Tokyo Tower is a major tourist attraction in Tokyo. Zojoji Temple and Shiba Park are located in a position where you can look up at Tokyo Tower from up close. Currently, Zojoji Temple and Shiba Park are independent and separate facilities, but originally they were one facility. Tokyo Tower, a symbol of the period of high economic growth, Zojoji Temple, which has deep ties to the Tokugawa shogunate, and Shiba Park, which was born based on the Meiji era’s idea of separation of church and state, are all tourist spots filled with historical value. This time, we will introduce in detail the Tokyo Tower that can be seen from Zojoji (Shiba Park), the family temple of the Tokugawa shogunate.

①What is Tokyo Tower, the stylish red symbol of Tokyo?

Tokyo Tower is a comprehensive radio tower located in Shiba Park, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
The official name is “Japan Radio Tower”. The origin of the name Tokyo Tower was selected by the council from a total of 86,269 applications. By the way, the most common names were “Showa Tower,” “Nippon Tower,” and “Heiwa Tower.” Tokyo Tower was completed on December 23, 1958.

❶How tall is Tokyo Tower?

The height of Tokyo Tower is 333m. The reason why Tokyo Tower is 333m high is because 333m was the minimum height required to send radio waves throughout the Kanto region. By the way, it is said to be just a coincidence that the year (1958) and height (333m) of Tokyo Tower are on the same scale.

❷How tall is Tokyo Tower in the world?

Tokyo Tower is currently the 24th tallest tower in the world. However, when completed in 1958, Tokyo Tower became the world’s tallest free-standing steel tower, surpassing the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

❸What material was Tokyo Tower made of?

The material Tokyo Tower was built from is “tank iron.” The reason why tank iron was used was because Japan at the time was only 10 years removed from the end of the war and was suffering from a chronic iron shortage. Tokyo Steel, which manufactured the angles (steel materials) for Tokyo Tower at the time, purchased steel scrap recovered from American military tanks used in the Korean War and manufactured the angles. A total of approximately 4,000 tons of iron was used for Tokyo Tower. It is said that about 1/3 of the entire Tokyo Tower is made of tank iron.

❹333 Coinobori events are beautiful

At Tokyo Tower, the “Tokyo Tower 333 Coinobori” event is held every year. The reason why 333 Coinobori are displayed is because of the height of Tokyo Tower, which is 333m. The Tokyo Tower 333 Coinobori event will be held in front of the main entrance on the 1st floor of Tokyo Tower.
This is an event related to “Children’s Day” that has been held since 2009.

➁What is “Zojoji”, which has a deep relationship with the Tokugawa family?

Zojoji is a temple located in Shibakoen 4-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo. The official name is Sanenzan Kodoin Zojoji Temple. Zojoji Temple was founded in 1393, at the beginning of the Muromachi period in Japanese history.

❶ A temple related to Tokugawa Ieyasu‼︎

Zojoji Temple is famous because it became the Bodaiji of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Bodaizi is a temple that houses ancestral graves and holds funerals and memorial services. Zojoji became the family temple of the Tokugawa shogunate because when Tokugawa Ieyasu came to Edo for a change of country, he completely trusted the chief priest at the time, Minamoto. Later, with the Tokugawa family becoming the shogunate, Zojoji Temple experienced great prosperity.

❷Collaboration between Zojoji and Tokyo Tower‼︎

Zojoji has had numerous collaborations with Tokyo Tower. The reason why the collaboration between Zojoji Temple and Tokyo Tower has been possible so far is that when you stand within the grounds of Zojoji Temple, you can see Tokyo Tower in the back right and it ″stands out”. Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama is a famous collaboration between Zojoji Temple and Tokyo Tower.

➂What is Shiba Park?

Shiba Park is a city park located in Minato Ward, Tokyo. The park opened on October 19, 1873, the year in which land tax reform and military conscription laws began in Japan.

❶Shiba Park was built using the grounds within the grounds of Zojoji Temple.

Originally, Shiba Park and Zojoji Temple were one facility. The reason for this is that Shiba Park was opened on the site that used to be within the grounds of Zojoji Temple. After that, due to the idea of ​​separation of religion and politics after the war, Shiba Park became an independent park from the grounds of Zojoji Temple.

❷Shiba Park is a park where you can look up at Tokyo Tower up close

Shiba Park is a recommended park for those who want to see Tokyo Tower up close. The wide lawn of Shiba Park is a great viewing spot to look up at Tokyo Tower. You can experience an overwhelming sense of reality.

④Access information to Tokyo Tower

Here you will find detailed information about access to Tokyo Tower. The address of Tokyo Tower is 4-2-8 Shiba Koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo.

❶ Route from Tokyo Station to Tokyo Tower by train

Tokyo Station ⇒ JR Yamanote Line ⇒ Hamamatsucho Station ⇒ After exiting the ticket gate, turn left and you will see Tokyo Tower in front of you.

The distance from Tokyo Station to Tokyo Tower is approximately 3.5 km.

Summary

This time, we introduced Tokyo Tower, which can be seen from Zojoji Temple (Shiba Park), the Tokugawa Shogun’s Bodaizi. Tokyo Tower is Tokyo’s most famous tourist spot. From the observation deck, you can see the cityscape of Tokyo, Tokyo Bay, and even Mt. Fuji.
You can also look up at Tokyo Tower from close up at Zojoji Temple, the family temple of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and Shiba Park, which used to be within the grounds of Zojoji Temple.
This is the best vantage point as you can look up at Tokyo Tower from up close. When you visit Tokyo, we recommend visiting Tokyo Tower, Zojoji Temple, and Shiba Park.

▲Tokyo Tower

▲Zojoji Temple