Fukuoka Tower(Phúc cương タワー,Fukuoka Tawā)is a 234-metre (768 ft) talltowerlocated in the Momochihama area ofFukuoka,Japan. It is the tallest seaside tower in Japan. The highest observation deck at 123 metres has a 360° view of the surrounding area, being most visited at sunset.[1]Fukuoka Tower was finished in 1989, taking a total of 14 months to build at a cost of ¥6 billion (roughly equivalent US$45 million in 1989). It was designed byNikken Sekkeiand constructed on a reclaimed land out ofHakata Bay.[2]
Architecture
editFukuoka Tower has a triangular cross-section which is covered with 8000 half-mirrors, giving it the appearance of askyscraper.[3]Because of this, it has been given the nickname "Mirror Sail". The half-mirrors reflect the sky when viewed from outside the structure, while also allowing visitors to see outside when riding elevators to the top. The space between the base and the observation decks is hollow and thus unoccupied. There are threeobservation decks:one at 116 metres, a café/lounge deck at 120 metres, and the highest at 123 metres above the ground. Above this level rises a 111-metre television mast.
The underground weight of Fukuoka Tower is 25,000 tons. Its weight above ground, by contrast, is only 3,500 tons. The tower is designed to withstandmagnitude 7 earthquakesand wind speeds up to 65 m/s (145 miles per hour (233 km/h)). The strongest recorded earthquake in the area has been magnitude 6 and the strongest winds 49 m/s (110 miles per hour (180 km/h)). The tower is located at 2-3-26 Momochihama,Sawara-ku,Fukuoka.[2]
In popular culture
editThe tower appears in the Japanese filmGodzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla(1994). In a battle between the titular monsters, SpaceGodzilla uses the tower to absorb energy before Godzilla destroys the tower after the foundation is weakened by the mech MOGUERA.[4]
Gallery
edit-
Seen from Sazae-san Street -
Seen from Momochi Central Park -
Seen from Momochi Central Park -
Seen from the coast -
At night with sakura illumination -
2018 Christmas illumination
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"About Fukuoka Tower - Fukuoka Travel Guide | Planetyze".Planetyze.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-11-10.Retrieved2017-11-10.
- ^ab"Fukuoka Tower".All-Japan Tower Association.Archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2022.Retrieved9 April2023.
- ^"Fukuoka Tower".Fukuoka Tower official website.Retrieved7 April2017.
- ^Brykczynski, Ben (2019).Godzilla: A Comprehensive Guide.Blurb. p. 76.ISBN9780368911767.