Sapporo TV Tower
Encyclopedia
The , built in 1957, is a 147.2 metre high TV Tower with an observation deck at a height of 90.38 metres. Located on the ground of Odori Park
, in the northern city of Sapporo
, Hokkaidō
, Japan
, the tower is open to tourists. Tourists can take panoramic pictures of Sapporo and Odori Park.
, a Japanese architect who is famous for planning the Tokyo Tower
, with the total construction costs of 170 million yen. Since the transmission facility was established on the Mount Teine, Sapporo TV Tower has worked as a repeater
of AIR-G' and FM North Wave, a radio station
based in Sapporo.
In 1961, digital clock
s were installed at the height of 65 metres from the ground, which was donated by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
, a Japanese electronics
manufacturer. This installation was suggested by the founder of the company Konosuke Matsushita
, who thought these digital clocks would draw a great attention to the Tower. These digital clocks, installed at four sides of the Tower, have been repaired two times: in 1998 and 2006. Interior and exterior of the Sapporo TV Tower were renovated in 2002, and the color of walls at the second and third floor was turned from pale green to dark green. In the second repair of the digital clocks in 2006, the light-emitting diode
was adopted, and the advertisement right below the clocks was changed from the "National" to "Panasonic".
The Sapporo TV Tower commemorated its 50th anniversary in 2007, and some events and discount campaign were held. Recently, a plan of reconstructing a new TV Tower of 650 metres high has come up. In the plan, the area of the supposed Tower would be 7800 m², and the height of the observation deck is supposed to be at 500 metres. The height of the new Tower will exceed Tokyo Sky Tree (planned to be 634 meters) if it is realized. The new Tower building is also planned to house hotel rooms, offices, and sports facilities in addition to the function as the TV tower.
, and a number of restaurants called the "Tele-chika Gourmet Court" are located.
The official mascot of the Tower is "Tawakkie", and the unofficial character "Terebi-Tōsan" (Television Daddy) is also known.
The lift to the observation deck
at 90 metres high locates on the third floor, and visitors are required to buy tickets at the shop on the ground floor. From the observation deck, the entire view of the Odori Park, Mount Ōkura, and Maruyama are seen. Having the height of 147.2 metres, the Sapporo TV Tower used to be the most prominent figure in Sapporo, but recently many high-rise buildings have been constructed around the Odori Park, making the Tower less prominent.
Odori Park
is a park located in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. Odori means "large street" in Japanese. It stretches east to west through Nishi 1 chōme, Ōdōri to Nishi 12 chōme, Ōdōri , and divides the city into north and south sections. Odori Park spans about 1.5 km and covers 78,901 m²...
, in the northern city of Sapporo
Sapporo, Hokkaido
is the fourth-largest city in Japan by population, and the largest city on the island of Hokkaido. It is the capital of Hokkaidō Prefecture, located in Ishikari Subprefecture, and an ordinance-designated city of Japan....
, Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the tower is open to tourists. Tourists can take panoramic pictures of Sapporo and Odori Park.
History
The TV Tower was built in 1957 by Tachū NaitōTachu Naito
was a Japanese architect, engineer, and professor from Yamanashi Prefecture, Minami-Alps, Yamanashi. He was a father of earthquake-proof design and built many broadcasting and observation towers, including the Tokyo Tower.- Biography :...
, a Japanese architect who is famous for planning the Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower
is a communications and observation tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At , it is the second tallest artificial structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.Built in...
, with the total construction costs of 170 million yen. Since the transmission facility was established on the Mount Teine, Sapporo TV Tower has worked as a repeater
Repeater
A repeater is an electronic device that receives asignal and retransmits it at a higher level and/or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances.-Description:...
of AIR-G' and FM North Wave, a radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
based in Sapporo.
In 1961, digital clock
Digital clock
A digital clock is a type of clock that displays the time digitally, i.e. in cyphers, as opposed to an analog clock, where the time is displayed by hands. Digital clocks are often associated with electronic drives, but the "digital" description refers only to the display, not to the drive mechanism...
s were installed at the height of 65 metres from the ground, which was donated by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
, formerly known as , is a Japanese multinational consumer electronics corporation headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan. Its main business is in electronics manufacturing....
, a Japanese electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
manufacturer. This installation was suggested by the founder of the company Konosuke Matsushita
Konosuke Matsushita
was a Japanese industrialist, the founder of Panasonic, a company based in the suburb of Kadoma , Osaka in Japan. For many Japanese, he is known as "the god of management"...
, who thought these digital clocks would draw a great attention to the Tower. These digital clocks, installed at four sides of the Tower, have been repaired two times: in 1998 and 2006. Interior and exterior of the Sapporo TV Tower were renovated in 2002, and the color of walls at the second and third floor was turned from pale green to dark green. In the second repair of the digital clocks in 2006, the light-emitting diode
Light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used as indicator lamps in many devices and are increasingly used for other lighting...
was adopted, and the advertisement right below the clocks was changed from the "National" to "Panasonic".
The Sapporo TV Tower commemorated its 50th anniversary in 2007, and some events and discount campaign were held. Recently, a plan of reconstructing a new TV Tower of 650 metres high has come up. In the plan, the area of the supposed Tower would be 7800 m², and the height of the observation deck is supposed to be at 500 metres. The height of the new Tower will exceed Tokyo Sky Tree (planned to be 634 meters) if it is realized. The new Tower building is also planned to house hotel rooms, offices, and sports facilities in addition to the function as the TV tower.
Outline
The ground floor of the Sapporo TV Tower houses an information center and a store which sells ticket of the observation floor. The multipurpose hall and administration office of the Tower are placed on the second floor, and a souvenir shop and restaurant are located on the third floor. The basement connects to the Aurora Town, an underground shopping arcadeUnderground city
An Underground city is a series of linked subterranean spaces that may provide a defensive refuge; a place for living, working or shopping; a transit system; mausolea; wine or storage cellars; cisterns or drainage channels; or several of these. The term may also refer to a network of tunnels that...
, and a number of restaurants called the "Tele-chika Gourmet Court" are located.
The official mascot of the Tower is "Tawakkie", and the unofficial character "Terebi-Tōsan" (Television Daddy) is also known.
The lift to the observation deck
Observation deck
__FORCETOC__ An observation deck, observation platform or viewing platform is an elevated sightseeing platform usually situated upon a tall architectural structure such as a skyscraper or observation tower...
at 90 metres high locates on the third floor, and visitors are required to buy tickets at the shop on the ground floor. From the observation deck, the entire view of the Odori Park, Mount Ōkura, and Maruyama are seen. Having the height of 147.2 metres, the Sapporo TV Tower used to be the most prominent figure in Sapporo, but recently many high-rise buildings have been constructed around the Odori Park, making the Tower less prominent.