Tokyo Sky Tree (東京スカイツリー） ~ Travel convenience

On my last day in Japan, I finally took the decision to visit the Tokyo Sky Tree. Within walking range from the Asakusa Temple, the journey only took me about 15mins of walk. Though the tower is still not opened yet to the public but viewing it from the public park gave you a clear perspective of this magnificent skyscraper in an earthquake prone country.

Here’s some information about the Tokyo Sky Tree:

Tokyo Sky Tree (東京スカイツリー ), officially took over as the tallest structure in Japan. The tower serves as a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It became the tallest structure in Japan in 2010 and reached its full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft) in March 2011, making it the tallest tower in the world, displacing the Canton Tower, and the second tallest structure in the world after Burj Khalifa (829.84 m/2,723 ft). Cool isn’t it?

Led by Tobu Railway and a group of six terrestrial broadcasters headed by NHK, the tower project forms the centre-piece of a large commercial development equidistant from Tokyo Skytree and Oshiage train stations, 7 km (4.3 mi) north-east of Tokyo station. One of its main purposes is to relay television and radio broadcast signals; Tokyo's current facility, Tokyo Tower with a height of 333 m (1,093 ft), no longer gives complete digital terrestrial television broadcasting coverage because it is surrounded by many high-rise buildings. The project was completed on 29 February 2012, with the tower's public opening due on 22 May 2012. The entrance ticket is expected to cost ranging from 3000 yen to 3500 yen (RM120 to RM140)

The design was published on 24 November 2006, based on the following three concepts.

· Fusion of futuristic design and traditional beauty of Japan,
· Catalyst for revitalization of the city,
· Contribution to disaster prevention "Safety and Security".

The base of the tower has a structure similar to a tripod; from a height of about 350 m (1,150 ft) and above, the tower's structure is cylindrical to withstand very strong wind

There are observatories at 350 m (1,150 ft) and 450 m (1,480 ft). In addition to that, the Tokyo Sky Tree is able to withstand the earthquake up to 9.0 richter scale.

Source: Wikipedia (2012)