Tokyo Tower is a 333-metre communications tower in the Minato district that has been Tokyo’s most recognizable structure since 1958. The two observation decks give views over central Tokyo and Tokyo Bay. Here is the complete visitor guide.
Tokyo Tower was completed in 1958 and modelled partly on the Eiffel Tower, though it stands 13 metres taller. It was originally built as a broadcasting antenna tower serving the NHK national broadcaster. It still serves as a broadcast antenna today, alongside the newer Tokyo Skytree, which surpassed it as Japan’s tallest structure in 2012.
The Observation Decks
Main Deck (150m): The primary observation deck with 360-degree views. Large windows on all sides. Entry: 1,200 yen for adults, 700 yen for children. An outdoor walkway section allows unobstructed views without glass. This level has a cafe, a gift shop, and the glass floor panel directly above the tower base, where you can look straight down 150 metres to the ground.
Top Deck (250m): The upper deck has a smaller footprint and narrower windows but higher views. Entry: 3,000 yen adult (includes Main Deck), 2,000 yen child. The Top Deck tour is a guided experience with a dedicated lift. Book in advance at tokyotower.co.jp.
Best Time to Visit
Night: Tokyo Tower’s most famous feature is its orange-and-white nighttime illumination. The tower glows particularly well from street level in the surrounding Shiba area. From the observation deck at night, the Minato district, Odaiba waterfront, and Tokyo Bay are all lit up. Night visits are consistently the most atmospheric.
Clear days: On very clear days in winter and early spring, Mount Fuji is visible to the west from the upper deck. The tower’s western aspect (toward Shinjuku and beyond) is the direction to watch on clear mornings.
Cherry blossom: The Shiba Park surrounding the tower base has cherry trees that bloom in late March to early April. Viewing the illuminated tower through cherry blossoms from the park is one of Tokyo’s most photogenic spring scenes.
Tokyo Tower vs Tokyo Skytree
The Skytree, at 634 metres, is nearly twice the height and offers broader panoramic views. The Tokyo Tower, at 333 metres, is lower. Still, the views of central Tokyo from this height are arguably more intimate, looking across the low-rise residential areas of Shiba and Azabu rather than down on everything from a great distance. The tower itself is more photogenic as an object than the Skytree. Doing both if time allows gives genuinely different experiences.
Getting to Tokyo Tower
Akabanebashi Station on the Toei Oedo Line, Exit Akabanebashi. About a 5-minute walk south to the tower entrance. Alternatively, Onarimon Station on the Toei Mita Line (7 minutes walk), or Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (7 minutes walk). The tower is in Minato Ward, within walking distance of Roppongi (15 minutes) and Roppongi Hills.
