Tower Information
The top floor of the Observation Deck is 123 meters above the ground.
You can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Fukuoka's cityscape, Hakata Bay and Mt. Serifu.
Fukuoka Tower is built to withstand a wind speed of 63 m/sec.
The maximum wind speed recorded in Fukuoka so far was 49 m/sec. It won't be affected by strong winds from the sea.
It is safe because Fukuoka Tower is designed to withstand an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 7. The largest earthquake in Fukuoka in the past had an intensity of 6 or less.
The total height of Fukuoka Tower is 234 meters.
The tallest seaside tower in Japan.
It is well known by the citizens as a symbol of Fukuoka.
The underground foundation of Fukuoka Tower weighs 25,000 tons. On the other hand, the part of the tower above-ground is 3500 tons. Because the foundation is heavy and stable, you can be assured of safety.
Fukuoka Tower is nicknamed the "Mirror Sail." It is the triangular prism shaped building with 8,000 semi reflective mirrors which make it shine.
History
The mysterious connection between Fukuoka Tower and the Eiffel Tower: The Eiffel Tower in Paris was built in 1889 for the Paris World's Fair (EXPO) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
Exactly 100 years later, in 1989, Fukuoka Tower was built as a monument to the Asia-Pacific Expo (Yokatopia) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Fukuoka City.
At that time, NHK and other broadcasting companies were planning to relocate their TV towers, and at the same time, Fukuoka City was thinking about a unique pavilion as an Expo venue. Then, both these ideas of "a broadcasting tower" and "a tourist observation tower" came together to plan and build this unique tower.
However, there were problems such as aviation law related height restrictions... Finally, after great difficulty, a total of 40,000 people involved in the construction, took 450 days to finally complete the tower in 1989. Just like the Eiffel Tower, this new symbol of Fukuoka City is loved by all the people.
