Have you been to Tokyo Skytree? The observation decks are not easy to reach, but looking up from directly below and viewing from the neighborhood are free. From Takebashi, where Palaceside Building stands, it is about 15 minutes by transferring from the Tozai Line to the Hanzomon Line.
The character boosting Skytree is famously the official image character Sorakara-chan (official site http://www.sorakara-chan.jp/), but there are also mascots carrying local hopes for town revival.
First, five shopping associations in the Oshiage–Narihirabashi district (the Oshinari district) south and east of the tower launched Oshinari-kun (official site http://oshinari.jp/) in 2009. Chosen from 563 public entries, he is modeled on the Heian poet Ariwara no Narihira, for whom Narihirabashi is named, and is distinguished by a tower-shaped eboshi. Since summer 2009 a vacant shop has been used as a tourist desk and rest stop, "Oshinari-kun's House" (2-15-6 Narihira, Sumida Ward).
Answering Oshinari-kun, four shopping streets in Azumabashi and Higashi-Komagata west and north of the tower launched Azu-chan (official site http://www.azuchan.jp/) in March 2011. She is a "little history girl" well versed in Sumida's history and in local shops and artisans; her favorite food is monjayaki. Along Azumabashi shopping street, the rest stop "Azu-chan House (chi)" (3-1-7 Azumabashi, Sumida Ward) opened in August 2011.
Both Oshinari-kun and Azu-chan have dolls, straps, towels, sweets, and other goods on sale. The top photo is a rare shot of all three characters lined up at Sumida Ward Office when Azu-chan was unveiled, including Sorakara-chan (second from left). Half visible at right is "Gibo-chan" of the Edo-Tokyo Museum.
Skytree is expected to draw 32 million visitors a year; Sumida Ward estimates an economic effect of 88 billion yen locally and 174.6 billion yen nationwide. May the characters work hard too, and may the tower become a spark that livens all of Japan.