# Canonical recap data for Tokyo Skytree (2012)
# Source: https://recap.at/2012/tokyo-skytree
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: tokyo-skytree
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2012/tokyo-skytree"
title: Tokyo Skytree
aliases:
- Tokyo Sky Tree
- Skytree
- East Tokyo Tower
subtitle: "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)."
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2012-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2012
decade: 2010
summaryShort: 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 tall
summaryLong: 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.
lede: 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.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Tokyo_Skytree_2014_%E2%85%A2.jpg/1280px-Tokyo_Skytree_2014_%E2%85%A2.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Tokyo Skytree"
importance: 50
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Height
  value: 634 meters
- label: Opening date
  value: May 22, 2012
- label: Location
  value: Sumida Ward, Tokyo, Japan
- label: Construction start
  value: July 2008
- label: Construction cost
  value: Approximately ¥650 billion (approximately $8.1 billion USD at 2012 rates)
- label: World ranking at opening
  value: Second-tallest structure globally
- label: Main purpose
  value: Digital broadcasting and observation tower
- label: Annual visitors (2012-2013)
  value: Over 2 million
timeline:
- date: 2008-07-14
  title: Construction begins
  description: Demolition of the previous broadcast site and groundwork commence in Sumida.
- date: 2011-02-29
  title: Full height reached
  description: The tower's final section is topped out at 634 meters, making it the world's second-tallest structure at the time.
- date: 2012-05-22
  title: Public opening
  description: Tokyo Skytree opens to the public. Observation decks at 350 meters and 450 meters become accessible to visitors.
- date: 2012-07-24
  title: Broadcasting begins
  description: The tower begins transmitting digital television signals for multiple Tokyo broadcasters.
- date: 2012-12-31
  title: First-year milestone
  description: The tower reaches approximately 2.5 million visitors in its first year of operation.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Skytree"
  title: Tokyo Skytree
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: 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.
categories: []
taxonomy:
domain: technological
eventTypes:
- tech_launch
- infrastructure_rollout
canonicalClasses:
- creation
- transformation
impactRadius: national
velocity: gradual
predictability: scheduled
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: birth
metaDescription: Tokyo Skytree opened May 2012 as the world's second-tallest structure at 634 meters, reshaping Tokyo's skyline.
wikidataQid: Q57965
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20120705093353/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Skytree"
  capturedAt: 2012-07-05
  label: Tokyo Skytree
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Skytree"
