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Tokyo Tower reopens, but now you have to take stairs 150 meters up

15 Comments

Though it lost its status as the tallest structure in Japan when the Skytree opened in 2012, Tokyo Tower is still, to many, the more iconic symbol of the capital. Situated closer to the city center and with a red-and-white color scheme that’s at once both nostalgic and fashionable, Tokyo Tower also provides great views of the city from its Main Deck observation floor.

The facility has been closed to visitors since April 8 because of the coronavirus outbreak, but with the easing of precautions as infection numbers decline, the Main Deck reopened on Thursday. But while Tokyo Tower will be open for business, it won’t quite be business as usual, because most guests won’t be allowed to use the elevators.

If you want to go to the Main Deck, which is 150 meters up, you’re going to be asked to take the stairs.

Once at the Main Deck (which is about half-way up the total height of the tower), you’ll find markings on the floor to help visitors keep a distance of two meters (or one tatami mat) apart from each other as you admire the vistas…and also recover your stamina, since you’ll also have to make the 600-step trip back down the stairs on your way home.

While exceptions will be made allowing elderly or visitors with mobility limitations to use elevators (with strictly capped occupancies), for everyone else the stairs are the only way to go.

Source: NHK News Web via Otakomu

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15 Comments
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Never understood the idea of paying for a view, but now you have to pay to hike up it, as well?

2 ( +9 / -7 )

I'd walk up 500 meters if they still had the legendary Krautrock waxworks. A waxworks with Gottsching, Faust, Can, and Frank Zappa, with Ashra Temple bootlegs in the souvenir shop. Japan at its best!

https://rogermc.blogs.com/tactical/2005/03/krautrock_museu.html

7 ( +7 / -0 )

you’re going to be asked to take the stairs - Well that will cancel out any American tourists then.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

Well, that would rule out a lot of unfit, undetermined and lazy tourists if that's the case. But I'd imagine that people who are up there would be one of the fittest and most determined tourists there are. If I had to pay to hike 150 meters up, I'd just climb one of the several dozens of mountains in Japan for free.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I took the stairs up the Eiffel Tower years back. I think I was able to work off the kebab I ate down the street lol

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I’m in a wheelchair.... guess they’ll be carrying me up....... I heard there was great service here in Japan...... will put that to the test!!

10 ( +11 / -1 )

People will be spewing out a lot more air if they have to climb the stairs. Better to shuttle them up in the elevators and have them walk down the stairs.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

John, don’t worry:

While exceptions will be made allowing elderly or visitors with mobility limitations to use elevators (with strictly capped occupancies),

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I'll do it... but without a mask.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

But I would walk five hundred miles

And I would walk five hundred more

Just to be the man who walked..................................stop.

Please get serious. I'm not paying to climb stairs. I can do that at my apartment for free.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

So, the elevators are off because of social distancing, and yet, I'm guessing they're not going to stop people passing each other on the stairs, right? And when they're heaving and coughing from the workout? Grasping the railings?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

lifts, no lifts, it is still kitsch. no thank you

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Benjamin WeinmannMay 28 04:17 pm JSTNever understood the idea of paying for a view, but now you have to pay to hike up it, as well?

I've paid to visit the CN Tower in Toronto but the view is well worth the effort, but you must use an elevator for that.

I've also been at Angel Island in San Francisco Bay which involves a lot of steps, no elevator. Still when you reach the top you get a wonderful view of San Francisco right before you, and you can chant

'Da da da da-da-da da-da-da da-da-da!  

Da da da da-da-da da-da-da da-da-da! 

'Da da da da-da-da da-da-da da-da-da! Da-da!' ('Rocky' theme).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

kohakuebisuMay 28 04:19 pm JSTI'd walk up 500 meters if they still had the legendary Krautrock waxworks. A waxworks with Gottsching, Faust, Can, and Frank Zappa, with Ashra Temple bootlegs in the souvenir shop. Japan at its best!

https://rogermc.blogs.com/tactical/2005/03/krautrock_museu.html

Sounds interesting but since when is Zappa 'krautrock'? And 'krautrock' is nothing without Kraftwerk, who I was set to see live this July but is being rescheduled to next year. Rats!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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