Nothing says “vacation memory” quite like being stuck in an elevator 30 meters above the ground for 5.5 hours. That’s exactly what happened to 20 unlucky visitors at Tokyo Skytree on the night of February 22, when an elevator malfunction turned a routine descent into a nightmare scenario that wasn’t resolved until 2 a.m.
Trapped in the sky: Skytree elevator strands 20
At around 8:20 p.m. on February 22, an emergency call was placed from Tokyo Skytree in Sumida Ward after an elevator carrying 20 passengers, including two young girls, ground to a halt roughly 30 meters above the ground.
The elevator was one of four that connect the 350-meter-high Tenbou Deck observation area with the fourth floor. A second elevator also stopped at the same time. Fortunately, that one was empty.
What followed was a long, uncomfortable wait. The rescue operation didn’t begin until around 1:15 a.m. on February 23, nearly five hours after the initial stoppage. To make matters worse, the elevator’s built-in emergency communication system failed to connect, forcing trapped passengers to use their own cell phones to call for help. Operator Tobu Tower Skytree reportedly provided portable toilets and other emergency supplies while passengers waited.
The actual rescue itself sounds like something out of an action movie, albeit a very slow one.
Firefighters positioned a second elevator at the same height, then opened the emergency doors on both units and bridged the gap with a stainless steel plate measuring just 1.2 meters long and 40 centimeters wide. One by one, all 20 passengers shuffled across the metal plank and into the functioning elevator, which then descended to the fifth-floor exit. Medical checks were performed on the spot, and the company arranged hotels and taxis for those who needed them.
Miraculously, no injuries or health issues were reported.
Tobu Tower Skytree said a routine inspection conducted on February 16 had turned up no abnormalities. The tower remained closed on February 24 for further inspections.
This wasn’t the first time this had happened. Similar elevator troubles have occurred at the tower at least twice before.
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What to know about Tokyo’s tallest landmark
Tokyo Skytree, which opened in May 2012, stands at 634 meters tall, making it the tallest tower in the world and the second-tallest structure overall. The height wasn’t chosen at random. The digits 6-3-4 can be read as “Musashi” in a Japanese wordplay, a nod to the old provincial name for the region that encompasses modern-day Tokyo.
The tower serves primarily as a broadcasting tower but has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in Japan. It draws millions of visitors annually to its two observation decks: the Tenbou Deck at 350 meters and the Tenbou Galleria at 450 meters.
On a clear day, views from the top extend all the way to Mount Fuji, and the tower’s nighttime illumination cycles between two signature lighting schemes called “Iki” (a chic indigo blue) and “Miyabi” (an elegant purple). The tower complex also includes Tokyo Solamachi, a sprawling shopping and entertainment center at its base with over 300 shops, restaurants, and attractions, including the Sumida Aquarium and the Konica Minolta Planetarium. You can also rent space on a yakatabune and enjoy a nice lunch or dinner cruise on the river.
In other words, it’s a full-day destination. Even without the unplanned elevator adventures.
For those wanting expansive views of the city, Skytree isn’t the only game in town. The Tokyo Metropolitan Building and Ikebukuro Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou-Park both offer some lower but impressive views, especially at night.
The surrounding Sumida Ward area is worth exploring in its own right. It sits along the Sumida River and is known for its old-school shitamachi atmosphere, with traditional craft shops and some of Tokyo’s best street food. Nearby Asakusa, home to the iconic Sensoji Temple, is just a short walk across the river.
For anyone planning a visit to Skytree, the elevators normally whisk you to the top in under a minute at speeds of 600 meters per minute. Just maybe keep your phone charged. You know, just in case.
Elevator malfunctions happen everywhere, but there’s something uniquely unsettling about it happening inside a 634-meter tower. Everyone got out safe this time, and Tobu Tower Skytree will presumably be taking a very long, very hard look at those elevators before reopening.
For the 20 people who lived through it, at least they walked away with the kind of travel story that nobody can top at dinner parties. Tokyo Skytree remains one of the must-visit spots in the capital, but maybe take the stairs for a bit.
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(Just kidding. There are 2,523 of them. Don’t do that, you maniac.)
Discover the “unseen” side of Japan
Japan is on everyone’s travel bucket list. Sadly, many end up going to the same places as everyone else. That can turn what could have been a fun, once-in-a-lifetime experience into an exhausting battle with crowds.
We started Unseen Japan Tours for the same reason we started Unseen Japan: To give people a unique glimpse into Japan they can’t get anywhere else. Let us create a custom itinerary of hard-to-find spots centered on your interests. We can also serve as your guides and interpreters, taking you to places that non-Japanese-speaking tourists usually can’t access.
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Sources
20人は深夜2時、長さ1.2m、幅40cm金属板を渡って救出…スカイツリーのエレベーター事故 24日も点検休業. Yomiuri Shimbun
