Tokyo Skytree

The Tokyo Skytree, or Tokyo Sukaitsuri, is currently the second tallest structure in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Standing at a height of 630 metres, the tower opened to the public in May of 2012 after nearly four years of construction and a cost of some 40 billion yen.

Located in Sumida, the tower serves as a broadcast mast, a series of restaurants and an observation tower. The observation decks have become one of Tokyo’s “Must Sees” and have some pretty impressive stats. There are two different observation levels, one at 350 metres which can hold 2000 people at any one time and another at 450 metres which can hold 900 people.

Tokyo Skytown is also part of the base of the tower, it is home to commercial and office facilities, an academic institute, exhibition halls, a dome theatre, a planetarium and even an aquarium. The incredible aquarium is known as the Sumida Aquarium and features the largest indoor tank in Japan holding more than 35,000 litres of sea water. There are seals, penguins, jelly fish and over 10,000 other sea creatures. The Skytown also has a massive retail centre known as Tokyo Solamachi, with well over 300 retail outlets, there is plenty of excellent shopping and all types of dining.

The massive complex at the base of the tower is home to a railway station operated by the Tobu Railway Company. Called the Tokyo Skytree Station, this station was formerly known as Narihirabashi Station. The Tobu Rail Company was the developer of the Skytree.

Tokyo Skytree is about 1klm away from Asakusa Station. Skytree Station (TS-02) is on the Tobu Isesaki Line, swap from the Toei Asakusa Line or Metro Ginza Line at Asakusa Station (A-18, G-19). The most direct route from the Yamanote Line would be to transfer to the Toei Asakusa Line at Shimbashi or the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line at Shibuya, both these line stop at Oshiage (Skytree) Station (A-20, Z-14). This station is located at the opposite end of the complex to Tobu’s Tokyo Skytree Station.