If only humans could fly.

For many metropolitan cities, the best view is usually someway above ground level. We will cover some places to consider.

1. Shibuya Sky (Shibuya Scramble Square)
2. Tokyo Tower
3. Tokyo Skytree
4. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

I highly recommend going to either Shibuya Sky or the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to catch the views.

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Shibuya Sky (Shibuya Scramble Square)

The entrance to Shibuya Sky is located on the 14th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, which was completed in end-2019, so it’s the first time to head to this location. The observatory is located on the 45th floor.

Entrance Fee: ¥2,000 for adults over the counter, ¥1,800 if pre-purchased on their website. You can also purchase it from Klook for around S$18.You will need to indicate the day and time you will be heading if you are pre-purchasing, but if you are late, you can swap it for a same-day ticket, subject to availability.

I highly recommend the entry time to be 1 hour prior to the sunset so you’ll get both the day and the night view. I made the mistake of booking it too late at 5:20pm in the month of November and it was dark by the time I got there.

Tokyo Tower

One of the reasons I rarely recommend the observation decks of Tokyo Tower (and Tokyo Skytree) is because these are the key sights of Tokyo, meaning that you miss out on the sight since you’re in it itself.

Unlike Shibuya Sky, there is a short walk from any JR or subway station located within the vicinity of Tokyo Tower.

If you stay in Ueno (which you should, find out why here) or any other location with multiple lines, my recommendation is to take the Hibiya Line to Kamiyacho (神谷町) station for the best experience, as you will be greeted by the Tokyo Tower up close when you make the left turn to Tokyo Tower.

Entrance Fee: ¥3,000 for both the top deck and main deck (¥2,800 if booked in advance online), ¥1,200 for the main deck. Book here. Klook prices are similar, which you can book here.

Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo Skytree is accessible via two different stations, the Tokyo Skytree station and the Oshiage (Skytree) station. It is likely that you’ll change at Asakusa Station. Alternatively, the Hanzomon subway line provides direct access cutting across the city from Shibuya.

I did not head up Tokyo Skytree, but their website shows fantastic night views, replicated below.

Entrance Fee: ¥3,100 for both 350m and 450m decks. ¥2,100 for the 350m deck only. Advance booking saves ¥300 to ¥400 on the above. Book here. Klook tickets seems to be slightly cheaper, found here.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is located in Shinjuku and is popular for its free observation decks in both the North Tower and South Tower (although the North Tower is currently closed due to Covid related measures).

The nearest station is Tochomae (都庁前) on the Oedo subway line, however, it is unlikely that you will take the trouble to connect to this line. Again, if you stay in Ueno, there’s the Ueno-Okachimachi subway station which has a direct train which brings you to Tochomae in about 30 minutes.

It is more likely that you will come by Shinjuku station. If so, follow the signs to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building / Shinjuku-Chuo Park – this walkway is largely underground and will take about 10 to 15 minutes to reach the building.

Once you reach the building, the entrance is on the ground floor. You will see two entrances that are similar in design, but only a queue at the South Observatory entrance currently. There are a few rules that you will have to follow, including no tripods and no sketching.

Entrance Fee: Free

When you reach the Observatory, you’ll have a good unobstructed view, including the view over Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu towards Shibuya. If you look westwards, you may have a chance to see Mount Fuji on a clear day. Considering my luck, I was not able to see that. One thing was that Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree was not visible from the South Tower, and maybe that can only be seen from the North Tower.

Also, if you have some musical ability, there is a piano that can be played at your option. Time to showcase your musical skills as well while soaking in the views.

Enjoy your time at the top of the world!