Soaring high in the heart of Shiba-Koen in Minato-ku, the grand stronghold of Tokyo Tower serves as an emblem of Japan's economic rebirth and global aspirations after massive wartime destructions. Completed in 1958 by the Takenaka Corporation at a cost of 2.8 billion yen, Tokyo Tower is a proud member of the World Federation of Great Towers and is officially considered as the world's tallest self-supporting steel tower with a height of 333 meters and a weight of 4,000 tons. It is 13 meters higher and 3,000 tons lighter than its model, the Eiffel Tower in Paris which stands 320 meters and weighs 7,000 tons.
The entire body of the Tokyo Tower is coated with 28,000 liters of orange and white paint in compliance to the Civil Aeronautic Law and is installed with 176 floodlights in various parts for illumination purposes. It also has a lightning rod on its top. 
Designed for radio and television transmission, the Tokyo Tower sends out 24 broadcast waves, 14 analog and 10 digital, including those of known media outfits like NHK, TV Asahi, Fuji TV, TBS, Tokyo FM and J-Wave.
Aside from being the broadcast transmitter of most stations in the metropolis, Tokyo Tower is also a major tourist enticement which stations a 4-story recreational center called Foot Town (open all-year round, from 9 am to 10 pm) which can be found beneath the tower. This leisure hub houses several attractions including two observation decks, the Main Observatory located at 150 meters above the ground and the Special Observatory at 250 meters. These galleries provide a 360 degree panoramic view of the whole Kanto scene and Tokyo surroundings, including Mt. Tsukuba and Tokyo Disney Resort in the east; Rainbow Bridge and Yokohama's Landmark Tower in the south; Mt. Fuji in the west; and Imperial Palace in the north.
Also there are museums and amusement parks that proliferate inside Foot Town like the Wax Museum, Space Wax, Guinness World Records Museum, Trick Art Gallery, Aquarium Gallery, and Mysterious Walking Zone; souvenir shops -- Tokyo Souvenir Shop Town and Tokio 333; restaurants and food courts that offer Japanese, Chinese and western cuisines and even coffee shops and ice cream parlors.
Besides being The landmark, Tokyo Tower is also a popular icon for animes such as Sailor Moon and Digimon and locations to climatic battles between Godzilla, Mothra and King Kong Escapes.
Another captivating feature of Tokyo Tower that often delights many sightseers is its lighting, accentuating the city's already breathtaking nocturnal skyline. It is illuminated with orange light in winter and white incandescent light in summer and is changed during special events.
The Tokyo Tower also houses a system for detecting earthquakes. Ticket prices in the Main Observatory are 820 yen for adults, 460/310 yen for children; Special Observatory, 600 yen for adults, 400/350 yen for children. While separate fees apply for other attractions, still a lot of people are taking the long lines and are oblivious in spending their money just to try this not to be missed experience.
How to Get There:
How to Get There:
Tokyo Tower is a 5-minute walk from Akabanebashi Station on the Oedo Line; 6-minute walk from Onarimon Station (Exit No. A1) on the Mita Line and; 15-minute walk from Hamamatsucho Station (North Exit) on the JR Yamate Line.
*published in the September '08 issue of "Let's Tour Tokyo", Philippine Digest*
*photos by Din Eugenio*
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