Participants Sought for Tokyo Tower Climb for Mental Health; Entry Fees Will Support Charity Tokyo English Lifeline

The Yomiuri Shimbun

11:18 JST, March 26, 2026

Applications are now open for an event to be held at Tokyo Tower on April 19 to raise awareness about the importance of mental health.

Participants in the Tokyo Tower Climb will ascend about 600 steps to the structure’s observation platform, located about 150 meters above the ground.

The event is organized by Tokyo English Lifeline (TELL), a nonprofit organization that has provided mental health support in Japan for more than 50 years, including offering confidential counseling and crisis support services in English. The organization says that in recent years it has also seen an increasing number of young Japanese people reaching out for support.

Through this symbolic climb, organizers hope to highlight the importance of creating an environment in which people feel comfortable speaking openly about their struggles and seeking help when they need it.

Participants are encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #MoveForMentalHealth to help spread awareness.

The participation fee is ¥4,000 for adults and ¥2,500 for children. Proceeds will support TELL’s work, including the training of volunteer counselors for its Lifeline service and providing financial assistance for individuals who are receiving care through the organization’s mental health clinic, which offers services in both English and Japanese.

“Mental health is something that affects everyone,” said Richard Okuno, outreach director at TELL. “We hope this event encourages people to face the issue openly rather than avoid it, and to foster a culture of mutual support.”

Applications to participate in the Tokyo Tower Climb can be submitted online at https://www.tellevents.org/

For confidential support through the TELL Lifeline, call 0800-300-8355.