Formerly:

New Tokyo Tower

1- Narihirabashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Japan
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Tokyo returns to the world's architectural stage with this massive broadcasting tower, scheduled for completion in 2011. It will rise above what was the Tobu Railway Company's rail yard in Sumida Ward. Discussions about a new broadcast tower have been ongoing for years, but it wasn't until 2006 that Tokyo's major broadcasting companies and the national broadcaster, NHK, agreed on this plan.

This tower will carry antennae for Tokyo radio and television stations, which are currently at the top of Tokyo Tower. However, Tokyo Tower is quickly being surrounded by massive skyscrapers which cause mutltipath and other problems with radio signals. The new tower will allow the broadcasters to locate their transmitters at a higher point to alleviate the congestion. As part of the move to the new tower, the broadcasters will abandon their analog facilities and move to pure digital operation.

Unlike the current Tokyo Tower, the base of Tokyo Sky Tree will be more than an expanse of asphalt with some scraggly gardens and minor amusement facilities. It is envisioned as an entire urban working, shopping, transportation, and community center, right beneath the tower, helping better utilize the available space.

Of course, the real star of the show is the tower, itself. Rising from a triangular-shaped lobby with a large arch on each side, the core of the building will be surrounded by a lattice work of structural steel. As the building rises, the core changes to a circular shape by the time it reaches the first observation level. The second level is 330 feet higher, but smaller. This is topped by the continuing steel cone and eventually a master television antenna.

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Your Thoughts

There are nine comments.

  While I do enjoy the futuristic heading and the forethought put into both the design and uses, I cannot say that I will not miss the classical, almost symbolic, figure that is the Tokyo Tower today.

Megan Hoteling - Thursday, September 25th, 2008 @ 6:10pm  

  A spectacular tower.And more beautiful than existing Tokyo Tower.I hope it will have a sky lobby, open for public.

Marc - Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007 @ 6:39am  

  Very elegant and futuristic, it boasts japans enormous grip on technology.

Animator - Sunday, April 15th, 2007 @ 9:42pm  

  I like the height of the new tokyo tower it is interesting...

eske - Sunday, March 25th, 2007 @ 1:50pm  

  very stilish and looks powerfull.

alexanderi premja - Tuesday, March 6th, 2007 @ 1:43pm  

  It kinda reminds me of seattle

Kyoko Hikarui - Thursday, February 22nd, 2007 @ 9:59am