The Tokyo Skytree is 634 meters tall.
The broadcasting and observation tower rises in Sumida, Tokyo, and reached its final height on 18 March 2011. It officially opened to visitors on 22 May 2012, becoming one of Japan’s defining modern landmarks and the country’s tallest tower.
The number 634 was chosen partly as a memory aid. In Japanese wordplay, the digits can be read as “mu-sa-shi,” referring to Musashi, the historical region that included the area where the tower stands. That gives the height a cultural connection as well as a record-setting one.
People sometimes confuse the Skytree’s height with the heights of its observation decks, which are much lower. The tower was designed by Nikken Sekkei in a neo-futurist style that combines contemporary engineering with references to traditional Japanese aesthetics. Its earthquake-resistance system includes a central shaft and advanced structural damping.