A modern echo of Japan's ancient Mount Fuji, the Tokyo Tower stands as one of the great cultural and architectural landmarks of Asia. In structure, it resembles the Eiffel Tower of France, but this one is slightly larger -- 1,092 feet compared with 1,056 for the Eiffel Tower. This makes it the tallest free-standing steel structure in the world. However, it is comparatively light -- just about 4,000 tons compared with 7,000 tons for the Eiffel Tower. When it opened, it was illuminated by 696 light bulbs. In 1989 these were replaced by 164 floodlights that change color -- orange in autumn, winter, and spring; and white in summer. While all this may be aesthetically pleasing to the throngs that visit the main observatory at 150 meters, or the special observatory at 250 meters, the tower's main function is as a communications station. It is home to more than a dozen radio and television antennae along with earthquake detectors, traffic cameras, and meteorological equipment. Much like the CN Tower in Toronto and other great towers, there are several unrelated entertainment options at its base. In this case, an aquarium and a wax museum along with the standard fare of restaurants and gift shops.

• 3,700,000 people visit the Tokyo Tower every year (2000 estimate).
• The symbolic 100,000,000th visitor arrived in 1989.
• It takes 28,000 liters of paint to paint the Tokyo Tower