Tokyo Skytree

is 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 Шаблон:Convert 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 (829.8 m/2,722 ft).

The tower is the primary television and radio broadcast site for the Kantō region; the older Tokyo Tower no longer gives complete digital terrestrial television broadcasting coverage because it is surrounded by high-rise buildings. Skytree was completed on 29 February 2012, with the tower opening to the public on 22 May 2012. The tower is the centrepiece of a large commercial development funded by Tobu Railway and a group of six terrestrial broadcasters headed by NHK. Trains stop at the adjacent Tokyo Skytree Station and nearby Oshiage Station, and the complex is only Шаблон:Convert north-east of Tokyo Station.

Design

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

  • Fusion of neofuturistic design and the 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 Шаблон:Convert and above, the tower's structure is cylindrical to offer panoramic views of the river and the city. There are observatories at Шаблон:Convert, with a capacity of up to 2000 people, and Шаблон:Convert, with a capacity of 900 people. The upper observatory features a spiral, glass-covered skywalk in which visitors ascend the last 5 meters to the highest point at the upper platform. A section of glass flooring gives visitors a direct downward view of the streets below.

Earthquake resistance

The tower has seismic proofing, including a central shaft made of reinforced concrete. The main internal pillar is attached to the outer tower structure Шаблон:Convert above ground. From there until Шаблон:Convert the pillar is attached to the tower frame with oil dampers, which act as cushions during an earthquake. According to the designers, the dampers can absorb 50 percent of the energy from an earthquake.

Colour

The exterior lattice is painted a colour officially called "Skytree White". This is an original colour based on a bluish white traditional Japanese colour called Шаблон:Nihongo.

Illumination

The illumination design was published on 16 October 2009. Two illumination patterns Iki (chic, stylish) sky blue and Miyabi (elegance, refinement) purple will be used, alternating daily. The tower is illuminated using LED lights.

Naming and height

From October to November 2007, suggestions were collected from the general public for the name to be given to the tower. On 19 March 2008, a committee chose six final candidate names: Шаблон:Nihongo, Шаблон:Nihongo, Шаблон:Nihongo, Шаблон:Nihongo, Шаблон:Nihongo, Шаблон:Nihongo. The official name was decided in a nationwide vote, and was announced on 10 June 2008 as "Tokyo Skytree". The name received around 33,000 votes (30%) out of 110,000 cast, with the second most popular name being "Tokyo Edo Tower".

Since the name was decided in Japanese, which has no spaces between words, it is not possible to say whether it was intended to be "Tokyo Skytree" or "Tokyo Sky Tree". The official website states "TOKYO SKYTREE" (all caps) as a registered trademark in English, but the version in the logo is clearly "SKY TREE". English-language publications are divided between the two versions.

The height of Шаблон:Convert was selected to be easily remembered. The figures 6 (mu), 3 (sa), 4 (shi) stand for "Musashi", an old name of the region where the Tokyo Skytree stands.

Broadcasting use

Tokyo Skytree is used as a radio/television broadcast and communications tower.

Television broadcasters

Channel Channel name Callsign Signal power ERP Broadcast area
1
NHK General TV JOAK-DTV 10 kW 10 kW Tokyo
2
NHK Educational TV JOAB-DTV
4
Nippon Television JOAX-DTV
5
TV Asahi JOEX-DTV
6
Tokyo Broadcasting System Television JORX-DTV
7
TV Tokyo JOTX-DTV
8<center>
Fuji Television JOCX-DTV

Radio broadcasters

Frequency Station name Callsign Power ERP Broadcast area
594 kHz NHK Radio 1 Tokyo JOAK-AM 100 kW 100 kW Tokyo
693 kHz NHK Radio 2 Tokyo JOAB-AM
82.5 MHz NHK FM Broadcast Tokyo JOAK-FM

Timeline

2008

  • 14 July 2008: A ceremony was held at the site to mark the start of construction.

2009

  • 6 April 2009: The foundations for the three main legs were completed.
  • 7 August 2009: The tower reached a height of 100 m.
  • 16 October 2009: The projected height was increased from 610 m to 634 m to make it the highest self-supportingШаблон:Elucidate steel tower. Also, 6-3-4 is Mu-sa-shi in Japanese wordplay goroawase.
  • 10 November 2009: The tower reached a height of 200 m.

2010

  • 16 February 2010: The tower reached a height of Шаблон:Convert.
  • 29 March 2010: The tower reached a height of Шаблон:Convert, becoming the tallest structure in Japan.
  • 24 April 2010: A 1:25 scale model of the Tokyo Sky Tree was unveiled at the Tobu World Square theme park in Nikkō, Tochigi.
  • 30 July 2010: The tower topped 400 m, reaching a height of Шаблон:Convert.
  • 11 September 2010: The tower reached 461 m, becoming the tallest structure ever built in Japan, surpassing the dismantled Tsushima Omega tower of 455 m.
  • 23 October 2010: The tower reached a height of Шаблон:Convert, and assembly of the main tower section was completed.
  • 20 November 2010: Two tuned mass dampers with a total weight of 100 tons were temporarily placed on the tower tip at 497 m.
  • 1 December 2010: The tower topped the Шаблон:Convert mark and reached a height of Шаблон:Convert, beating Taipei 101 (Шаблон:Convert). A lightning conductor and two tuned mass dampers were docked to the gain tower, which was gradually lifted within the central shaft.
  • 16 December 2010: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications approved NHK and five TV key stations in Tokyo's plans to install their broadcasting facilities on the tower.
  • 18 December 2010: The transmitting antenna for digital terrestrial television began to be installed.

2011

  • 1 March 2011: The tower topped the Шаблон:Convert mark and reached a height of Шаблон:Convert, beating Canton Tower (Шаблон:Convert) and becoming the world's tallest tower.
  • 12 March 2011: The tower reached a height of Шаблон:Convert. A full inspection was made, looking for possible damage by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and its aftershocks.
  • 18 March 2011: The tower reached its final height of Шаблон:Convert at 1:34 pm JST.
  • 23 May 2011: Dismantling four tower cranes continues till mid-July.
  • 7 June 2011: Announced public opening date of Tokyo Skytree Town and entrance fee (Adults: 2,000 yen to Шаблон:Convert level; extra 1,000 yen to Шаблон:Convert level) to observation floors.
  • 17 November 2011: Guinness World Records certified the Tokyo Skytree as the tallest free-standing tower.

2012

  • 29 February 2012: Tower construction was finished. Completion was delayed two months from the original schedule because of a shortage of supplies due to the effects of the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
  • 2 March 2012: A ceremony was held to celebrate the completion with a kannushi priest and 70 people from Tobu Group, construction, broadcasting and other companies.
  • 6 March 2012: First Light-up during the Tokyo Hotaru Festival
  • 22 May 2012: Public opening
  • 1 October 2012: Channel 9 Tokyo MX start transmission from Tokyo Skytree with continuing transmission from Tokyo Tower in simulcast manner.

2013

  • 13 May 2013: Tokyo MX continue transmission from Tokyo Skytree and stopped transmission from Tokyo Tower with gradual decreasing the power since 12 November 2012.
  • 31 May 2013: On 9:00 a.m., formal transmission of broadcast in channel 1 to 8, except 3, start from Tokyo Skytree after number of test transmission with off for minutes to hours from Tokyo Tower since 22 December 2012.

Opening

As the Skytree's opening approached, people reportedly waited in line for a full week to get tickets. By the opening, trips up the tower were fully booked for the first two months of operation. The opening day drew a crowd of tens of thousands, despite rainy conditions which blocked the view from the tower's observation deck. Strong winds also forced two elevators to be shut down, leaving some visitors briefly stranded on the observation deck.

According to Tobu, 1.6 million people visited Skytree in its first week. Local residents reported that the influx of visitors disturbed the peace of their community and had, so far, generated little economic benefit for the local area.

See also

Шаблон:Portal

  • Tokyo Skytree Station
  • Sky City 1000
  • List of tallest towers in the world
  • List of tallest structures in Japan
  • List of tallest freestanding structures in the world
  • CN Tower

Notes

Шаблон:Reflist

References

Шаблон:Refbegin

Шаблон:Refend

External links

Шаблон:Commons category

Listed in the following categories:
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Tips & Hints
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Jeff Forbes
11 October 2015
Obligatory stop on the Tokyo tourist train. Great views from the 350m Tembo deck -- don't see the need to pay for the extra 50m. Don't miss the see through floor windows downstairs!
????????.
6 November 2014
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 offer panoramic views of the river and the city.
Hide Kawano
13 January 2016
Attention All Foreign Nationals: bring your Passport and line/queue up at this Fast Skytree Ticket Counter for literally only 5 minutes wait time to go up the tower http://bit.ly/FastSkyTree cheers!
Kris Whalley
14 August 2016
one of the largest buildings in the world when you arrive via subway pay attention theee are signs welcoming you to skytree town i found that awesome! so enjoy taking in this beautiful
The Taste Sheriff
1 April 2018
Best views over Tokyo. Make sure you get the international pass for $10 more and speedy access to the elevators. Get ready for crowds, but lines move fast.
Diegoberto Bellamy
14 May 2023
Amazing views. Be sure to be there at sundown. Save a good spot in front of Mount Fuji. I went to the top, but I think it’s enough if you only book the normal price. And check out the official store.
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