Tokyo Tower
東京タワー
Tokyo's original icon: cheaper, less crowded, and more romantic than the Skytree
About Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower is the city's sentimental favourite. Built in 1958, just thirteen years after the end of WWII, it was designed to be taller than the Eiffel Tower (by 13 metres) and served as a symbol of Japan's post-war recovery and ambition. The lattice steel structure, painted in international orange and white, has been a fixture of the Tokyo skyline for over sixty years and appears in more anime, films, and postcards than any other landmark in the city.
When Tokyo Skytree opened in 2012 at nearly twice the height (634 metres), many expected Tokyo Tower to fade into irrelevance. The opposite happened. The Skytree drew the crowds and the long queues, while Tokyo Tower became the locals' choice: cheaper (¥1,200 vs ¥3,100 for the Skytree's top deck), less crowded, and with a warmer, more nostalgic atmosphere. The main observation deck at 150 metres gives you a closer, more intimate view of the city than the Skytree's lofty 350 metres. On clear days, Mount Fuji is visible from both decks, but from Tokyo Tower the view feels more personal; you're in the middle of the cityscape rather than above it.
The base of the tower has FootTown, a small retro shopping complex with a One Piece manga theme park (for fans), restaurants, and souvenir shops. But the real draw is the tower itself, especially at night. The illumination changes seasonally (orange in summer, warm white in winter, special colours for events), and the view from the observation deck after dark, with Tokyo's lights stretching to the horizon in every direction, is genuinely romantic. Budget 1–1.5 hours for the tower, or combine it with nearby Zojoji Temple and a walk through Shiba Park for a half-day in the area.
Essential Tips
Main Deck (¥1,200) is enough for most visitors; the Top Deck (¥2,800) is nice but not essential
Best time: arrive 1 hour before sunset for the day-to-night transition. Mount Fuji is visible on clear days (especially winter)
Late evening (after 8 PM) is the least crowded time for the observation deck
The glass floor panels on the Main Deck look straight down 150 metres: thrilling or terrifying, depending on your disposition
For the classic photo of the tower: go to Zojoji Temple (3-minute walk south) and shoot the tower behind the Sangedatsumon gate
Best ground-level view: Shiba Park's south lawn at night. Free, open, and you see the entire tower
Tokyo Tower is cheaper and less crowded than Tokyo Skytree, so locals tend to prefer it
The illumination changes: orange (summer/autumn standard), warm white (winter), plus special colours for holidays and events
FootTown (base complex) has a One Piece theme park: fun if you're a fan, skippable if not
Compare the three observation options: Tokyo Tower (¥1,200, 150m), Skytree (¥3,100, 350m), or the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (FREE, 202m, Shinjuku)
Don't Miss
Main Deck at Sunset
The main observation deck (150 metres) is the sweet spot. Arrive about an hour before sunset, watch the city transition from daylight to golden hour to neon, and look for Mount Fuji on the western horizon (visible on clear days, especially in winter). The 150m height puts you right in the middle of the skyline rather than above it; you can see individual buildings, streets, and the curve of Tokyo Bay. ¥1,200 and rarely a long wait.
Night Illumination (From Outside)
Tokyo Tower's exterior illumination changes with the seasons: orange in summer, warm white and red in winter, and special colours for events (rainbow for Pride, pink for breast cancer awareness, green for St Patrick's Day). The best views of the illuminated tower are from Shiba Park (south side), the Roppongi Hills Sky Deck, or the street approach from Kamiyacho Station. Completely free, since you're viewing the tower, not from it.
Top Deck Tour (250 metres)
The Top Deck experience is a guided tour to the highest observation level (250m). It includes a dedicated entrance, a mirrored elevator experience, and geometric-patterned windows that give the viewing floor a different feel from the Main Deck. At ¥2,800 it's more than double the Main Deck price. It's worth it if you want the full experience, but the Main Deck view is honestly 90% as good.
Zojoji Temple + Tower Photo Spot
Zojoji Temple sits directly south of Tokyo Tower, and the view of the bright-red tower rising behind the temple's ancient Sangedatsumon gate is one of the most iconic photo compositions in Tokyo. The temple itself is significant: it was the family temple of the Tokugawa shoguns. Free to visit. The contrast of 15th-century Buddhism and 1950s engineering in a single frame is perfect.
What to Do Here
Sunset Observation Deck Visit
Buy a Main Deck ticket (¥1,200), take the elevator to 150m, and position yourself on the west side for the sunset and Mount Fuji view. Stay as the city lights come on; the transition is the best part. Look for Tokyo Skytree glowing blue-white to the northeast and Rainbow Bridge lit up to the southeast.
Tips:
- Arrive 1 hour before sunset for a good window position
- West side for sunset and Mount Fuji, east side for Tokyo Skytree
- The glass floor panels on the Main Deck are a fun vertigo moment
- No reservation needed for the Main Deck: just buy and go up
Tower + Zojoji Temple Combo
Start at Zojoji Temple (free) for the classic tower-behind-temple photo, explore the temple grounds and the rows of jizo statues (small Buddhist guardian figures, some dressed in tiny knit caps), then walk to Tokyo Tower for the observation deck. The combined visit gives you history, spirituality, and modern views in one compact area.
Tips:
- Zojoji is best in morning light for photos with the tower
- The Sangedatsumon gate is original (1622), the oldest wooden structure in the area
- The jizo statues wearing knitted caps are a touching memorial; they represent lost children
- From Zojoji, the tower is a 3-minute walk
Night Visit + Shiba Park
Visit after 8 PM for a quieter observation deck (fewer families and tour groups). After descending, walk to Shiba Park's south lawn for the best ground-level view of Tokyo Tower illuminated against the night sky. In winter (November–February), the park sometimes has its own small illumination display.
Tips:
- After 8 PM the observation deck is noticeably less crowded
- Shiba Park's south lawn (free) has the classic full-tower view
- The approach from Kamiyacho Station lets you see the tower growing larger, which is dramatic at night
- Nearby: Tofuya Ukai restaurant (high-end Japanese) has tower views from its garden
Plan Your Visit
Opening Hours
main Deck
9:00 AM – 10:30 PM (last entry 10:00 PM)
top Deck
9:00 AM – 10:15 PM (last entry 9:45 PM). Guided tour format.
foot Town
10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (shops and restaurants vary)
Best Time to Visit
Sunset (arrive 1 hour before) for the day-to-night transition. Or late evening (after 8 PM) for nighttime city lights with minimal crowds.
Avoid:
New Year's Eve (countdown event), Golden Week, and Obon are peak crowd times
Nearby
Zojoji Temple
Major Buddhist temple, the Tokugawa family temple. Free. The tower-behind-temple view is an iconic photo.
200 metres
Shiba Park
Public park with the best ground-level views of Tokyo Tower, especially at night.
100 metres
Roppongi Hills / Mori Art Museum
Art museum, observation deck, and shopping complex. 20-minute walk or 1 metro stop.
1.5 km
Tofuya Ukai
Stunning high-end tofu kaiseki restaurant with a garden and tower views. Reservation essential.
200 metres
Gallery
Tokyo Tower at golden hour, the city's most nostalgic view
The classic shot: Tokyo Tower behind Zojoji's ancient gate
Night illumination; the colour changes with the seasons
150 metres up, right in the middle of the skyline
Old meets new: the Skytree glowing on the northeast horizon
History
founding
Construction began in 1957 and finished in 1958, built in just 18 months using 4,000 tonnes of steel (some of it recycled from US tanks used in the Korean War). At 333 metres, it was designed to be 13 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, which was its direct inspiration.
significance
Tokyo Tower was built as a broadcasting antenna for the growing TV industry, but it immediately became a symbol of Japan's post-war economic miracle. It represented ambition, recovery, and modernity. It appears in countless anime (Sailor Moon, Digimon, Tokyo Ghoul), films, and artworks, making it arguably the most culturally embedded landmark in Japan.
reconstruction
The tower was damaged in the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake: the antenna at the top bent. It was repaired within a year. The structure itself is regularly maintained and repainted (a process that takes about 5 years from start to finish).
name Origin
A public naming contest in 1958 produced 86,269 entries. 'Tokyo Tower' (東京タワー) was chosen for its simplicity and international appeal. The tower's official name is Nihon Denpatō (日本電波塔, Japan Radio Tower), but nobody uses it.
Getting There
Toei Oedo Line
Station: Akabanebashi Station
Exit: Akabanebashi Exit
Walk: 5 minutes
Closest station. The tower is visible immediately as you exit.
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
Station: Kamiyacho Station
Exit: Exit 1
Walk: 7 minutes (a pleasant approach with the tower growing larger ahead)
The approach along Hibiya-dori is pleasant; the tower grows larger as you walk toward it.
Toei Mita Line
Station: Onarimon Station
Exit: A1 Exit
Walk: 6 minutes (through Shiba Park)
Walk through Shiba Park for a nice approach
Toei Oedo / Toei Mita Line
Station: Shibakoen Station
Exit: A4 Exit
Walk: 7 minutes (via Zojoji Temple)
Best if combining with Zojoji Temple; walk through the temple first
Location
4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011
Nearest: Akabanebashi Station (Toei Oedo Line) or Kamiyacho Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line) (5 minutes from Akabanebashi; 7 minutes from Kamiyacho)
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