Tokyo’s giant Ferris wheel is closing for good, so it’s time for one last ride【Video】
An Odaiba view we’ll never be able to see again.
It’s not unusual to feel a little melancholy at this time of year, when summer is winding down and we’re about to head into the shorter, colder days of autumn. Today, though, we’re in an especially bittersweet mood, because Tokyo’s biggest Ferris wheel is about to close down for food, marking the end of an era for the Odaiba district.
The Palette Town entertainment complex opened in 1999, when Odaiba, a man-made island in Tokyo Bay, was Tokyo’s newest trendy spot for dining, shopping, and musical events. The complex’s Giant Sky Wheel (also known as the Daikanransha) quickly became a symbol of the neighborhood, with its 115-meter (377-foot) height making it the tallest Ferris wheel in the world at the time.
Unfortunately, Odaiba has been through some ups and downs in the years since. Sure, its status as a newly created landmass means it actually has empty space, which can be hard to find in Tokyo, and its coastline offers beautiful views ..