Tokyo Skytree to become brighter, more fully illuminated

Tokyo Skytree is seen during an illumination test on Dec. 17. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

Tokyo Skytree will shine brighter than ever in preparation for next year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Installation of an additional 347 lighting units has been completed on the 634-meter-tall tower located in Sumida Ward, Tokyo. Along with the existing units, there are now 2,362 lights.

The tower's summit will become visible from Haneda Airport, which is located 20 kilometers away in Ota Ward, Tokyo. With the goal of complete tower illumination in late March in mind, a series of tests are currently underway.

Tokyo Skytree is seen with its current illumination on Dec. 16. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

According to its operator Tobu Tower Skytree Co., when the tower opened in 2012, no lights were installed at 150 meters high and 250 meters high, as these spaces were set aside for evacuation purposes during emergencies. Several parts of the tower, including the uppermost antenna tower, stood out because they weren't visible when the tower was illuminated at night.

To brighten the entire tower, the company began installing additional LED lights in May of this year. At the 497-meter-high area under the antenna tower, 60 lighting units were replaced and a total of 287 new lights were installed at the antenna tower and the 250-meter-high and 150-meter-high areas.

During illumination tests, the Skytree was illuminated in various colors to check how they appear when viewed from nine locations, including the Ueno, Asakusa and Kinshicho districts. In particular, the apex of the tower was roughly 30 times brighter, making it visible from 20 kilometers away, twice as far as before. Full-fledged nighttime illumination is scheduled for late March next year.

A worker checks the lighting at the 150-meter-high area of the Tokyo Skytree. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

At the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, a model of the Skytree debuted at a promotional event for Tokyo. With 30% of the annual 4 million visitors to the tower coming from foreign countries, the Skytree has become a well-known Japanese tourist spot.

The company is hoping that photos and videos of the fully illuminated Skytree will be widely shared via social media and TV broadcasting overseas.

"Even from great distances, we hope that you'll come and try to find the brightly shining Skytree," a Tobu spokesperson said.

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