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Finally went up Tokyo Skytree for the first time in Sept. 2013. I waited for a clear weekday and went early in the morning.
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You can either buy a ticket at the door or buy a reserved ticket for a specific day via their Website. Visiting Tokyo Skytree on snowy days can be dangerous. Clumps of snow clinging to the struts are known to fall to the ground.
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It's much cheaper to visit Skytree on your own instead of going on a typical bus tour. But a bus tour may exempt you from a long wait to go up since they have their own reserved tickets for a specific time.
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The least crowded time is weekday mornings between 8 am to 10 am. I got there at 9:30 am on a Friday and was happy to see no line to buy a ticket (2000 yen) to go up.
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The problem with buying a reserved ticket for a specific day is that you won't know what the weather will be like that day. It's not worth going up on a cloudy/rainy day.Low clouds can easily cover the lookout decks and all you may see is cloud white. They also close the tower on windy/stormy days.
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Tokyo Skytree ticket counter. Empty on weekday mornings from 8 am to 10 am.
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I went from 0 to 350 meters above the ground in less than 10 min. There are four elevators.
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Each elevator has a design based on one of the four seasons. I went inside the summer elevator with a fireworks design. The elevator is very fast going up.Part of the elevator door is also transparent. Close your eyes or look away if you start to feel sick/dizzy. Please don't vomit in the elevator.
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The first/lower observation deck is called the Tembo Deck.
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The exposed struts inside the observation deck are padded so you don't crack your head when you bump into it. Lonely people who don't have anyone to hug could hug one of these. It's soft enough.
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Stunning views. Sumida River.
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I saw one school girl here who looked very nauseous (likely threw up in the bathroom) with a friend rubbing her back.
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Here, you can buy another ticket for 1000 yen to go up further by 100 meters to the higher lookout deck called the Tembo Galleria, 450 meters above ground.
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The line for that ticket was also very short before 10 am. Elevator to go higher.
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The higher observation deck called Tembo Galleria has a unique design with a spiraling walkway called the Skywalk.
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The Skywalk is not recommended if you fear heights.
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The Skywalk can get quite warm on sunny days.
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Gateway Bridge
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Views from the Skywalk.
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Going further up.
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Ryogoku
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Ryogoku
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On a clear day, the views are marvelous, with Mt. Fuji (upper right) and many Tokyo landmarks visible.
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Mt. Fuji as seen from Tokyo Skytree.
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Tokyo Tower
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Asakusa
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Asakusa Kannon temple, Sensoji
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Asakusa Kannon temple, Sensoji as seen from Tokyo Skytree.
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Sumida River and Asakusa
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Tokyo Dome
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Ueno Park (National Museum)
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I overheard one woman say, "The city looks like it's made of Lego." I had to agree.
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Northern Sumida River
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National Diet Building
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Back on the lower deck.
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Much more crowded in late morning with lots of school kids on class trips.
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This is the ticket line for the higher Tembo Galleria. A 20-min. wait already by late morning.
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Tokyo Skytree shadow.
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Tokyo Skytree Station
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Kids exercising.
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Picture-taking service on lower deck.
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The Tembo Deck has three floors. One floor has a cafe and prices were quite cheap. Almost the same as any coffee shop on the ground.
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Menu
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Benches provided
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See-through floor
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See-through floor
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Line for the elevator to go down.
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Waiting for the elevator to go down. It took longer for me to go down than to go up. There's no time limit on the observation decks. You can stay there all day I think.
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Elevator with autumn design
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Elevator with winter design
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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Tokyo Skytree and carp streamers.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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Tokyo Skytree and carp streamers.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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Inside Solamachi too.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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In early May, koinobori carp streamers are displayed for Children's Day at Tokyo Skytree.
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Tokyo Skytree at night
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If you have a foreign passport, this ticket counter is faster to get tickets.
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Winter elevator.
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Tokyo Skytree at night.
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The glass reflections make it hard to get clear shots. Kinshicho and Tokyo Bay.
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Sumida River and Ryogoku
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Asakusa
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Halloween at Tokyo Skytree in 2015.
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Asakusa, notice the pagoda.
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Autumn elevator.
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Tokyo Sky Tree in sight from Adachi Ward along the Arakawa River amid tulips.
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Tokyo Skytree in chrysanthemums at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Tokyo Skytree in chrysanthemums at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park (near JR Kinshicho Station in Sumida-ku) and Tokyo Skytree.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park (near JR Kinshicho Station in Sumida-ku) and Tokyo Skytree.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park (near JR Kinshicho Station in Sumida-ku) and Tokyo Skytree.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park and Tokyo Skytree.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park and Tokyo Skytree.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park and Tokyo Skytree.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park and Tokyo Skytree.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park and Tokyo Skytree.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park and Tokyo Skytree.
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Cherry blossoms in Kinshi Park and Tokyo Skytree.
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Kameido Tenjin Shrine and Tokyo Sky Tree.
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Tokyo Sky Tree and plum blossoms at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Kameido Tenjin Shrine and Tokyo Sky Tree.
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Kameido Tenjin Shrine and Tokyo Sky Tree.
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Tokyo Sky Tree and plum blossoms at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Tokyo Sky Tree and plum blossoms at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Tokyo Sky Tree and plum blossoms at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Tokyo Sky Tree and plum blossoms at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Tokyo Sky Tree and plum blossoms at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Tokyo Skytree and the first taiko bridge.
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Tokyo Skytree and azalea and wisteria at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Tokyo Skytree and azalea and wisteria at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Tokyo Skytree and wisteria at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Tokyo Skyrree at Kameido Tenjin Shrine.
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Wisteria and Tokyo Skytree at night.
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Tokyo Sky Tree and plum blossoms at Omurai Katori Shrine in Sumida Ward.
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Tokyo Sky Tree and plum blossoms at Omurai Katori Shrine in Sumida Ward.
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On May 19-20, 2012, Tokyo Sky Tree held pre-opening festivities for Sumida Ward residents (Tokyo Sky Tree is in Sumida Ward). Various entertainment was held at three performance stages.
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This stage in a small park near the Skytree, they had hula performances in the afternoon on May 20, 2012.
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On May 20, 2012, dancers from the Hawaii Aloha Academy danced to songs played by Kehau and her trio on May 20, 2012.
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On May 20, 2012, dancers from the Hawaii Aloha Academy danced to songs played by Kehau and her trio on May 20, 2012.
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Kapulanakehau "Kehau" Tamure who was a member of Nā Palapalai, provides music along with her trio.
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Male (kane) hula dancers at Tokyo Skytree.
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On May 20, dancers from the Hawaii Aloha Academy danced to songs played by Kehau and her trio on May 20, 2012.
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Kapulanakehau "Kehau" Tamure has a Tokyo Skytree ornament in her hair as she performed during Opening Ceremony festivities at Tokyo Skytree for Sumida Ward residents on May 19-20, 2012..
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The shopping complex integrated with Tokyo Sky Tree is called Solamachi (meaning Skytree) which includes an aquarium and planetarium. This is an odd sight at first with all these people, after having gotten used to seeing this place devoid of people.
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Tokyo Skytree Arena had another stage.
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Foot of Tokyo Skytree which was the only thing not open during pre-opening festivities for Sumida Ward residents on May 20, 2012.
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This road connects Tokyo Skytree Station with Oshiage Station and was formerly crowded with people before the Skytree opened.
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Near the foot of Tokyo Skytree during pre-opening festivities for Sumida Ward residents on May 20, 2012.
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Another stage had Mukojima geisha performing. Mukojima is in Sumida Ward. http://mukoujima-kenban.com/index.html
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Mukojima geisha performing. Mukojima is in Sumida Ward. http://mukoujima-kenban.com/index.html
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Tokyo Skytree has a unique curving side.
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The Solamachi (Skytown) shopping complex below Tokyo Skytree was also open to Sumida Ward residents for a preview on May 19-20, 2012. All the shops were open and held an opening sale. Tokyo Skytree officially opened on May 22.
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One of the shopping alleys inside Solamachi.
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Merchandise of Tokyo Skytree's official mascot.
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I like the sales girls wearing happi coats, a symbol of the shitamachi (old merchants' quarters) area of Tokyo.
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More sales girls wearing happi coats during Tokyo Skytree pre-opening festivities for Sumida Ward residents on May 20, 2012.
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Books about Tokyo Skytree.
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From the Solamachi shopping complex, there is a window from which you can view the foot.
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Sky window over a rest area in Solamachi.
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Food court
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Soft drinks in Tokyo Skytree-shaped bottles.
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Opening sale on the food floor.
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The food floor was the most crowded and noisy. This fish market was holding special opening sale selling lotta seafood for 634 yen (in reference to the Skytree's 634-meter height) during pre-opening festivities for Sumida Ward residents on May 20, 2
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A load of fish for only 634 yen. In Japanese, "634" can be pronounced "Musashi" which refers to the Skytree's 634-meter height. Musashi was also the name of the old province that included most of Tokyo.
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On the food floor, they were giving out yummy samples. This is shumai.
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Sake from all over Japan.
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Miso from all over Japan.
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One restaurant in Solamachi has an outdoor terrace.
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The following photos were taken in March 2012, about two months before Tokyo Sky Tree opened on May 22, 2012.
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Tokyo Skytree
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Solamachi means Sky Town.
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The shopping complex hides the tower's three legs.
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Tokyo Skytree souvenir shop.
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Tokyo Skytree souvenir towels.
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Tokyo Skytree souvenir ball-point pens.
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Tokyo Skytree souvenir chopsticks.
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After it snows in Tokyo in winter, beware of chunks of snow falling from Tokyo Skytree. They have known to crash into nearby homes below.
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Lower lookout deck.
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If you look closely, you can see stairs winding around the tower.
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McDonald's and Starbucks will be right under Tokyo Skytree.
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Tokyo Skytree and plum blossoms.
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Shopping complex.
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Near the construction site was this little Info Plaza showing a model of Tokyo Sky Tree.
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The new Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobe Line, just one stop from Asakusa Station. Renamed from Narihirabashi Station.
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They were extending the train station. Roof still under construction.
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