600 steps in Tokyo

Tokyo Tower

 (Minato Ward, Tokyo)  

【Kaidan（階段）】 means the stairway in English. Stairways are everywhere in town. People go up and down stairs every day. Beside staircases, elevators and escalators are often placed. What is the maximum number of steps in staircase for you to choose the elevators or escalators instead? 

Tokyo Tower has the 600 steps of staircase from the ground to the observatory level at 150 meter high. The open-air red steel stairs is open for public in the weekend if you choose it instead of the high speed elevator which brings you to the main deck in 45 seconds. The admission fee is the same regardless you choose the staircase or elevator. At the starting point of the staircase, stuff welcome you to climb up the tower. Bending your back and neck backward to look straight up, you can see the red thick iron frame construction in mesh pattern where you are going up from now. 

  Climbing up the red stairs lightly one step at a time, you will find the number printed in white at a regular interval. With that number, you can check how many steps you climbed so far and then you can calculate how many steps are left.

The view from the staircase is changing as you climb up. Buildings and Zozyo-ji tempe which is next to the tower are getting below your sight little by little. It is the high place in the open-air but you won’t feel any fear because you are in the space heavily surrounded by thick steal beams and guard fences.

Push your body and heavy legs to the last steps of the stairs where the goal sign board is waiting for you to congratulate your 600 steps climbing. At the observatory, you can take a rest while enjoying the scenery of Tokyo metropolitan area. If you want to feel how high the tower is, there are the glass floor spots where you can see the directly see the ground below. Standing on the transparent glass and looking straight down below, you will feel yourself being sucked into.

After enjoy the scenery, you have a choice whether you can take down using the elevator or stairs. Going down stairs is much quicker than climbing up. However, it is more effective to your leg muscle. Your knees may have shaking when reaching to the ground and soar muscle next day. It is up to you which way to take.