富士山縦覧場, Observation tower in Asakusa, Japan.
The Fuji Viewing Tower (富士山縦覧場) was a wooden structure about 105 feet (32 m) tall in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. It stood near the Yoshiwara entertainment area and was built specifically to give visitors a view of Mount Fuji from the city.
The tower opened on November 6, 1887, making it one of the first observation structures of its kind in Japan. Just three years later, it was replaced by the taller Ryounkaku Tower built on the same site in 1890.
Artists and writers came to this wooden tower to capture Mount Fuji in their work. The view from the platform became a recurring subject in Tokyo's art scene during the late 19th century.
The site is in Asakusa, a part of Tokyo that is easy to explore on foot and well connected by public transit. Clear days give the best chance of seeing Mount Fuji in the distance, as clouds often block the view.
Although the structure was made entirely of wood, it was tall enough to rise above the low rooftops of Tokyo at that time, making a clear sightline toward Mount Fuji possible from the city. Charging an entry fee to see a mountain view from a tower was a new concept in Japan when it opened.
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