The Tokyo Tower, Japan

Day 2: Sensoji temple, Asakusa in Tokyo - Nakamise Dori Shopping Arcade in Tokyo - Sumida River Cruise, Tokyo - Hibiya garden - Imperial Palace and Garden - TOKYO TOWER

Tokyo Tower: The Iconic Symbol of Tokyo

The tall spire rose from somewhere in the middle of the city like a phoenix... reaching out to the heavens as though pleading for benevolence. I craned my neck, tilting it to a complete 90 degrees so that I could have a complete view of it, right from the extensive base towards the tapering top. It was huge and massive, 333 mtrs. high to be precise, glowing in bright colors of yellow and gold...

The day till now had been exciting - with us visiting the Sensoji temple, the Hibiya Garden and enjoying a cruise along the Sumida river – and there was still more to be seen... now in the fall of the night. We made our way through the streets of the city, past the adorable dolls at the Zozoji temple and finally reached the iconic symbol of Tokyo, the not-to-be-missed-by-any-chance spot of the city – The Tokyo Tower.

The Zozoji Temple

Built in 1958, the tower takes pride in being the world's tallest self-supporting steel tower. Once a symbol for Japan's rebirth as a major economic power, today it has become a face for the country.

Bearing a striking resemblance to the Eiffel tower in Paris, the tower looks splendidly magnificent, from any and every angle you will saw. Its excellent architecture and unbelievable attention to detail is an apt representation of Tokyo itself – known for its flair for flamboyant architecture. One long look at the sparkling tower and you’ll realize why it must have been accorded the privileged iconic status by the city.

As advised by the hotel staff a couple of minutes back, we purchased tickets for the 150 mtr. main observatory and made our way upwards towards the viewing deck through a lift.

At the observatory...

The scene was chaotic. The room was dark and filled with a lot of people everywhere.

I grabbed a window pane for myself in order to see how the city, one which I had now begun to fall in love with, looked from a height. A million neon lights were glowing down there;

Giant skyscrapers and tall buildings that I had admired right through the day had dramatically shrunk in size,

An entire city was pulsating with life, verve and energy...

... And everyone was excited; everyone energized, everyone eager to capture every bit of Tokyo,

While some things seemed to whiz by, others seemed to converge...

I closed my camera shutter and stood still, staring into the glass pane...

The night outside was harmoniously silent - unmindful of the busy traffic, unmindful of the chaotic craze, unmindful of the twinkling lights, of the flashy blaze...

And I thought,

This tower will surely accomplish its quest for fulfillment someday...

With this thought in my mind, I left the views of the window to explore the other attractions present inside the tower.

Other Things to See Inside The Tokyo Tower

On the same level as the main observation deck (150 mt.) is a Shinto shrine,

A good luck place for couples,

... and some souvenir shops selling small replicas of the tower in various shapes and sizes that you can take back,

Ascend one level down and you will find some more souvenir shops where you can roam around and take a feel.

Besides this, it also houses a wax museum and an aquarium. However, remember that separate entrance fees may apply for these.

Tips and Facts:

1. The tower has 2 levels to view the city. You can either ascend to the main observatory located halfway at 150 meters or go further up still, till you reach the special top level observatory at 250 meters to treat yourself to some amazing views of the entire city of Tokyo. If you decide to go all the way to the top, you will have to shell out an extra 600 Yen. I would recommend that middle level viewing is quite satisfactory enough.

2. Besides the observatories, the Tokyo tower also serves as a television and radio broadcast antenna and a tourist attraction as a whole.

3. Recently, in May 2012, the Tokyo Skytree was added to the iconic map of Tokyo. As of now, it is booked 3 months well in advance, so you might just have to satisfy yourself with a glimpse of it only from the outside.

Look out for: Mount Fuji - apparently, on a clear day you can spot it in the far distance but from the topmost level.

Get a subway ticket for: Onarimon Station on the Mita Subway Line or Akabanebashi Station on the Oedo Subway Line. You can also walk there from Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Yamanote and JR Keihin-Tohoku Line in about 15 minutes.

Timings: 9:00 to 22:00 (entry until 21:45 to 150 mtr deck, until 21:30 to 250 mtr deck). Open on all days.

Charges: 820 Yen (to main observatory – 150 mtr), 1420 Yen (to special observatory – 250 mtr).

Previous Posts from the Japan Trip -

1. Planning for Japan: Visa, Flight Bookings, Hotel Reservations, etc.

2. Sunrise pictures from the flight to Japan

3. Review of Hotel Villa Fontaine Roppongi, Tokyo

4. Expedia Japan Office Meet: An Afternoon to Remember

5. SensoJi temple, Asakusa - Tokyo

6. Nakamise Dori Shopping Arcade in Tokyo

7. Sumida River Cruise, Tokyo

8. A Stroll in the Hibiya Gardens

9. Imperial Palace and East Gardens