Tokyo Skytree®

▶Basic Philosophy
Tobu Railway and Tobu Tower Skytree will respond to the expectations of Sumida City and the surrounding communities, and promote this project based on the following basic principles.
▸Contributing to vibrant city development together with the local community
Taking advantage of the site’s potential, with its excellent transportation access and proximity to major visitor hubs such as Asakusa, Kinshicho, and Ryogoku, we will create a new center for exchange, tourism, and industry in East Tokyo together with the local community through large-scale mixed-use development centered on the world’s tallest tourist tower. In doing so, we will lead the revitalization of the local community and contribute to making Tokyo an international tourism city.
▸Creating a landscape that transcends time and space
Against the backdrop of the Sumida River, a landscape representative of the Edo period, we will create a design shaped with the latest technology and based on Japan’s traditional sense of beauty. It will merge with the scenery formed by the network of waters extending from the nearby Kitajukken River, as well as the refined atmosphere of the old downtown area, creating a landscape unlike any other district, one that transcends time and space.
▸Providing peace of mind and safety in disaster prevention
By ensuring comprehensive earthquake resistance, wind resistance, and fire resistance, the tower will demonstrate its social significance as an information infrastructure for radio transmission not only in normal times but especially during disasters. At the same time, by advancing urban development that can withstand earthquakes, fires, floods, and other disasters, it will help improve the community’s disaster preparedness and provide safety and peace of mind to the local area.

▶Concept
▸Tokyo Skytree, a new symbol of the city supported by Japan’s ancient techniques and the latest technology. It watches over people gently.
Tokyo Skytree is inspired by the image of a large tree reaching toward the sky. Its silhouette reflects the “sori” and “mukuri” curves seen in traditional Japanese architecture, and expresses the way people gather and connect beneath a great tree. The clear sky and lush greenery evoked by the name itself represent the development concept for the entire district: “a rich community that is kind to people and the planet.” It embodies the wish that an environmentally friendly city will be born at the foot of the tower, people from around the world will gather there, and new culture will be created. The base of the tower is triangular, reducing the sense of pressure and considering effects such as shading. In addition, it gradually changes into a circular form toward the top, giving it a variety of expressions depending on the angle and viewing point.
▸“It will become a new symbol of tradition and the forefront of innovation”
The base of Tokyo Skytree is triangular. The number “3” was chosen because three points, like a tripod, provide stability with the minimum number of supports; its rational form also helps reduce the sense of pressure on the surrounding area and considers effects such as shading. In addition, it symbolizes this region, which is surrounded by the Sumida River, the Arakawa River, and east-west transportation axes.
The silhouette also reflects the “sori” and “mukuri” curves seen in traditional Japanese architecture. The graceful curve that changes from the top toward the base gives the tower a dignified presence and an elegant atmosphere. Furthermore, when you shift your gaze from the base to the top, you will notice that the basic form changes from triangular to circular. By giving it varied expressions depending on the angle and viewing location, it becomes an original landmark unlike any other city. Tokyo Skytree was born from Japan’s traditional sense of beauty and the use of cutting-edge technology. As a new symbol of both tradition and the forefront of innovation, it creates a new landscape that transcends time and space.
▸Logo mark
Not only to become the tallest in the world, but also to be the world’s best in the scenery, in the seasons, and in people’s hearts. That is the design concept of Tokyo Skytree.
Tokiwairo “tradition”
Moegiiro “youth”
Kariyasu-iro “for everyone”
Koganeiro “the future”
Koubai “splendor”
Edomurasaki “refinement”
Sorairo “ecology”
The various “things” and “events” brought forth by the new tower, as well as the excitement of the people who gather there, are expressed through colorful dots. All of them use traditional Japanese colors, embodying the history and culture unique to this place where the tower stands. Combined with the silhouette of the tower, they depict a tree reaching toward the sky, with leaves growing, flowers blooming, and abundant fruit bearing.

▶Specifications
▸Decision on a height of 634 meters
At the outset of the project, Tokyo Skytree’s height was set at approximately 610 meters. However, from the beginning we were considering a self-supporting radio tower that would be the tallest in the world, and we had been making structural and other preparations with the scope of achieving the world’s tallest height in mind. As a result, amid the planning and construction of tall structures around the world, we repeatedly examined the possibility of building the world’s tallest self-supporting radio tower and ultimately finalized the height at 634 meters.
Thanks to this effort, on November 17, 2011, the 634-meter Tokyo Skytree was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest tower.
▸A memorable number
In deciding on the height of 634 meters, we wanted to make it easy to remember as the world’s tallest tower and as a symbol of the region.
The pronunciation “634 = Musashi” is not only a familiar word for Japanese people, but also evokes Musashino Province, one of the old provincial names, referring to a wide area that includes parts of Tokyo, Saitama, and Kanagawa.
The area where Tokyo Skytree stands was also once part of Musashi Province. From the tower, one can look out over Musashi Province, and from the observation decks, the scenery of olden times seems to come back to life before your eyes, allowing you to reflect on the historical character and regional identity of East Edo and East Tokyo.
By choosing such a familiar number, we believe that the height of Tokyo Skytree is easier for the general public to remember.

▶Role as a radio tower
Tokyo Skytree’s major role is transmitting terrestrial digital television broadcasting. Terrestrial digital broadcasting in the Kanto region began in December 2003, but the transmission of radio waves came to be at risk of being affected by the many super-high-rise buildings around central Tokyo, many of which are around 200 meters tall. For this reason, transmission from a new tower around 600 meters high was desired.
By shifting to a new tower around 600 meters high, the transmission height for terrestrial digital broadcasting will be about twice the current level, helping to reduce the impact of the increasing number of super-high-rise buildings and also contributing to the expansion of the service area for “One-seg,” the digital broadcasting service for mobile devices launched in April 2006.
In addition, the tower is expected to serve as a disaster prevention facility in times of emergency.