Fukuoka Tower

by Armand Vaquer

(Originally published in G-FAN #80)

Featured in 1994's Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla, Fukuoka Tower is the highest seaside tower in Japan. The Tower stands 234 meters tall and the observation room is at 123 meters above the ground and offers spectacular views of Fukuoka City and Hakata Bay. Fukuoka Tower is the symbol of Fukuoka City.

Fukuoka Tower was completed in March 1989 at a cost of 6 billion yen. It was designed by Nikken Sekki and the construction took 14 months. The Tower is designed to withstand wind gusts up to 63 m/s (about 140 mph.), but the strongest wind recorded so far was only 49 m/s. It is also designed to withstand a magnitude 7 earthquake and the strongest recorded earthquake so far has been a magnitude 6 in Fukuoka.

Although the above ground weight of Fukuoka Tower is 3,500 tons, the underground weight is 25,000 tons. This bottom-heavy construction provides the Tower with greater stability.

Fukuoka Tower, with a triangular cross-section, is covered with 8,000 half-mirrors that gives it the nickname of "Mirror Sail."


Above, a view of Fukuoka City and Hakata Bay from the observation room of Fukuoka Tower.

Besides the 123 meter observation room, it also has a cafe lounge (120m) and a lower observation room (116m). During different holidays and seasons, the Tower is illuminated in spectactular lighting at night. In July/August, the theme is the "Milky Way." For Christmas, the Tower has lights shaped like Christmas trees. For Valentine's Day, hearts illuminate the sides of the Tower.

The Tower staff apparently had no idea that Fukuoka Tower was featured in Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla until I told them. I joked that they nicely re-built the Tower after Godzilla knocked it over. This was met with wide-eyed blank stares. I then had to explain the movie and the situation involved to them. I guess their minds work too literally.

Admission to Fukuoka Tower is 800 yen for adults (I was able to obtain a discount card from my hotel which lowered the admission to 640 yen), 500 yen for students and 200 yen for children under 4 years old. For additional information on Fukuoka Tower, log onto www.fukuokatower.co.jp. If you go to Fukuoka City, make sure you visit Fukuoka Tower.