Tokyo Skytree Elevator Malfunction Leaves 20 Trapped for Nearly 6 Hours During Puella Magi Madoka Magica Event

Sunday night in Tokyo Skytree turned into a pucha moment. An elevator malfunction stopped one car about 30 meters (around 100 feet) above the ground floor, leaving 20 people trapped for nearly six hours. Up above, around 1,200 guests were also left waiting on the observation decks for roughly three hours. It was like the tower pressed pause on everyone’s plans, asumadre.

Emergency services were contacted around 8:20 p.m. local time (6:20 a.m. EST). The good news: everyone got out safely. By 2:00 a.m. on Monday, the 20 people in the elevator were evacuated without physical injuries. Relief, mostro.

What Tokyo Skytree is doing now

After the incident, Tokyo Skytree staff said the tower will be closed until Wednesday so they can run a full inspection of the elevators. If we had reservations, we’d be checking our emails like hawks—because guests with ticket reservations can request refunds for their tickets.

If you’re planning a visit soon, we recommend doing these quick moves:

• Confirm reopening timing before heading out.
• Keep your reservation info handy if you want a refund.
• Build a backup plan nearby (Tokyo loves giving us options).

The malfunction happened during a Puella Magi Madoka Magica collaboration

The timing made the situation extra noticeable because Tokyo Skytree is currently running an event campaign tied to Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising. That exhibit was meant to line up with the film’s planned opening, but the movie has been delayed, so the collaboration continues on its own schedule.

The Madoka Magica collaboration launched on January 8 and is set to run until April 6. If we’re going, here’s what’s on the menu (literally and figuratively):

• Special screenings of Madoka Magica footage on the Floor 350 observation deck
• A Madoka Magica photo service on the Floor 445 Observation Galleria
• Madoka Magica displays on Floors 445 and 450
• A special light-up sequence for the tower itself
• Limited-time Madoka Magica food and drinks at the Floor 340 café
• Collaboration merchandise at the Floor 345 Skytree Shop
• A meet-and-greet with the Skytree mascot Sorakara-chan dressed as Madoka Kaname

A quick refresher: where the movies stand

Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie Part 3: Rebellion opened in October 2013 as a sequel to the original anime series. The follow-up, Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising, has been in production for a while and has faced multiple delays. As of now, there’s still no newly announced opening date.

Skytree’s long history of anime and game collabs

This isn’t Skytree’s first rodeo. Over the years, the tower has teamed up with franchises like Attack on Titan (2017), Macross (2018), Final Fantasy Remake (2022), and My Hero Academia (2024), among many others. Even the shopping facility at the base has hosted collab cafés, including Mary and The Witch's Flower (2017) and Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card (2018).

Now we tell you: if you were on-site that night, what did staff communication feel like from your side? And if you have tickets coming up, are we going for the refund or rescheduling the plan? Share your experience, and let’s keep each other posted.