Hello Sky Tree

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Hello Sky Tree

February 17, 2010 by sevenbrane

Sky Tree seen from the Senso-ji temple grounds

Something BIG is going on in Tokyo, and it’s rather close to home. Just across the Sumida river, the Tokyo Sky Tree is growing at a furious speed. I had been noticing the building for a while already on our runs along the river, but I had never thought much of it. It somehow did not look like it was going to be tall. But lately it has taken to doubling its size at regular intervals and I realized that this was actually going to be the New Tokyo Tower I had heard of many times already.
Although with its planned 634 m, it will fall short considerably of the 828 m of the Burj Khalifa of Dubai, it will still beat the 509.2 m of the Taipei 101 (somewhat less) considerably and is thus expected to be, at least for a little while, the world’s second tallest structure.
The name of Tokyo Sky Tree (we are informed that “The “tree” symbolizes a place where people gather and share their hearts.”) may seem a little odd, but it’s probably still better than some of the other suggested names, such as Rising East Tower. The main purpose of the Sky Tree is to serve as a broadcasting antenna for digital TV, a job for which the original Tokyo Tower (with a mere 332.5 m) turns out to be too short due to the obstructions created by other tall buildings of central Tokyo. Even though we can watch the Sky Tree grow from our balcony, I am sorry to say that the Grand Opening in Spring 2012 will be several months after the end of our term at IPMU.

A view from the future: finished sky tree and the Asahi Beer Glass

Update Oct. 6 2010. This is what it looks like now.

Check out new pictures of the sky tree here.

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Posted in Asia, Japan, Tokyo | Tagged Tokyo Sky Tree | 7 Comments

7 Responses

on February 17, 2010 at 7:44 pm | Log in to Reply jreffert

ich wundere mich, wie man so etwas in zeiten knappen geldes überhaupt finanzieren kann, jedenfalls wird man so oder so mit staunen hinauf sehen und vielleicht auch an den Turmbau zu Babel denken. Es wäre noch interessant zu wissen, wie man so etwas erdbebensicher konstruiert.
on February 17, 2010 at 7:53 pm | Log in to Reply dorisschoenemann

I will pay my respects to “Sky tree” in May from the top of Asahi Beer Glass.
on March 30, 2010 at 12:52 am | Log in to Reply tokyo5

As of yesterday, it is now higher than Tokyo Tower.

http://tokyo5.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/the-highest-in-japan/
on October 13, 2010 at 10:14 am | Log in to Reply Tokyo Sky Tree – Photowalk « Chipango

[...] Tree is rising up tall in Tokyo’s East. Eight months ago, when it was still a lot shorter I wrote about it first. I can watch its progress from our balcony. On rainy days, its top already disappears in the [...]
on October 9, 2011 at 2:27 am | Log in to Reply Sky Tree (Picture Book) « Chipango

[...] Sky Tree seen from the Asakusa ViewHotel I have written about the Tokyo Sky Tree being constructed here and here. By now, the Sky Tree has assumed its finished shape. Its interior is not yet ready, the [...]
on May 26, 2012 at 7:08 pm | Log in to Reply Sky Tree is Open Now! « Chipango

[...] case that it will have to wait until our next visit. We’ve watched the Sky Tree grow from its humble beginnings to impressive heights and into its final form right in front of our door step. While its outside [...]
on December 9, 2012 at 9:57 pm | Log in to Reply Finally: Up the Sky Tree « Chipango

[...] posts on the Sky Tree from different stages of costruction: Hello Sky Tree – Tokyo Sky Tree Photowalk – Sky Tree (Picture Book) – Sky Tree is Open [...]