Chiba Port Tower
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chiba Port Tower is a tower located in Chiba Port Park, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan. It is 125.1m tall and has four stories. It was built in 1986.
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[edit] Location
The closest station is Chiba-minato Station of JR Keiyo Line and Chiba Toshi Monorail. It takes about 15 minutes on foot from the station to Chiba Port Tower. On the way to the tower, there are Chiba Central Post Office and Chiba Prefectural Museum of Art.
[edit] History
The tower opened on June 15, 1986. It was built in commemoration of the population of Chiba Prefecture exceeding five million in 1983. This is because the expansion of the commuter belt to Tokyo and the development of Keiyo industrial zone had caused rapid growth in Chiba Prefecture’s population from 1970’s to 1980’s.
[edit] Appearance
At first glance, the cross section of the tower looks like a square, but in fact it is a lozenge. The size of lozenge is not so large because Chiba Prefecture wanted to emphasize the slimness of the tower. The length of a side of this lozenge is about 15m. On the outside, the tower is covered with half mirror glass. It is transparent but its surface is made like a mirror so that it reflects sunshine. Therefore, in nice weather, the tower looks blue.
[edit] Floor Guide
The tower has four stories. First, visitors go up to the fourth floor from the first floor by using the elevator. Then they go down to the third floor and the second floor. Finally visitors go down to the first floor from the second floor by using the elevator.
The first floor is the entrance. There is a shop that sells goods related to Chiba and an exhibition room that explains the role of Chiba Port. Also, there is a theater and a kid’s room.
The second floor is the view room which is at 105m. There is a wall painting “Aqua Fantasy”. It is a wall painting painted with special paint called “Lumilite Color”. After sunset, the painting is lighted up by a black light, and the mysterious submarine view looks three-dimensional.
The third floor is the view coffee shop “Café La Plage” which is at 109m. There are 50 seats and visitors are able to eat and drink looking a fine scenery. Also, they are able to reserve it for a wedding or a party.
The fourth floor is the main view room which is at 113m. It is the best view point of the tower. There is an open space between the first floor and the second floor. Therefore visitors are able to see the scenery of the sea while taking the elevator.
At the top of the tower, there is a system called dynamic dumper. It is about 15 tons and it moves in the direction opposite to the direction in which the main body of the tower shakes, so that it decreases the shake of the main body of the tower. Therefore it protects the tower from earthquakes and the strong wind. The tower can withstand wind up to 60 meters per hour.
[edit] Scenery from the view room
The view room overlooks a view of 360 degrees.
In the North, Makuhari New City, Chiba Marine Stadium, Makuhari Messe, Chiba Zoological Park, Sencity Tower, Chiba City Hall, and Mt.Tsukuba are seen.
In the East, Narita Airport, Chiba Prefectural Museum of Art, Chiba Prefectural Office Building and Chiba Port Square are seen.
In the West, Umihotaru, Tokyo Airport, Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Tower, The Landmark Tower. On sunny days, Mt. Fuji is also seen.
In the South, JFE Steel Corporation’s the Eastern Japan Ironworks, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated’s Chiba Thermal Power Station and Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line are seen.
[edit] Events
Every summer, Chiba Citizen Fireworks is held in Chiba Port Park. On these days, many people come to Chiba Port Park and Chiba Port Tower to see the fireworks. For example, two hundred and eighty thousand people came in 2005.
Every winter, from the middle of November to the end of December, Chiba Port Tower does a Christmas illumination. A large Christmas tree made with about three thousand electric bulbs appears on the tower’s wall.
Chiba Port Tower is also famous as one of the key spots in the course of International Chiba Ekiden. Runners make a turn in front of Chiba Port Tower. Televiewers are able to see the tower on television every year. Therefore, many people know Chiba Port Tower even if they have not been to the tower.
