Tokyo Skytree Hoped To Be A Lure For Shoppers

Above, the Skytree in December 2010.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

More articles on Tokyo's new Skytree tower are popping up as we are days away from its official opening.

Bloomberg's Businessweek.com has one such article:

The 634-meter (2,080 feet) structure in eastern Tokyo sits in a retail complex housing more than 300 shops and restaurants, a planetarium and an aquarium. Developer Tobu Railway Co. (9001) expects the project to draw 32 million visitors in its first year, surpassing the numbers at Tokyo Disney Resort. Tobu, whose revenue has fallen for five years, will also get a 28.3 billion yen ($352 million) sales boost in the year ending March 31, according to Kazuhiko Hirata, a general manager for finance.

I saw the Skytree a year and a half ago during my trip to Japan to promote The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.  Although it hadn't yet reached its full height at the time, it was still a pretty imposing and impressive structure to see.

The Skytree has two observation decks with the lower deck already fully booked through July 11.  The cost for a trip to the lower deck will be ¥2,000.

As the article indicates, even though the Skytree is booked up, the Tobu Railway Co. hopes the shops, restaurants and attractions in the Skytree complex will still draw many visitors.

To read the full article, go here.