---
title: "Tokyo Skytree"
year: 2012
canonical: "https://recap.at/2012/tokyo-skytree"
slug: "tokyo-skytree"
recapType: "global_event"
startDate: "2012-01-01"
---

# Tokyo Skytree

> On this day (05/22), 14 years ago: Tokyo Skytree opens to the public. It is the tallest tower in the world (634 m), and the second tallest man-made structure on Earth after Burj Khalifa (829.8 m).

Tokyo Skytree, a 634-meter broadcasting and observation tower in Sumida, opened to the public on May 22, 2012, becoming the world's second-tallest structure at the time and Japan's tallest tower. Built to replace aging broadcasting infrastructure and serve as a landmark for Tokyo's eastern districts, it combined functional necessity with architectural ambition during Japan's post-tsunami reconstruction period.

## Summary

Tokyo Skytree , a.k.a Tokyo Sky Tree, is a broadcasting and observation tower, located in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It has been the tallest tower in Japan since opening in 2012, and reached its full height of 634 metres in early 2011, making it the tallest tower in the world, displacing the Canton Tower, and the third tallest structure in the world behind Merdeka 118 and Burj Khalifa.

## Key facts

- **Height**: 634 meters
- **Opening date**: May 22, 2012
- **Location**: Sumida Ward, Tokyo, Japan
- **Construction start**: July 2008
- **Construction cost**: Approximately ¥650 billion (approximately $8.1 billion USD at 2012 rates)
- **World ranking at opening**: Second-tallest structure globally
- **Main purpose**: Digital broadcasting and observation tower
- **Annual visitors (2012-2013)**: Over 2 million

## Timeline

- **2008-07-14** - Construction begins
  Demolition of the previous broadcast site and groundwork commence in Sumida.
- **2011-02-29** - Full height reached
  The tower's final section is topped out at 634 meters, making it the world's second-tallest structure at the time.
- **2012-05-22** - Public opening
  Tokyo Skytree opens to the public. Observation decks at 350 meters and 450 meters become accessible to visitors.
- **2012-07-24** - Broadcasting begins
  The tower begins transmitting digital television signals for multiple Tokyo broadcasters.
- **2012-12-31** - First-year milestone
  The tower reaches approximately 2.5 million visitors in its first year of operation.

## Impact

Tokyo Skytree redefined Tokyo's skyline and established a new model for tower design that integrated broadcast infrastructure with tourism revenue. Its completion marked a shift in how Japanese cities approached tall-structure engineering, influencing subsequent projects across Asia.

## Sources

- [Tokyo Skytree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Skytree) - Wikipedia

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Canonical: https://recap.at/2012/tokyo-skytree