Tokyo Tower

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

(Originally published in G-FAN #78.)

Category: Travel

In celebration of the 50th birthday of Tokyo Tower this month on December 23, the Tower is given the spotlight.

Japan's Tokyo Tower has been featured in several kaiju films over the past 46 years, the first being in Mothra (1961). The Tower was also featured in King Kong Escapes (1967) in which Kong and Mechani-Kong do battle while climbing it. It was also featured in Gammera The Invincible (Daikaiju Gamera) in 1965.

Above, Tokyo Tower from Sumida River.

The Tower was blasted in 1995 by Gamera in Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe and it became a nest for Gyaos in the same film. It was also blasted by Godzilla in Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) and it appeared as a ruin in 2004's Godzilla: Final Wars.

Tokyo Tower was modeled after the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The Tokyo Tower is 333 meters high. Since 1958, it has been the world's tallest self-supporting iron tower. The Eiffel Tower is only 320 meters tall. The Tokyo Tower weighs 4000 tons, which is much lighter than the Eiffel tower, which weighs in at 7000 tons. The Tower is painted in white and orange to meet Japan's aviation safety regulations. The Tokyo Tower broadcasts 14 signals for radio and television. It also has a lightning rod on the top.

Visitors can take an elevator to an observatory level which provides excellent views of the city, which is what 60 G-fans did in August 2004 during G-TOUR. There's a gift shop on the observation level and more gift shops can be found on the ground floor.

Above, Shinjuku as seen from Tokyo Tower's observation level.

The observation level has several telescopes available for use by visitors. Visitors can ascend to the main observatory at 150 meters and the special observatory at 250 meters to get a bird's eye view of Tokyo. Under good weather conditions, Mt. Fuji can be seen in the distance. A ride to the top floor, the special observatory, costs roughly ¥1500 per adult.

An aquarium, wax museum and several more attractions can be found on the ground floors of the Tower. Separate entrance fees apply.

An even taller tower is now being planned for Tokyo.

When in Tokyo, a visit to Tokyo Tower is a must.


Above, a morning moon and Tokyo Tower.