Tokyo is the largest city in the world.   While walking the streets and navigating the subways, you certainly get a sense of its seemingly endless sprawl.  However, to truly appreciate its vastness, you will want to see the skyline from above.

The city features numerous skyscrapers and antenna towers that will provide an aerial view.  While I can not say which is the best, I will give my opinion on the two towers that we visited and some general thoughts on others.  I cannot say that there is a clear “best” option as it will depend on the priorities that are most important to you.  Your budget and time in the city will help you decide.  The costs and planning involved in visiting each viewpoint varies greatly.  Regardless of which location is the right fit for your plans, I would highly encourage you to visit one of them.

TOKYO SKYTREE

The most popular choice is the Tokyo SkyTree.  Built in 2014, this tower is currently the second tallest structure in the world and features two observation decks.  The SkyTree does have some negatives though.  First are the numerous purchasing options for SkyTree tickets.  Same day tickets can be purchased but require long waits.  For an additional fee, the longest lines for general tickets can be avoided.  There is an online reservation system but the website is only offered in Japanese.  Also, the SkyTree is the most expensive costing 4,000 yen for both decks.  Both decks feature floor to ceiling glass and a 360 view.  For photographers, I have read that tripods are allowed when the tower is not crowded but would not count on it.  We chose to pass on the SkyTree as the ticketing process did not work well with our scheduling constrants.

“To fully grasp the size of Tokyo, you need to see it from above.  Regardless of which option you choose, enjoy the view!”

TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT BUILDING

The Metro Building features a north and south tower.  We visited the north tower as it stays open later allowing for night time views.  The best thing about the Metro Building is that they are free and the wait times are very short.  The towers are among the shortest of Tokyo observation decks.  However, the location in the heart of Shinjuku offers good views and is easy to access.  The north tower observation deck was large but only offers 180 degree views as the other half of the floor is a restaurant.  We enjoyed our visit but the site was not good for photography.  At night, the lights from the ceiling cast strong reflections onto the windows.  Unless you are on a tight budget, I would not recommend this as your primarly viewpoint.  If you are in the area anyway, it is a good free attraction to visit.

MORI TOWER

Mori Tower is located in Roppongi Hills and is one of the tallest buildings in the city.  The 52nd floor houses the observation deck and a modern art museum.  The room features expansive floor to ceiling windows.  While this view was excellent and allowed for great pictures, the real highlight is the open-air rooftop observation deck.  The cost for the main viewing area (including art museum) is 1,800 yen.  To visit the open-air deck cost and additional 500 yen.

The open-air deck provides an experience not possible at other sites.  Before going to the top, backpacks and loose items must be left in lockers.  A camera is allowed and I brought one additional lens.  It can be windy, so you might want to bring a jacket.  We went up late in the day to coincide with the sunset.  A walkway goes around the entire top of the building providing plenty of room for visitors to spread out.  The view towards Tokyo Tower and the port beyond was stunning.  The lack of windows is ideal for photography but be aware that traditional tripods are not allowed.  I did see a couple of people with clamp type tripod mounts if you can afford one.  I got creative using some large posts to get all the night shots I wanted.

Tokyo offers enough viewing towers that everyone should be able to find one that is right for them.  While I’ve discussed a few here, there are several more.  This page provides a useful overview of these and other options.  The city features several distinctive buildings providing opportunities for beautiful views.  An afternoon or evening visit will allow you to see the city during both daylight and nighttime.  With clear skys, it is possible to see Mt Fuji from several of the viewpoints.  Take all these things into account when choosing where to visit.  Most importantly, enjoy the view!