Tokyo Tower Will Still Be There To Visit

Above, a view of Odaiba and Tokyo Bay from Tokyo Tower.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If anyone had fears that Tokyo Tower would be demolished anytime soon, those fears were definitely put to rest when it was announced this week that it would be used as a backup transmission tower should something unforeseen happens to the new Skytree.

Above, Tokyo Tower as seen from the Sumida River.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

After more than 50 years on the job, Tokyo Tower handed over its main broadcasting duties to Tokyo Skytree, the world's tallest free-standing structure, at 9 a.m. on May 31. 

Tokyo Tower, which transmitted television and radio signals for Japan's public broadcaster Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) as well as five private broadcasters, will now be utilized as a backup broadcasting tower.

Above, a street view of Tokyo Tower in
the distance.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo Tower will still be a major tourist draw for travelers in Tokyo even though it is now dwarfed in height by the new Skytree. I've visited Tokyo Tower several times and it has a number of things to see besides the two observation decks.

Tokyo Tower has a number of gift shops, an aquarium, a food court, a wax museum, Lovespo runners salon, Noppon's Magical Dungeon and Mysterious Art Exhibition (Trick Art Collection).  So there's plenty to see and do at Tokyo Tower.

Tokyo Tower has also played a role in kaiju history as it appeared in several daikaiju eiga epics including Mothra, Gamera: The Guardian of The Universe, King Kong Escapes and Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.  It is also spotlighted in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

The official website for Tokyo Tower is here. Be sure to check out the two videos on the main page.