The Sky Tree TV tower in Tokyo got into the Guinness Book of Records at the construction stage. After all, this gigantic construction "grew" in record time - in less than three years. What else is interesting about this building? And what does the tower mean for the Japanese themselves? Read about it in our article.
"Sky Tree" (Tokyo): photos and general characteristics of the tower
The Tokyo Broadcasting Tower is among the top 5 largest television towers in the world. Moreover, it is the absolute leader in height among other similar structures. In the diagram below, this is clearly visible. It is taller than the famous Canton Tower in Guangzhou and is almost a hundred meters higher than the Ostankino Tower.
The name of the Tokyo Tower is beautiful and symbolic - "Sky Tree" (born Tokyo Sky Tree). He was chosen by popular vote via the Internet. The design height of the Sky Tree in Tokyo is 634 meters (with an antenna). The total number of floors is 29. There are 9 different television companies and two broadcasting companies in the tower.
By the way, in the line of goods of the well-known Chinese manufacturer Loz, the designer “Tokyo Sky Tree” (630 children) is presented. It is curious that the total number of parts in it is 630, which is almost equal to the height of a real building. The designer consists of modern nanodetails, which allows you to assemble a model that is as close as possible in appearance to the original.
Construction process
By the end of the “noughties, ” Japan had to completely abandon analog television and switch to digital format. However, it soon became clear that the main (at that time) Tokyo tower was too low and could not carry out high-quality data transmission to the upper floors of many skyscrapers. The Japanese decided: to build a higher tower.
Construction began in the summer of 2008 and was completed in May 2011. A year later, its grand opening was held. The pace of construction was truly impressive - up to 10 meters per week!
The parameters of the land allocated for the construction of "Sky Tree" in Tokyo were minimal - 400 per 100 meters. It was simply impossible to lay the traditional square foundation of the right size on this piece of land. Therefore, the architects decided to erect a tower on a triangular foundation with a width of each side of 68 meters.
Further, the creators faced another problem. It was necessary to build circular observation platforms from which a panoramic view of the city would open 360 degrees. Designers found a solution: the tower began to be erected from a triangular base, gradually rounding its shape.
Architectural Features and Design
At the design stage, at least forty different layouts of the future tower were created. As a result, the commission chose the project that was the most reliable. The design of the tower used arcs, very reminiscent in shape of the swords of the samurai. The authors of the project also studied in detail the architecture of ancient Japanese temples with convex columns.
In general, the design of the tower can be described as "neo-futuristic", but with elements of traditional Japanese architecture. So, with some of its elements, the structure resembles five-tiered pagodas. Increased attention has been paid to the issue of security. So, the Tokyo Sky Tree tower was built taking into account the latest anti-seismic technologies and is able to absorb 50% of the energy of the earthquake. Theoretically, the "Sky Tree" is able to withstand even with tremors of 7 points.
$ 812 million was spent on the construction of the Sky Tree in Tokyo. A total of more than half a million people took part in the construction work.
Observation Decks of the Tower
The roof of the “Sky Tree” is at an altitude of 470 meters. All that is above is, in fact, an antenna. The first observation deck is located at around 350 meters. All comers are brought here by a high-speed elevator that overcomes this distance in 30 seconds. In order to normally tolerate a sharp difference in elevation, it is recommended to take a few candies with you to the tower.
You can climb to the second observation deck on an escalator. Fans of extreme sports will appreciate this place, because here you can stand on a transparent glass floor at a stunning height. It is from here that a wonderful view of the multi-million megalopolis opens. Tokyo looks especially beautiful from the Sky Tree in the evening.
Going down from the tower, tourists can also "shopper" quite well. The first five floors of Tokyo Sky Tree is a shopping and entertainment center with cafes, restaurants, numerous shops, as well as an aquarium and a planetarium.
Tokyo Sky Tree Travel Information
It’s an extremely unpleasant moment: you won’t be able to purchase an entrance ticket to the Tokyo TV Tower via the Internet. Only residents of Japan can do this. Therefore, you will have to buy a ticket on the spot. Fortunately, there is a fast line designed specifically for foreign tourists. It is located on the 34th floor.
If you plan to visit the Sky Tree Tower in Tokyo, we recommend that you arrive in advance. There are always a lot of people who want to get here. Often in the queue you have to stand for about half an hour. The easiest way to get here is by metro (Oshiage Station, Narita Line). Tower Address: Oshiage 1-1-13, Sumida-ku, Tōkyō-to 131-0045.
Entrance fee - 2060 Japanese yen (approximately $ 20, or 1200 rubles). For children, depending on age, there are various discounts. With strong gusts of wind, access to observation points may be restricted.
