Interior of Tokyo Sky Tree shown to media

The interior of Tokyo's new broadcasting tower, the Tokyo Sky Tree, was opened to the media on Sunday.

The tower now under construction in Sumida Ward will replace the existing Tokyo Tower in 2012.

The tower, designed to be the world's tallest at 634 meters, currently stands at 215 meters.

Reporters were shown the tower's main pillar, which is 230 centimeters in diameter, and the outer section that will house elevators to the observatories.

In the summer of next year, the first observatory will be completed at 350 meters and the second one at the
450 meter level will be finished in the winter.

A construction manager said the project is going well and one third of the tower has been completed. He said the higher the tower gets, the more difficult the task becomes. He said his staff take pride in making sure they can work safely.