Visiting the Tokyo Sky Tree

Here I am to bring you two posts in one day hehe XD Well my first post didn't contain many photos, so that might have been not so fun for everyone. After I finished blogging I spent most of the day packing and doing schoolwork. I will be heading out to Kenosha WI which is near Illinois/Chicago tomorrow, so I will try to have the FHF post scheduled. I hope it will work, I've never done a scheduled post before!

Tonight I'd like to introduce the Tokyo Sky Tree, I'm going a bit out of order but I thought it's be good to take a break from matsuri photos hehe^^

The Tokyo Sky Tree

The Tokyo Sky Tree is a beautiful structure that will stand at a height of 634 meters upon completion. As of March 29th 2010 it is the tallest structure in Japan, and will be the tallest free-standing tower in the world when finished in spring 2012. The purpose of the Tokyo Sky Tree is to broadcast digital signals. Currently the Tokyo Tower broadcasts analog signals, which will switch over to digital with the Sky Tree.

The name "Tokyo Sky Tree" was choosen through public suggestions and vote. Suggestions were collected from Oct. 26 to Nov. 25 2007, after a panel of judges selected the top six name suggestions the public voted and the Tokyo Sky Tree was official named on June 10th 2008.

Close up of the Sky Tree structure

On July 14 they held a ceremony to celebrate the commencement of construction and groundbreaking. It took nearly one year just to build the foundations for the Sky Tree! But when you see the Sky Tree you can see why the foundations would need to be quite large and built with special care^^

Another view of the Sky Tree

The Tokyo Sky Tree is located in Oshiage, just one 1 km east of Asakusa. There will be a large area sitting at the foot of the Sky Tree to be called "town with a tower" which will extend about 400m from Oshiage station to Narihirabashi station. There will several plazas connecting the stations, Sky Tree, Kitajukken River, and Shinsui Park to form a recreational area.

Currently the Tokyo Sky Tree is over 350 meters and growing. Even at that height (when I saw it was was 358 m) it dwarfed any and all surround structures. The size of the Sky Tree is just literally mind boggling! When you look up at it, it really just doesn't register in your brain that something can be so big like that haha.

These are dorms for the Sky Tree construction workers. How would you like to live here for years?

Cranes doing their work, with Asakusa in the background

The Sky Tree will house two observations decks and a restaurant, and it's already a popular tourist site. The appearance of the Sky Tree is very sleek and attractive, making it a great photo subject despite it being in the midst of construction.

I actually visited the Sky Tree twice during Japan Trip 5, and it was very lovely and just fun to photograph. I imagine when the plaza area is completed it will a great place to sight see and just relax for a day. Can you imagine seeing Japan from 450 m (the height of the 2nd observation deck)??

Some random person set this mirror up so you can take your photo with the Sky Tree XD

I can't wait to go back and see it again, I hope you will have a chance to see it as well!

Access Info:
part of Oshiage 1-chome and part of Mukoujima 1-chome of Sumida Ward in Tokyo