Children from Tokiwa Kindergarten board the renovated elevator at the Kyoto Tower (Kyoto Tower, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto)

On April 1, the Kyoto Tower in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, reopened after its four-month closure for renovation of the elevators, etc. A commemoration ceremony was held and about 120 people, including parties concerned along with local families, celebrated the Kyoto Tower's new launch.

This was the first renovation since the tower opened in 1964. Two elevators and the carpets on the first, fourth and fifth floors of the observation galleries were refurbished. The elevators' interior decorations depict scenes from Gion Festival and the Kyoto skyline in a gold and silver color scheme. Some ideas have been adopted to prevent visitors from being bored while in an elevator such as installing 20-inch monitor with a guide to attractions.

In the commemoration ceremony, Yoshitsugu Sakurai, president and CEO, greeted the audience, saying "I hope these new elevators work as hard as the first ones." "Tawawa-chan," Kyoto Tower's mascot, and others, including "Biriken-san," Tsutenkaku Tower's mascot in Osaka City, appeared in costume at the ceremony for the cutting of the tape. Children from the nearby Tokiwa Kindergarten and their parents were invited to the observation gallery and enjoyed seeing the spectacular view after a long while.