Tokyo Tower: A Timeless Beacon Of Japan's Resilience And Progress
Many neophyte visitors to Tokyo wrongly assume the Tokyo Tower and Skytree are the same things. In fact, they are not only different in terms of basic towers (Skytree is a needle with a pagoda-like top, the tallest building on earth, and the Tokyo Tower is a replica of the Eiffel Tower), they afford different visitor experiences. Both sport antennae that broadcast radio and television signals, and both have observation platforms, but the similarities end there.
Tokyo Tower, the original of the two, and the second tallest structure in Japan (after, of course, Skytree) has a unique look with its Eiffel Tower metalwork, painted white and orange to comply with international air safety regulations. Underneath it is a four-storey building that houses restaurants, shops, a museum and other public facilities.
Also known as the Japan Radio Tower, the structure boasts two observation decks, one at the 150-metre (490 feet) level and one higher up at 250 metres (819 feet). Both afford spectacular views of the city. The Tokyo Tower is open late, so make your ascent at night amid the colourful lights that adorn it!