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Tall buildings, skyscrapers and, modern architecture. That’s what Tokyo does best! And it does it so well that the metropolis is home to the second tallest building in the world. There are countless amazing viewpoints in Tokyo, and during our multi-day Tokyo trip, we of course paid a visit to the Tokyo Skytree.
All Important Information About the Tokyo Skytree
In this article about the Tokyo Skytree, you’ll learn how to get there, what the entrance fee is, and, of course, what there is to see from the top.
Accommodation in Tokyo – Our Hotel Tip
The selection of hotels in Tokyo is huge, and it’s always a good idea to have a metro station close to your hotel. the Hotel SUI Akasaka by Abest and can highly recommend it. We even stayed there a second time because we really liked it overall.
Rooms in Tokyo are usually much smaller, but they offer everything you need. At the Hotel Sui Akasaka by Abest, they are equipped with a coffee machine, kettle, refrigerator, air conditioning, bathroom with modern Japanese toilet, tablet, TV, and reliable, free Wi-Fi. There are also USB ports and sockets for non-Japanese plugs. Nothing is left to be desired. Another highlight is the roof terrace, and there are other amenities such as washing machines and a directly connected café.
Popular neighborhoods to stay in Tokyo include Shinjuku, Akihabara, or Asakusa. You can find more hotels in other districts of Tokyo here.
General Information About the Tokyo Skytree
The Tokyo Skytree is a television and radio broadcasting tower standing 634 meters tall. It was completed in 2012 and is actually the tallest TV tower in the world. Only the Burj Khalifa in Dubai surpasses it in height as a building.
You can spot this impressive and modern structure from many places in Tokyo and the surrounding area, it truly stands out. It’s located in the northeastern part of Tokyo, specifically in the Sumida district, almost directly next to the river of the same name. For more information about the Tokyo Skytree, visit the official website.
How to Get to the Tokyo Skytree and Admission
A visit to the Tokyo Skytree can easily be combined with a trip to the Asakusa district. That’s what we did as well. We spent half a day in Asakusa and then walked from there to the Skytree. The walk from the Senso-ji Temple/Asakusa Shrine takes about 20 minutes and passes through Sumida Park and across the Kototoi Bridge.
Alternatively, you can, of course, get there by subway. The two nearest stations to the Tokyo Skytree are Tokyo Skytree and Oshiage. Oshiage is connected to the Asakusa Line, among others. From the large station with many shops, it’s just a short walk to the tower entrance.
In the beautifully designed entrance area, you can buy tickets at several counters. We had to wait about 20 minutes in line, even though we went in the evening. At certain times of day or on holidays, the line is likely to be much longer. If you’d like to skip the wait, we recommend booking online.
You can choose between a ticket for the first observation deck, the Tembo Deck (350 meters), or a combo ticket that also includes the higher deck at 450 meters. For an additional fee, there’s also a Fast Skytree option that lets you skip the line. We opted for the regular combo ticket and paid 3100 yen per person.
Tip: If you have some extra time and/or are traveling with family, you can also visit the Sumida Aquarium next door, either before or after your Skytree visit. It’s a modern aquarium featuring many fish species, penguins, and more. Here, too, it’s worth purchasing a combo ticket online.
View From the Tokyo Skytree
After an interesting but not too long elevator ride, you’ll be greeted at the top by friendly staff and can finally enjoy the view. The 360-degree observation deck offers stunning views of Tokyo and its surroundings. On clear days, you can even spot Mount Fuji in the distance.
In addition to numerous screens and information panels, this deck also features a café, a restaurant, and the Skytree shop. Depending on the time of day and the day of the week, you’ll likely share the best viewing spots with many (mostly Japanese) visitors. However, if you walk around a few times, you’ll usually find a free spot.
You can reach the next observation deck via a separate elevator, and the ride is much shorter. At 450 meters, the view isn’t dramatically different, but it’s still breathtaking. The slightly smaller deck feels especially futuristic in the evening when everything is illuminated. You’ll almost feel like you’re in a spaceship. The Sorakara Point is the highest observation spot at 451.2 meters, but unfortunately, it wasn’t open during our visit.
Conclusion About the Tokyo Skytree – Is It Worth a Visit?
In our opinion, a visit to the Tokyo Skytree is definitely worth it! The view from there is quite different from other observation decks or buildings. You can easily spend an entire day in the area if you combine it with a trip to Asakusa (and maybe a visit to the Sumida Aquarium).
However, the only downside (especially for photographers) is that reflections on the glass panels make taking photos quite difficult, at least in the evening. This is due to the bright interior lighting and decorations, which make it hard to find a good, relatively quiet photo spot. Additionally, not every direction of the 360-degree view is equally photogenic, as the Tokyo skyline (for example, with the Tokyo Tower) is only visible from certain angles, while other sides are a bit less spectacular.
Here are a few quick facts about the Tokyo Skytree’s opening hours and entrance fees:
Opening hours: 8.00 AM to 10.00 PM
Entrance fee: 3100/3400 yen (weekday/holiday) for both decks (350 and 450 meters)
Tokyo Skytree: Tours and Tickets
Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Tokyo Akihabara in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Akihabara and Tokyo.
How to Get to Tokyo
The international trip to Tokyo does not offer many options, since Japan is an island country. So the plane is usually the only option to get to the Japanese capital. Tokyo has two airports, Narita and Haneda Airport.
There are direct flights to Tokyo from all over the world as well as Europe or other Asian countries. Narita Airport serves most international flights, but Haneda also handles some of them. However, the majority of flights at Haneda Airport are domestic flights. For a good overview of times, prices and airlines, we can recommend Skyscanner.
Note: There are also ferry connections, e.g. from China or South Korea to Japan, but not directly to Tokyo. There you would have to travel to Tokyo via Kyushu or Osaka. You can find more information at 12go.asia.
Other options if you are traveling to Tokyo within Japan are the bus and train. The Shinkansen express trains are the most popular, but there are also many other trains to choose from. If you are in Japan a little longer, then a Japan Rail Pass is worth it, because most routes within Japan can be covered quickly and easily by train. Absolute recommendation!
Have you ever been to the top of Tokyo Skytree and been as impressed as we were? Tell us about your impressions.
Photos: Photo 5 (View Mount Fuji): segawa7/shutterstock.com
