A turning point was that while traveling to unfamiliar places with the Youth 18 Ticket, I climbed a tower in a town I visited for the first time. Viewing a town from a high vantage point provides a deep understanding of the place. Moreover, there’s a sense of accomplishment, something like, “I conquered this town!” I was thrilled by that experience, and I decided wherever I go, I’ll climb a tower to get to know the town.
One of the pioneers of observation facilities in Japan is TOKYO TOWER. It was built to consolidate multiple TV towers in the Tokyo area with a height of 333 meters, and an observation deck was facilitated. Many municipalities were inspired by this and started creating observation decks. As far as I know, there are over 500, towers and platforms altogether. Everyone wishes for others to have a view of their town. It’s worth traveling around the country to have this experience.

A unique way to enjoy the steel beauty of TOKYO TOWER is to have the “Steel Structure Bath.” If you stand on the rooftop of FOOT TOWN and look up, you can bask in the precise and bold beauty of the manually assembled steel structure from a time when construction technology was not as advanced as today. After the rain, the experience becomes exquisite. You will marvel at the glistening beauty of the steel structure while being showered by the water dripping from the tower.
Furthermore, each of the four tower legs has a different feature. If you want to feel the strength, the recommended leg is the first one near the entrance. The second leg in front of Tofuya UKAI provides a symmetrical view of the tower, and due to its picturesque narrow staircase, it has recently become quite a popular spot on Instagram.
While TOKYO TOWER itself is quite enjoyable, delving into the history of this area adds an extra layer of fascination. In the Edo era, this area was a sea and wetland, where Ieyasu Tokugawa reclaimed and developed Tokaido road making it the entrance to Edo. This place has witnessed the shakers of different eras and has been the starting point for travel with roads, railways, ships, and airplanes. It has undergone significant changes and developments. Hosting MICE events in such an area with historical transitions provides a powerful time, where both work and leisure can be enriched by the energy of the land.

Above all, its visual beauty stands out. I live in the neighborhood just to visit this beautiful tower (laughs). I think this miraculous form created by human hands during the era of rapid economic growth in 1958 is overwhelming. The tower’s red color is “International Orange,” designated for structures over 60 meters in the old aviation law.
Nowadays, the view from the main deck at 150 meters above ground may not feel exceptionally high among other skyscrapers and TOKYO SKYTREE. However, this height is just right. You can see the city clearly and quite far beyond with your own eyes. Recently, from here, I’ve been watching the development of Azabudai Hills, which is right nearby. The scenery changes dynamically every day. The accumulation of memories and records of various people enjoying the view is the history of the tower and the city.