Ferris Wheel

Cosmo Clock 21 in Yokohama

Tuesday March 8, 2005

Ferris Wheels seem to be very popular in Japan; they're everywhere, and they're gigantic. According to some of my students, ferris wheels are so popular in Japan because they give urban dwellers a chance to escape the city for a few minutes and enjoy each other's company in privacy.

Cosmo Clock 21 near my work is the third tallest ferris wheel in the world. It is 112.5 meters high, including the platform, has a diameter of 100 meters, and takes 15 minutes to go around once. Each of its 60 cars seats 8 people, the largest capacity in the world. Still, the ride is so popular that you have to wait in line for about an hour to get on it on weekends and holidays. It costs 700 yen to ride. The wheel doesn't stop turning; patrons exit the slow-moving cars at one end of the platform and the next patrons alight further down the platform.

Cosmo Clock 21 is also considered the largest timepiece in the world.

Cosmo World Amusement Park on Tokyo Bay.

There is a moving light display on the spokes every 10 minutes.

A view of Cosmo World on the ferris wheel.

< Back / Forward >

Beautiful pix - but glad I'm not up there. Makes my stomach do flipflops.

Posted by Mom on March 14, 2005 08:45 PM