Tokyo Skytree Falls Short of Visitor Target

Above, the Skytree in February. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Tokyo Skytree missed its targeted number of visitors during the 2013 fiscal year that ended in March. The weather was to blame.

According to the Japan Times:

Shutdowns due to poor weather were to blame for missing the targeted number of visitors to the observation deck of Tokyo Skytree in fiscal 2013, the operator’s officials said. 

Almost 6.2 million people visited the observation deck of the world’s tallest broadcasting tower in the year ended March, short of the 6.44 million expected by Tobu Tower Skytree Co. 

While the number still exceeded the 5.54 million in fiscal 2012, the deck was closed on more days due to sudden weather changes, the officials said.

I suspect that they did get the targeted number of visitors as many who did show up didn't buy tickets to go to the observation deck. I went there in February, but didn't go up to the deck as I had a lunch appointment with Masaharu Ina of Toho Cinemas and was pressed for time. I did spend money at the Skytree souvenir shop and bought a 1/2000 scale model of it that lights up. But they were only counting observation deck ticket scales.

It looked to me that it would have been easy to get tickets and go up as there weren't too many people there when I went.

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