free of charge.
Source: dailymail.co.uk

13. Free Internet!

Tokyo SkyTree Tow is also granting free broadband high-speed wireless Internet connection to all its guests with TOBU FREE Wi-Fi system. In addition to this stint, Tokyo SkyTree Town part of the “Japan Connected-free Wi-Fi” system, which is a free local-area Wi-Fi hotspot search app scheme for travelers from elsewhere.
Source: dailymail.co.uk

14. Sumida Aquarium

The Sumida Aquarium is established on the 3rd floor of the Solomachi shopping center. It is one of the largest man-made seawater aquariums in the world, Use of this feigned seawater system assists to reduce the CO2 emissions discharged when seawater is conveyed using large water tankers from the port, which is an essential clean energy issue for inland aquariums. Beyond just been an adequate and clean energy-friendly system, the artificial seawater admits the aquarium to maintain compatible water quality throughout the year, ensuring a satisfactory environment for the aquatic creatures living in its tanks.
Source: japan-guide.com, Image: Flickr

15. Skytree Postal Museum

Positioned on the 9th floor of the Solamachi Shopping Center is the Tokyo Skytree Postal Museum. This museum took over the Journal of Communications Museum which was terminated 2 years earlier and allows for displays of postal and telecommunication services throughout the decades in Japan. The museum is arranged in seven segments or as they call it “worlds” and in each one there is a separate exhibition of the historical development of postal services in Japan. The museum also grants a distinctive display zone with a letter lounge and a massive collection of over 300,000 stamps!
Source: japan-guide.com

16. Night Illumination

Tokyo Skytree night illumination system is one of the most majestic that has been witnessed in Japan or anywhere around the world. Lights at the tip of the tower and on both sides of the two observation decks embellish its steel structure and continuously merge into the ground at the base of the tower and resemble the model of Mount Fuji, the primal landscape of Edo but in a modern and totally futuristic style. Right under each observation deck there are also operating lights that whirl around the tower like an extensive light clock tower.  The entire system is built from LED environmentally-friendly lights to save energy and at the same time projects excellence!
Source: dreamstime.com, Image: Flickr

17. Quite an Entrance

It is not the ground floor or even the first floor from where you can start your excursion. It is, in fact, the fourth floor from where you will have to access the elevators in order to go to and fro. While coming down from any floor, you will be exiting on the fifth one.

Source: japan-guide.com

18. The Actual Ownership

If you think it is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government or the National Japanese Government, you are mistaken! The Tokyo Skytree is a private possession of Tobu Railway Corporation. Not only that all the programming companies who were supportive of the tower to be built were not instantly linked with funding the tower and they all fundamentally rent the space on Tokyo Skytree from Tobu Railway Corporation on conventional rentals.
Source: japan-guide.com

19. 180 Years Old?

This one really bamboozled us too. The legendary ukiyo-e, a woodblock print artist, Utagawa Kuniyoshi in one of his conceptions composed a perplexing structure whose contour is very similar to the Tokyo Skytree. Now that formulation is 180 years old and it is pictured at the same location where the tower currently stands!!! Very intriguing.
Source: japan-guide.com

20. Costing Of the Sky Tree Tower

Now as is general knowledge that the popular construction in Dubai, Burj Khalifa, cost $1.5bn to build. So let us take a guess at Tokyo Skytree. It took 650 million dollars to build. Apart from the business estimations, Skytree depends on guests to observatories as a reservoir for money. During its 2013 fiscal year, 6.19 million guests made the excursion to one of the Skytree’s two observation decks, positioned at heights of 350 and 450 meters and attempts are on for increasing this visitor volume as things head off into the Olympics in 2020.
Source: livejapan.com, Image: Flickr

21. The Royal Visit

Tokyo Skytree has guests before the splendid opening in May 2012. The royals, Emperor Akihito and his wife, Empress Michiko, were among the few who toured Tokyo’s new Skytree tower before its grand opening to the common public. The royal couple went to the highest of the two observation decks, roughly 450 meters (approx. 1,476 feet) high and were the first ones to specifically get the 360-degree view of the gregarious Tokyo metropolis.
Source: livejapan.com, Image: Flickr

22. The Color of the Tower

The outermost lattice has painted a color officially called “Skytree White“. This is an innovative color based on a bluish-white ancestral Japanese color called aijiro.
Source: dailymail.co.uk, Image: Flickr

23. Number of Elevators

There are 13 elevators. It takes just 50 seconds in a high-speed elevator to reach the lower observation deck and an added 30 seconds to the top deck. A trip down the emergency staircase, nevertheless, requires 2,523 steps.
Source: livejapan.com