Editing Tokyo Tower

{{Short description|Communications and observation tower in Japan}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox building
 | name                 = Tokyo Tower
 | native_name          = {{native name|ja|paren=omit|東京タワー}}
 | native_name_lang     = ja
 | logo                 = Tokyo Tower logo.svg
 | logo_alt             = Logo as seen on official website
 | status               = {{Color|green|Completed}}
 | image                = Tokyo Tower 2023.jpg
 | image_size           = 270px
 | caption              = Tokyo Tower in 2023
 | location             = 4-2-8 Shiba-koen, [[Minato, Tokyo]] 105-0011
 | coordinates          = {{coord|35|39|31|N|139|44|44|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
 | start_date           = {{start date and age|1957|6|df=y}}
 | topped_out_date      = {{start date and age|1958|10|14|df=y}}
 | completion_date      = {{start date and age|1958|df=y}}
 | architect            = [[Tachū Naitō]]<ref name="emporis">{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=105115 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040611150603/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=105115 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=11 June 2004 |title=Tokyo Tower |access-date=11 April 2008 |publisher=[[Emporis]]}}</ref>
 | owner                = The Tokyo Tower Company (controlling shareholder: [[Toei Company]] and [[w:ja:マザー牧場|Mother Farm]])
 | cost                 = ¥2.8 billion<br>(US$8.4 million in 1958)
 | floor_area           =
 | top_floor            = {{convert|249.6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
 | floor_count          = 15
 | building_type        = [[Communications tower]]<br>[[Observation tower]]
 | architectural        = {{convert|333|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
 | antenna_spire        = {{convert|332.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="english.kyodonews.jp">{{cite web|url=http://english.kyodonews.jp/photos/2012/07/170479.html |title=Tokyo Tower gets shorter for the 1st time |access-date=23 July 2012}}</ref>
 | observatory          = {{convert|249.6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
 | elevator_count       = 4
 | structural_engineer  = [[Nikken Sekkei|Nikken Sekkei Ltd.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nikken.co.jp/en/services/structural.php |title=Structural Engineering |publisher=[[Nikken Sekkei]] |access-date=11 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421063913/http://www.nikken.co.jp/en/services/structural.php |archive-date=21 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | main_contractor      = [[Takenaka Corporation]]<ref name="emporis"/>
 | opening              = {{start date and age|1958|12|23|df=y}}
 | developer            =
 | website              = {{official URL}}
}}

{{nihongo|'''Tokyo Tower'''|東京タワー|Tōkyō Tawā|extra={{IPA|ja|toːkʲoː taɰᵝaː|pron|TomJ-TokyoTower.ogg}}}}, also known as the '''Japan Radio Tower''' ({{lang|ja|日本電波塔}}, {{Transliteration|ja|Nippon denpatō}}) is a [[Radio masts and towers|communications]] and [[observation tower]] in the district of Shiba-koen in [[Minato, Tokyo]], Japan, completed in 1958. At {{convert|332.9|m|ft|0|sp=us|abbr=}}, it was the [[List of tallest structures in Japan|tallest tower in Japan]] until the construction of [[Tokyo Skytree]] in 2012. It is a [[lattice tower]] inspired by the [[Eiffel Tower]], and is painted white and [[international orange]] to comply with [[Aviation safety|air safety]] regulations.

The tower's main sources of income are tourism and antenna leasing. FootTown, a four-story building directly under the tower, houses museums, restaurants, and shops. Departing from there, guests can visit two observation decks. The two-story Main Deck (formerly known as the Main Observatory) is at {{convert|150|m|ft|sp=us}}, while the smaller Top Deck (formerly known as the "Special Observatory") reaches a height of {{convert|249.6|m|ft|sp=us}}. The names were changed following renovation of the top deck in 2018.<ref name="tokyotower.co.jp">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tokyotower.co.jp/notification/TopDeckTourGrandOpen/en.html|title=Grand opening of Tokyo Tower's Top Deck (250 m), and Main Deck (150 m) renovation. {{!}} TokyoTower|website=www.tokyotower.co.jp|language=en|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> The tower is repainted every five years, taking a year to complete the process.

In 1961, transmission antennae were added. They are used for radio and television broadcasting and now broadcast signals for media outlets such as [[NHK]], [[TBS Television (Japan)|TBS Television]], and [[Fuji Television]]. The height of the tower was not suitable for Japan's planned [[Digital terrestrial television|terrestrial digital broadcasting]] planned for July 2011, and for the Tokyo area. A taller digital broadcasting tower, known as [[Tokyo Skytree]], was completed on 29 February 2012. Tokyo Tower has become a prominent [[landmark]] and frequently appears in media set in Tokyo.

==Construction==
{{Multiple image
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| image1 = Tokyo tower construction.jpg
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| caption1 = Construction underway on 25 February 1958
| image2 = Tokyo Tower 1961.jpg
| caption2 = Tokyo Tower around 1961
}}
A large broadcasting tower was needed in the [[Kantō region]] after [[NHK]], Japan's [[public broadcaster|public broadcasting]] station, began television broadcasting in 1953. Private broadcasting companies began operating in the months following the construction of NHK's own transmission tower. This communications boom led the Japanese government to believe that transmission towers would soon be built all over Tokyo, eventually overrunning the city. The proposed solution was the construction of one large tower capable of transmitting to the entire region.<ref name="JT">{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2002/03/17/general/the-tower-and-the-story/#.UoqwAMSUSb8 |title=The tower and the story |date=17 March 2002 |author=Gilhooly, Rob |work=[[The Japan Times]] |access-date=11 November 2013}}</ref> Furthermore, because of the country's [[Japanese post-war economic miracle|postwar boom]] in the 1950s, Japan was searching for a monument to symbolize its national recovery from [[World War II]], as one of the countries most ravaged by the war.<ref name="big in japan">{{cite web|title=Big in Japan:Tokyo Tower |url=http://metropolis.co.jp/biginjapan/biginjapaninc.htm |author=Bruan, Stuart |work=[[Metropolis (free magazine)|Metropolis]] |access-date=21 September 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080610130818/http://metropolis.co.jp/biginjapan/biginjapaninc.htm |archive-date = 10 June 2008}}</ref><ref name="new JT">{{cite web|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20081230i1.html |title=Half century on, Tokyo Tower still dazzles as landmark |access-date=21 January 2009 |author=Ito, Masami |date=30 December 2008 |work=[[The Japan Times]]}}</ref>

Hisakichi Maeda, founder and president of Nippon Denpatō, the tower's owner and operator, originally planned for the tower to be taller than the [[Empire State Building]], which at 381&nbsp;meters was the highest structure in the world at the time. However, the plan fell through because of the lack of both funds and materials. The tower's height was eventually determined by the distance the TV stations needed to transmit throughout the Kantō region, a distance of about {{convert|150|km|mi|sp=us}}.<ref name="JT"/>

[[Tachū Naitō]], designer of tall buildings in Japan, was chosen to design the newly proposed tower.<ref name="JT"/> Looking to the [[Western world]] for inspiration, Naitō based his design on the [[Eiffel Tower]] in Paris, France.<ref name="sc">{{cite web|url=http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1782 |title=Tokyo Tower 東京タワー |access-date=29 March 2008 |publisher=SkyscraperPage}}</ref> With the help of engineering company Nikken Sekkei Ltd., Naitō claimed his design could withstand earthquakes with twice the intensity of the [[1923 Great Kantō earthquake]] or [[typhoon]]s with wind speeds of up to {{convert|220|km/h|mph|sp=us}}.<ref name="JT"/>

The new construction project attracted hundreds of ''tobi'' ([[:ja:鳶職|鳶]]), traditional Japanese construction workers who specialized in the construction of high-rise structures. The [[Takenaka Corporation]] broke ground in June 1957 and each day at least 400&nbsp;laborers worked on the tower.<ref name="JT"/> It was constructed of [[steel]], a third of which was scrap metal taken from US tanks damaged in the [[Korean War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.e-osc.co.jp/hiroba/mane_chishiki/index.html |script-title=ja:鉄の豆知識 |access-date=30 March 2008 |publisher=Otani Steel Corporation |language=ja}}</ref><ref name="herald">{{cite web|title=Tokyo Tower goes from futuristic hope to symbol of the good old days |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/30/asia/tokyo.php |author=Fackler, Martin |work=[[International Herald Tribune]] |date=30 December 2008 |access-date=21 January 2009}}</ref> When the 90-meter-long antenna was bolted into place on 14 October 1958, Tokyo Tower was the [[List of towers|tallest freestanding tower]] in the world, taking the title from the Eiffel Tower by nine meters.<ref name="ET">{{cite web|url=https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument/key-figures |title=The Eiffel Tower at a glance |date=30 October 2017 |access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=December 2022}}

Though it is taller than the Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower weighs about 4,000&nbsp;tons, 3,300 less than the Eiffel Tower<ref name="official data"/> as it is significantly thinner and simpler in construction. It was opened to the public on 23 December 1958 at a final cost of [[Japanese yen|¥]]2.8 billion ($8.4 million in 1958).<ref name="herald"/><ref name="colliers">{{cite web |url=http://www.colliers.com/Content/Attachments/Japan/tokyo_tower1.pdf |title=Tokyo Tower vs. Super Tower: Crossed Signals? |publisher=Colliers International |access-date=21 January 2009 |date=October 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612093857/http://www.colliers.com/Content/Attachments/Japan/tokyo_tower1.pdf |archive-date=12 June 2009  }}</ref> Tokyo Tower was [[Mortgage loan|mortgaged]] for ¥10&nbsp;billion in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/641/smallprint.asp |title=The Small Print |access-date=30 March 2008 |date=7 July 2006 |author=Alex Vega |work=[[Metropolis (free magazine)|Metropolis]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080224185404/http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/641/smallprint.asp |archive-date = 24 February 2008}}</ref> It was the tallest artificial structure in Japan until April 2010, when it was surpassed by the [[Tokyo Skytree]].<ref name="sc" />

Planned as an antenna for telecommunications and brightly colored in accordance with the time's Aviation Law, the tower's two panoramic observatories are mostly frequented by tourists today. The tower constitutes a clear reference point in the center's skyline, forming a strong landmark, both night and day.<ref
name="Sacchi">Sacchi, Livio (2004). Tokyo City and Architecture. Skira Editore S.p.A. p. 58. {{ISBN|88-8491-990-8}}.</ref> Every five years, the tower is repainted in a process that takes about a year to complete. Tokyo Tower is next planned to be repainted in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.takenaka.co.jp/corp/archive/tokyotower/power/index.html|title=5年に1回のお化粧直し。|language=ja|access-date=2 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926083727/http://www.takenaka.co.jp/corp/archive/tokyotower/power/index.html|archive-date=26 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realestate-tokyo.com/news/tokyo-tower/|title=Tokyo Tower|access-date=2 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006214454/http://www.realestate-tokyo.com/news/tokyo-tower/|archive-date=6 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Functions ==
[[File:special observatory.jpg|thumb|The Special Observatory located directly below the tower's digital television broadcasting equipment]]
Tokyo Tower's two main revenue sources are antenna leasing and tourism. It functions as a radio and television broadcasting antenna support structure and is a tourist destination that houses several different attractions. The tower recorded its 190&nbsp;millionth visitor in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Tokyo Tower marks 190 mil. visitors since opening 66 years ago |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240904_04/ |work=NHK World Japan |date=4 September 2024 |access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref> Visitor numbers had been steadily declining, bottoming out at 2.3&nbsp;million in 2000<ref name="AP">{{cite news|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ifd4natdVH1mMg_PafwgZ7ZpgK2Q |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207082231/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ifd4natdVH1mMg_PafwgZ7ZpgK2Q |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 February 2009 |title=Tokyo Tower turns 50 with big party |access-date=21 January 2009 |author=Sato, Shigemi |date=23 December 2008 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> before rising since then.<ref name="new JT" />

The first area tourists visit upon reaching the tower is FootTown, a four-story building stationed directly under the tower. There, visitors can eat, shop, and visit several museums and galleries. Elevators that depart from the first floor of FootTown can be used to reach the first of two observation decks, the two-story Main Observatory.<ref name="FT 1F" /> For the price of another ticket, visitors can board another set of elevators from the second floor of the Main Observatory to reach the final observation deck—the Special Observatory.<ref name="observatory">{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/02_view/index.html |title=View from the Observatory |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411134223/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/02_view/index.html |archive-date=11 April 2008  }}</ref>

=== Broadcasting ===
[[File:Tokyo Tower look down window.JPG|thumb|Looking down from the glass-flooring at Tokyo Tower]]
Tokyo Tower, a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, has been used by many organizations for broadcasting purposes. The structure was intended for broadcasting television, but radio antennas were installed in 1961 because it could accommodate them.<ref name="new JT" /> While analog and digital television broadcasts are no longer conducted from the site, two FM radio stations remain on Tokyo Tower. Stations that use or have used the tower's antenna include:<ref name="official data" />

====Current====
* [[Tokyo FM]] (JOAU-FM): 80.0{{Nbsp}}[[MHz]]
* [[InterFM]] (JODW-FM): 89.7{{Nbsp}}[[MHz]] <!--Formerly 76.1 MHz-->

====Former====
* [[NHK General TV|NHK General TV Tokyo]] (JOAK-TV): [[VHF]] Channel 1 ([[Analog television|Analog]])
* [[NHK Educational TV|NHK Educational TV Tokyo]] (JOAB-TV): [[VHF]] Channel 3 ([[Analog television|Analog]])
* [[Nippon Television|Nippon Television Tokyo]] (JOAX-TV): [[VHF]] Channel 4 ([[Analog television|Analog]])
* [[Tokyo Broadcasting System|Tokyo Broadcasting System Television]] (JORX-TV): TBS Television/[[VHF]] Channel 6 ([[Analog television|Analog]])
* [[Fuji Television|Fuji Television Tokyo]] (JOCX-TV): Fuji Television Analog/[[VHF]] Channel 8 ([[Analog television|Analog]])
* [[TV Asahi|TV Asahi Tokyo]] (JOEX-TV): TV Asahi Analog Television/[[VHF]] Channel 10 ([[Analog television|Analog]])
* [[TV Tokyo]] (JOTX-TV): [[VHF]] Channel 12 ([[Analog television|Analog]])
* [[Tokyo Metropolitan Television]] (JOMX-TV): [[UHF]] Channel 14 ([[Analog television|Analog]])
* [[Open University of Japan|The University of the Air TV]] (JOUD-TV): [[UHF]] Channel 16 ([[Analog television|Analog]])
* [[Television Kanagawa|tvk]] (JOKM-TV): [[UHF]] Channel 42 ([[Analog television|Analog]])
* [[Open University of Japan|The University of the Air-FM]] (JOUD-FM): 77.1{{Nbsp}}[[MHz]]
* [[J-Wave]] (JOAV-FM): 81.3{{Nbsp}}[[MHz]]
* [[NHK Radio 1|NHK Radio FM Tokyo]] (JOAK-FM): 82.5{{Nbsp}}[[MHz]]

{{multiple image
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| image1            = Tokyo Tower during daytime.jpg
| width1            =
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| caption1          = Tokyo Tower, built in 1958
| image2            = 2011 Japan Earthquake Tokyo Tower.jpg
| width2            =
| alt2              =
| caption2          = The [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake]] did slight damage to the antenna of Tokyo Tower.
| align             =
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| total_width       = 300
}}

Japan employs both analog and digital broadcasting. In July 2011 all television broadcasting was changed to solely digital. Tokyo Tower is not a reliable broadcasting antenna for completely digital broadcasting because the tower is not tall enough to transmit the higher frequency waves to areas surrounded by forests or high-rise buildings. As an alternative, a new {{convert|634|m|ft|adj=mid|-tall|abbr=off|sp=us}} tower called the [[Tokyo Skytree]] was opened in 2012.<ref name="new JT"/> In an attempt to make Tokyo Tower more appealing to [[NHK]] and the five other commercial broadcasters who planned to move their transmitting stations to the new tower, Nihon Denpatō officials drafted a plan to extend its digital broadcasting antenna by 80&nbsp;to&nbsp;100&nbsp;meters at a cost of approximately ¥4&nbsp;billion (US$50 million).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070923a3.html |title=Tokyo Tower to add 100&nbsp;meters |access-date=18 September 2008 |date=23 September 2007 |work=[[The Japan Times]]}}</ref>

As a result of their move to the Skytree, only one digital television station remained on Tokyo Tower: that of the [[Open University of Japan]], whose JOUD-DTV and JOUD-FM continued on the tower until shutting down in 2018. FM radio stations will continue to use the tower for broadcasting in the Tokyo area. Masahiro Kawada, the tower's planning director, raised the possibility of the tower becoming a backup for the Tokyo Skytree, depending on what the TV broadcasters want or need.<ref name="new JT"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20120322-335084.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322172340/http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20120322-335084.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 March 2012 | title=Tokyo Skytree: A towering symbol | publisher=AsiaOne | access-date=9 April 2012 | author=Arpon, Yasmin Lee | date=22 March 2012 | quote=[Tokyo Skytree] will serve as the new broadcasting facility for six terrestrial broadcasters headed by NHK. Tokyo Tower, which stands at 333m…}}</ref>

The antenna's tip was damaged on 11 March 2011 by the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|Tōhoku earthquake]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Tokyo Tower antenna bent, tourists evacuate via stairs | language=ja | url=http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=soc_30&k=2011031100836 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025071835/http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=soc_30&k=2011031100836 | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 October 2014 | work=Jiji Press }}</ref> On 19 July 2012, Tokyo Tower's height shrank to 315 meters while the top antenna was repaired for damage from the earthquake.<ref name="english.kyodonews.jp"/>

=== Attractions ===
==== FootTown ====
[[File:BaseofTokyoTower.JPG|thumb|upright|The base of Tokyo Tower with the FootTown building located underneath|left]]Located in the base of the tower is a 4-story building known as FootTown. The first floor includes the Aquarium Gallery, a reception hall, the 400-person-capacity "Tower Restaurant", a [[FamilyMart]] convenience store and a souvenir shop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_08.html |title=Aquarium gallery |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415104708/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_08.html |archive-date=15 April 2008  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_06.html |title=Tower Restaurant |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415104703/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_06.html |archive-date=15 April 2008  }}</ref> This floor's main attractions, however, are the three elevators that serve as a direct ride to the Main Observatory.<ref name="FT 1F">{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/1f.html |title=Foot Town 1F |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412004702/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/1f.html |archive-date=12 April 2008  }}</ref> The second floor is primarily a food and shopping area. In addition to the five standalone restaurants, the second floor's [[food court]] consists of four restaurants, including a [[McDonald's]] and a [[Pizza-La]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/food.html |title=FoodCourt |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415104653/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/food.html |archive-date=15 April 2008  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/2f.html |title=Foot Town 2F |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412004707/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/2f.html |archive-date=12 April 2008  }}</ref>
[[Image:Tokyo Tower shinto shrine.jpg|thumb|A [[Shinto shrine]] on the second floor of the Main Observatory]]

FootTown's third and fourth floors house several tourist attractions. The third floor is home to the [[Guinness Book of World Records|Guinness World Records]] Museum Tokyo, a museum that houses life-size figures, photo panels and memorabilia depicting interesting records that have been authenticated by the Guinness Book.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_33.html |title=Guinness World Records Museum Tokyo |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415104754/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_33.html |archive-date=15 April 2008  }}</ref> The Tokyo Tower Wax Museum, opened in 1970, displayed [[wax figures]] imported from London where they were made<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_32.html |title=Wax Museum |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415104749/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_32.html |archive-date=15 April 2008  }}</ref> until it was closed in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thewire.co.uk/news/25929/tokyo-tower-wax-museum-closing_krautrock-waxwork-display-to-become-homeless |title=In Writing Audio Video Galleries Events Magazine Subscribe Shop AboutAdvertisingContactNewsletter Subscriber Log In Tokyo Tower Wax Museum closing: Future uncertain for Zappa, Göttsching, and Faust waxworks |date=22 July 2013 |access-date=22 June 2023 |publisher=The Wire}}</ref>

The figures on display range from pop culture icons such as [[The Beatles]] to religious figures such as [[Jesus Christ]]. A [[hologram]] gallery named the Gallery DeLux, a lounge and a few specialty stores are also located on this floor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/3f.html |title=Foot Town 3F |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415104647/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/3f.html |archive-date=15 April 2008  }}</ref> Tokyo Tower's Trick Art Gallery is located on the building's fourth and final floor. This gallery displays [[optical illusion]]s, including paintings and objects that visitors can interact with.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_38.html |title=Trick Art Gallery |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415105214/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_38.html |archive-date=15 April 2008  }}</ref>

On the roof of the FootTown building is a small amusement park that contains several small rides and hosts live performances for children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_40.html |title=Amusement Park |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415105222/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_40.html |archive-date=15 April 2008  }}</ref> On weekends and holidays, visitors can use the roof to access the tower's outside stairwell. At approximately 660&nbsp;steps, the stairwell is an alternative to the tower's elevators and leads directly to the Main Observatory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_42.html |title=Direct staircase to the Main Observatory (Starting Point) |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831055336/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/03_foottown/shop/shop_42.html |archive-date=31 August 2007  }}</ref>

==== Tokyo One Piece Tower ====
{{Main|Tokyo One Piece Tower}}
Based on the hit manga and anime ''[[One Piece]]'', Tokyo Tower featured a small ''One Piece'' themed amusement park that opened in 2015 and closed in 2020. The amusement park offered a range of attractions, shops, and restaurants, all based on the characters from [[Eiichiro Oda]]'s manga. Patrons enjoyed various games or attractions based on their favorite characters and enjoyed meals from the world of ''One Piece''. There was a gift store that features exclusive goods for ''One Piece'' fans.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://onepiecetower.tokyo/ |title=Tokyo One Piece Tower |access-date=30 May 2017 |publisher=One Piece Tower |archive-date=3 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603213203/https://onepiecetower.tokyo/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://japandeluxetours.com/experiences/tokyo-one-piece-tower |title=Tokyo One Piece Tower | access-date= 30 May 2017 |publisher=Japan Deluxe Tours}}</ref>

== Appearance ==
[[File:Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Sky Tree 2011 January.jpg|thumb|right|Tokyo Tower in January 2011 with the [[Tokyo Skytree]] under construction in the background]]
Tokyo Tower requires {{convert|28000|L|gal|sp=us}} of paint to completely paint the structure white and [[international orange]], complying with [[air safety]] regulations.<ref name="official data"/> Before the tower's 30th anniversary in 1987, the only lighting on the tower were light bulbs located on the corner contours that extended from the base to the antenna. In the spring of 1987, Nihon Denpatō invited [[lighting designer]] [[Motoko Ishii]] to visit the tower. Since its opening 30&nbsp;years earlier, the tower's annual ticket sales had dropped significantly, and in a bid to revitalize the tower and again establish it as an important tourist attraction and symbol of Tokyo, Ishii was hired to redesign Tokyo Tower's lighting arrangement.<ref name="ishii"/>

Unveiled in 1989, the new lighting arrangement required the removal of the contour-outlining light bulbs and the installation of 176&nbsp;floodlights in and around the tower's frame.<ref name="ishii">{{cite web |url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/tokyo23/feature/tokyo231199378046481_02/news/20080108-OYT8T00441.htm |title=⑤起死回生のライトアップ |date=6 January 2008 |access-date=19 September 2008 |work=[[Yomiuri Shimbun]] |language=ja |archive-date=11 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311195236/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/tokyo23/feature/tokyo231199378046481_02/news/20080108-OYT8T00441.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> From dusk to midnight, the floodlights illuminate the entire tower.<ref name="official data">{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/index.html |title=Tokyo Tower Data |access-date=29 March 2008 |publisher=Nippon Television City Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430131425/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/index.html |archive-date=30 April 2008  }}</ref> [[Sodium vapor lamp]]s are used from 2 October to 6 July to cover the tower in an orange color. From 7 July to 1 October, the lights are changed to [[metal halide lamp]]s to illuminate the tower with a white color. The reasoning behind the change is a seasonal one. Ishii reasoned that orange is a warmer color and helps to offset the cold winter months. Conversely, white is thought a cool color that helps during the hot summer months.<ref name="japan lights">{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/333/07_secret/index_05.html |script-title=ja:特別ライトアップ |access-date=29 March 2008 |publisher=日本電波塔 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426181002/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/333/07_secret/index_05.html |archive-date=26 April 2008  }}</ref>

{{Multiple image
| align =
| direction =
| total_width = 300
| image1 = 20101225-tokyotower-tarotokyo.jpg
| alt1 =
| caption1 = "Christmas Light Down Story", 2010
| image2 = Tokyo Tower at night 9.JPG
| caption2 = "Diamond Veil" lighting
}}

Occasionally, Tokyo Tower's lighting is changed to specific arrangements for special events. The tower is specially lit for some annual events.
Since 2000, the entire tower has been illuminated in a pink light on 1 October to highlight the beginning of [[National Breast Cancer Awareness Month]]. The tower has also had a variety of special lighting arrangements for [[Christmas]] since 1994. During [[New Year's Eve]], the tower lights up at midnight with a year number displayed on one side of the observatory to mark the arrival of the new year.<ref name="japan lights"/>

Special Japanese events have been cause to light the tower in several non-traditional ways. In 2002, alternating sections of the tower were lit blue to help celebrate the opening of the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup]] in Japan. Alternating sections of the tower were lit green on [[Saint Patrick's Day]] in 2007 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Japanese–Irish relations. On a few occasions, Tokyo Tower has even been specially lit to correspond with corporate events. For example, the top half of the tower was lit green to correspond with the Japanese premiere of ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' and different sections of the tower were lit red, white and black to commemorate the first day of sales of [[Coca-Cola C2]].<ref name="japan lights"/> In the summer of 2021, the tower was lit up in Olympic colours to celebrate the [[2020 Summer Olympics]] and [[2020 Summer Paralympics]] in Tokyo, both of which had been delayed a year due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/tokyo-tower-will-be-lit-up-in-special-colours-for-the-paralympics-tonight-082421|title=Tokyo Tower will be lit up in special colours for the Paralympics tonight}}</ref> On November 18, 2021, the tower was lit up at 17:17 in the red of [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Los Angeles Angels]] following the awarding of the American League MVP to two-way player [[Shohei Ohtani]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-tokyo-tower-to-light-the-sky-in-angels-colors-to-celebrate-ohtani|title=Tokyo Tower to light the sky in Angels' colors to celebrate Shohei Ohtani's MVP season|website=MLB.com}}</ref>

The tower was lit for the new millennium in 2000 with Motoko Ishii again reprising her role as the designer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motoko-ishii.co.jp/MAIN-E.html |title=Works |publisher=[[Motoko Ishii]] |access-date=19 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926002637/http://motoko-ishii.co.jp/MAIN-E.html |archive-date=26 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In December 2008, Nihon Denpatō spent $6.5&nbsp;million to create a new night-time illumination scheme—titled the "Diamond Veil"—to celebrate the tower's 50th anniversary. The arrangement featured 276&nbsp;lights in seven colors equally distributed across the towers four faces.<ref name="herald"/>

When employing specialty lighting on the tower, the Main Observatory often plays an important role. During the second international "[[White Band]] Day" on 10 September 2005, the tower was completely unlit except for the Main Observatory, which was lit with a bright white light. The resulting white ring represented the White Band referenced in the day's name. The two floors of windows that make up the exterior of the Main Observatory are utilized to display words or numbers. When the tower employed lighting to commemorate [[Digital terrestrial television|terrestrial digital broadcasting]] first being available in the [[Kantō region]] on 1 December 2005, each side of the Main Observatory displayed the characters {{nihongo2|地デジ}} (''chi deji'', an abbreviation for {{nihongo2|地上デジタル放送}} ''chijō dejitaru hōsō''  terrestrial digital broadcasting).<ref name="japan lights"/> More recently, the observatory displayed both "TOKYO" and "2016" to stress Tokyo's [[Tokyo 2016 Olympic bid|2016 Olympic bid]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tokyo2016.or.jp/en/press/2007/11/tokyo_2016_lights_up_the_tokyo.html |title=TOKYO 2016 Lights Up the Tokyo Night |publisher=[[Japanese Olympic Committee]] |date=29 November 2007 |access-date=20 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412173455/http://www.tokyo2016.or.jp/en/press/2007/11/tokyo_2016_lights_up_the_tokyo.html |archive-date=12 April 2008  }}</ref> Primitive images, such as hearts, have also been displayed using the observatory's windows.<ref name="japan lights"/>

[[File:View from 33rd floor of Azabudai Hills JP Tower 9.jpg|thumb|Tokyo Tower seen from the 33rd floor of [[Azabudai Hills|Azabudai Hills JP Tower]]]]
<gallery>
File:Tokyo Tower M4854.jpg|Tokyo Tower, with [[Shiodome]] in the background
File:全体ライトアップ以前の東京タワー.jpg|The tower's original lighting arrangement, used until 1989
</gallery>

==Renovation==
Operations at the Tokyo Tower Top Deck (at the height of 250 m) were suspended in 2016. The Top Deck reopened on 3 March 2018. At that time, Tokyo Tower also announced the renaming of both decks. Renovations on the main deck, which began in September 2016, caused partial closure of the deck.<ref name="tokyotower.co.jp"/>

==Mascots==

Tokyo Tower has two mascots named ノッポン ''Noppon''. They are two brothers: Older Brother, who wears blue [[Overall|dungaree]]s, and Younger Brother, who wears red dungarees. They were unveiled on 23 December 1998 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tokyo Tower.<ref name="Noppon">[http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/ Tokyo Tower English] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410040855/http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/ |date=10 April 2008 }}, NOPPONs' Secret</ref>

== Media representation ==
[[File:TokyoTower-night-2019-10-29.webm|thumb|thumbtime=10|Motion around Tokyo Tower at night, 2019]]

Just as the [[Eiffel Tower]] is often used in popular culture to immediately locate a scene in Paris, Tokyo Tower is often used in the same way for Tokyo.

It is used in [[anime]] and [[manga]] such as ''[[Doraemon]]'', ''[[Tokyo Magnitude 8.0]]'', ''[[Magic Knight Rayearth]]'', ''[[Please Save My Earth]]'', ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]'', ''[[Digimon]]'', ''[[Detective Conan]]'', ''[[Sailor Moon]]'', ''[[Tenchi Muyo!]]'' and ''[[Death Note]]''.<ref name="anime">{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/crashing-japan/one-week/tokyo-tower |author=Dong, Bamboo |title=Crashing Japan  |access-date=23 February 2009 |date=17 September 2007 |work=[[Anime News Network]]}}</ref> The tower is frequently used in the Japanese ''[[kaiju]]'' (giant monster) film genre. It has been the location of numerous battles and visitations by [[Godzilla]], [[Mothra]], [[Gamera]] and [[King Kong]] (''[[King Kong Escapes]]'') wherein it is frequently destroyed and rebuilt.<ref name="colliers" /><ref name="AFI">{{cite book |last1=Krafsur |first1=Richard P. | first2=Kenneth W. |last2=Munden |title=The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films, 1961–1970 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |year=1997 |isbn=0-520-20970-2 |page=578}}</ref>

Tokyo Tower is represented in [[Unicode]] as an [[emoji]] at code point U+1F5FC: 🗼

Tokyo Tower and its construction often appears in [[Shōwa nostalgia]] fiction and non-fiction, where it is used as a symbol of the financial prosperity of Shōwa era Japan.<ref>Katsuyuki Hidaka. Japanese Media at the Beginning of the 21st Century: Consuming the Past. Routledge. 2017. Hardback p 4 (ebook [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3JM4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA2004#v=onepage&q&f=false PA2004]), "Tokyo Tower in films" at hardback p 58 (ebook [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3JM4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT83#v=onepage&q&f=false PT83]) and the rest of chapter 2. See also passim.</ref> For example, the 2005 film ''[[Always Sanchōme no Yūhi]]'', based on the popular manga series by Ryōhei Saigan, was a nostalgic view of life in the neighborhoods beneath the construction of Tokyo Tower.

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="190">
File:Tokyo Tower Shinkoin.jpg|Shinkōin and the base of Tokyo Tower
File:Shiba-koen, aerial view on Tokyo Tower at dusk (Unsplash).jpg|Aerial view on Shiba-koen at dusk
File:Tokyo Tower Afterglow.JPG|Tokyo Tower at sunset
File:Tokyo Tower at night 7.JPG|Tokyo Tower at night from Roppongi hills
File:Tokyo Tower at night (1).jpg|Tokyo Tower at night
File:Tokyo Tower (39141009924).jpg|Tokyo Tower during a snowfall in 2018
File:Tokyo Tower Night View.jpg|Summer night in 2008
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Tokyo}}
* [[Nagoya TV Tower]]
* [[Sapporo TV Tower]]
* [[Media of Japan]]
* [[List of tallest freestanding structures]]
* [[List of tallest freestanding steel structures]]
* [[List of tallest towers]]
* [[List of transmission sites]]
* [[Lattice tower]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Tokyo Tower}}
* [https://en.tokyotower.co.jp/ Tokyo Tower official site (English)]
* {{Structurae|id=20000080|title=Tokyo Tower}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-ach|rec}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Eiffel Tower]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[History of the world's tallest structures#Freestanding towers|World's tallest free-standing tower]]|years=1958–1967}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Ostankino Tower]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Lattice tower|World's tallest lattice tower]]|years=1958–1973}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Kyiv TV Tower]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Tokyo Skyscrapers}}
{{Supertall}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1958 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Minato, Tokyo]]
[[Category:Iron and steel buildings]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Japan]]
[[Category:Lattice towers]]
[[Category:Observation towers in Japan]]
[[Category:Replicas and derivatives of the Eiffel Tower]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Towers completed in 1958]]