There is an Eiffel tower outside Paris too!
The Parisin Eiffel tower, one of the seven wonders of the world, is an iconic landmark that has fascinated generations for centuries. But did you know that the Eiffel Tower has a twin? Yes, it is Japan's Tokyo tower! It surpassed the Eiffel tower by 9 metres to become the tallest freestanding tower in the world in 1958. Tauchu Naito, a well-known Japanese architect, was the mastermind behind this creation. He built the 333-meter-tall tower replicating the style of France's Eiffel tower. But why was this tower built? Let's look at some more fascinating facts about the Tokyo tower.
Why was the Tokyo tower built?
The Japanese government desired to construct a structure that would become a landmark depicting post-war Japan, while also serving as a larger broadcasting station. They built this tower as a symbol of Japan’s rebirth from World War II. Putting their best minds to work, Japan erected the Tokyo tower in 1958. Since then, it has become a popular tourist destination, attracting over 3 million visitors each year. The tower even has its own mascot, two brothers dressed in blue and red overalls! This engineering marvel is used to transmit traffic information, FM radio transmissions and reception, and television broadcast signals. It is also used to collect weather and air pollution data.
Eiffel vs Tokyo: Twins or not so much?
Until 2010, the Tokyo tower at 333 metres, was the tallest man-made structure in the nation. However, it was dethroned by the Sky Tree building nearly twice its height! Although the Tokyo tower weighs 4,000 tonnes, it is 3300 lesser than the Eiffel tower which weigh 7,300 tonnes! Talk about heavyweights! It also differs from the Eiffel tower in terms of colour. Complying with International Air Safety regulations, the tower is brightly painted white and orange. It is repainted every 5 years with approximately 28,000 litres of paint and takes a year to complete this mammoth task!
The three tiers of Tokyo tower
To begin with, at the base of the tower is a four-storeyed building called the FootTown. There are numerous shops and events hosted here to keep you entertained.
The first two floors house the Aquarium gallery, a reception hall with a capacity of 400 people, a restaurant, a family convenience store, and a souvenir shop. There are two full-fledged museums on the third floor! First, there's the Guinness World Records Museum, which features life-size figures, photo panels, and collectibles depicting interesting records verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. The second attraction is the Tokyo Tower Wax Museum. It displays London-imported wax figures. Pop culture icons such as The Beatles are on display, as are religious figures such as Jesus Christ.
The entertainment just gets better as we go higher. The Trick Art gallery, filled with optical illusions, is on the fourth floor. There is a small amusement park on the roof with various small rides and a live performance for children. It wouldn't be a tower without a viewing platform, would it? So, there are two observatories on the Tokyo tower. From one observatory, you can see the entire city. On a clear day, you can see the Sky Tree tower and Mt. Fuji from the other observatory. Well, since it’s in Japan, Tokyo tower has a One-Piece Tower, a theme park based on the well-known manga series One Piece.
The many lights of the Tokyo tower
The illuminated Tokyo tower is a sight to behold! The lighting tradition of Tokyo tower has been meticulously planned. The lighting changes with the seasons and during major national events. During the summer, the lighting is changed to white to reduce the sense of heat. During the winter, the tower glows in hot and bright colours like orange, creating the illusion of warmth. This is known as ‘landmark lighting,’ and 180 light bulbs are used to illuminate the tower. During special events, the tower is illuminated in accordance with the theme. For example, it was all pink in October 2000 to commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What a sight it must have been!