When it opened in March 1999, it was the
world's tallest Ferris wheel. It has the same diameter as its world record predecessor, the
Tempozan Ferris Wheel, at
Osaka, but its overall height is greater. Daikanransha lost its world's tallest status to the
London Eye, which officially opened on December 31, 1999, but which did not open to the public until March 2000 because of technical problems. It also lost its title as Japan’s tallest Ferris wheel to the
Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel and
Sky Dream Fukuoka in 2001, followed by the
Redhorse Osaka Wheel in 2016. It is the third tallest Ferris wheel ever constructed in Japan, Asia's 10th tallest and the world's 12th tallest wheel ever constructed. Daikanransha was visible from the central urban area of
Tokyo. During its 16-minute ride, passengers could observe key landmarks, including
Tokyo Tower, the twin-deck
Rainbow Bridge,
Tokyo Skytree,
Tokyo Gate Bridge, and
Haneda Airport, as well as the
skyscrapers of
Shinjuku. On clear days, visibility extended to the
Bōsō Peninsula and
Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak. The Ferris wheel featured a total of 64
gondolas, most of which were renowned for their rainbow-colored design. However, four special gondolas were made entirely of transparent
polycarbonate, offering a see-through experience. These transparent gondolas were also equipped with
air conditioning for passenger comfort. Passengers had the opportunity to take a commemorative photo before boarding the gondola. It has been featured in
animes like
Digimon Adventure and
Inuyasha. File:Zoom - Ferris Wheel at MegaWeb, Tokyo (230664944).jpg|One of the see-through gondolas File:色のご指定はご遠慮下さい。 (1798003625).jpg File:A night view of Odaiba from palette town ferris wheel.jpg|Night-time view from the Ferris wheel File:Daikanransha Ferris Wheel @ Odaiba (8994577806).jpg|Day-time view from the Ferris wheel == Illumination ==