Overview
The structure borrows from temple pagodas, which have survived Japanese earthquakes for over a millennium: a central column moves independently of the outer frame and damps the sway, the same principle as a pagoda’s shinbashira. There are two decks, at 350 and 450 metres, the upper one a spiralling ramp rather than a floor. On a clear winter morning Fuji is visible to the south-west, which is the reason to check the forecast before booking.
Highlights
Book the timed ticket online for the combined decks; the on-the-day queue at the base can take an hour. Winter gives the clearest air and the best chance of Fuji; summer haze usually hides it. The observation floors are least crowded in the first slot of the morning and after nine at night.