スカイツリー · Tallest in Japan

Tokyo Skytree Guide: Tickets, Views & What to See

634 meters of broadcasting tower with two observation decks, the Solamachi mall below, and the best Tokyo panorama of all

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Tokyo Skytree is the tallest tower in Japan and the second-tallest free-standing structure in the world after Dubai's Burj Khalifa. At 634 meters, it dominates the eastern Tokyo skyline and serves as the primary digital broadcast tower for the Kanto region. For visitors, it is also the city's most ambitious observation deck — two viewing levels, fast elevators, and on a clear day a view that reaches Mt. Fuji.

This guide covers ticket types, the best time to go, what to see at each deck level, and the surprisingly good Solamachi mall at the base of the tower.

Height634 m (2,080 ft)

Observation decksTembo Deck (350m), Tembo Galleria (450m)

Ticket cost (combo)¥3,100–¥3,400 weekday adult

Hours10:00–22:00 daily

Getting to Tokyo Skytree

• Tobu Skytree Line: Tokyo Skytree Station — directly connected to the tower via Solamachi mall.
• Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line: Oshiage Station — the other direct exit.
• From Asakusa: 20-minute walk across the Sumida River, or 5-minute Tobu train.
• From Tokyo Station: 30-minute taxi or transfer at Otemachi.

Ticket Types

Tokyo Skytree has two observation decks, sold either as separate tickets or as a combo. Pricing also varies by date (weekday/weekend/peak day).

Ticket	Weekday	Weekend / Peak
Tembo Deck (350m) only	¥2,100	¥2,300
Tembo Galleria (450m) only	—	—
Combo (350m + 450m)	¥3,100	¥3,400
Fast Skytree (skip-the-line)	+¥800–¥1,000	+¥800–¥1,000

The 450m Tembo Galleria can only be accessed from the 350m Tembo Deck — there is no standalone Galleria ticket.

Where to buy

• Skytree official site: standard prices, must redeem at counter.
• Klook: often discounted ~¥200, with QR-code direct entry. View Klook Skytree tickets.
• At the door: highest price, longest queue. Avoid.
• Combo with other attractions: Klook's Tokyo Skytree + Sumida Aquarium combo is the best family deal.

Recommendation: book the combo ticket online via Klook or the official site at least a day ahead. Skip-the-line is worth the extra cost only on weekends — weekday queues are usually under 15 minutes.

The Two Observation Decks

Tembo Deck (350m)

Three levels (Floors 340, 345, 350). The classic observation experience — wide windows, café, gift shop, and a small section of glass floor where you can see straight down.

• Floor 350: highest level of Tembo Deck, panoramic windows.
• Floor 345: mid-level, includes the Skytree Café.
• Floor 340: lower level with the famous glass floor section. Don't look down if you have vertigo.

Tembo Galleria (450m)

A spiral ramp that climbs from 445m to 450m, the highest publicly accessible point of the tower. Floor-to-ceiling glass on one side, slow gentle climb. Less crowded than Tembo Deck because of the higher ticket price.

• Sorakara Point (450m): the highest accessible point. A small viewing area marked with a height marker.
• Walking ramp: the experience is the climb, not just the view. About 110m of curved ramp.
• Often less crowded than Tembo Deck — worth the extra ticket if it's your only Tokyo observation.

What You Can See

From Tokyo Skytree on a clear day, the panorama covers most of Tokyo plus surrounding regions:

• South: central Tokyo skyline — Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hills, Shinjuku skyscrapers in the distance.
• West: Mt. Fuji on clear winter days. The marquee long-distance view.
• East: Tokyo Bay, Disney Resort visible on the horizon.
• Below: the dense matrix of Sumida and Asakusa neighborhoods.
• North: Tsukuba mountains, Mt. Akagi (winter only).

Mt. Fuji visibility: December through February, before 11:00, on dry windless days. The official Skytree app shows real-time visibility forecasts. Not guaranteed at any time.

When to Visit

By time of day

• Sunset (16:00–17:30 winter, 18:30–20:00 summer): the most photogenic. The city transitions from daylight to neon. Premium pricing on some days.
• Golden hour: 30 minutes before sunset has the warmest light.
• Night (after 19:00): the lit-up Tokyo skyline. Less daylight detail but more dramatic.
• Morning (10:00–12:00): clearest views, fewer crowds. Best for Mt. Fuji visibility.

By season

• Winter: clearest air; best Mt. Fuji visibility.
• Spring (cherry blossom): the city's pink layers visible from above.
• Summer: hazy days; plan for sunset/night views.
• Autumn: cool clear afternoons; good visibility.

Crowds

• Most crowded: Saturdays after 15:00 and during cherry blossom + autumn foliage seasons.
• Quietest: weekday mornings (10:00–11:30).
• Holiday weekends: book skip-the-line ticket.

Solamachi Mall (Below the Tower)

The mall at the base of Tokyo Skytree is one of Tokyo's better-curated retail destinations. Three buildings (East Yard, West Yard, and the tower base) with about 300 shops and restaurants. Free to enter.

Highlights at Solamachi

• Sumida Aquarium (5F West): compact aquarium with penguins, jellyfish, and a 350-tank coral display. ¥2,500 adult, ¥1,200 child. Combo ticket with Skytree available.
• Konica Minolta Planetarium "Tenku": 360-degree dome shows. ¥1,600.
• Postal Museum (9F): free, surprisingly interesting if you have an hour.
• Pokemon Center Skytree Town (4F): a smaller branch than the Ikebukuro flagship but still excellent.
• Studio Ghibli store (Donguri Kyowakoku, 4F): Ghibli merchandise — the closest thing in Tokyo to a Ghibli shop without traveling to Mitaka.
• Tokyo Solamachi Dining (6F-7F): ~50 restaurants from cheap to fine dining.

Where to Eat at Skytree

• Skytree Café (340/350F): on the Tembo Deck — the highest café in Japan. Pricey for what it is, but the view costs nothing extra.
• Tokyo Solamachi Dining (6F-7F): 50 restaurants including Tonkatsu Wakou, sushi chains, ramen specialists.
• Sky Restaurant 634 (345F): the most upscale option — fine dining at 345m. Reservations essential, ¥10,000+ per person.
• Solamachi food court (basement): cheap and quick.
• Outside Skytree — Asakusa side: 15-minute walk gets you to Asakusa's traditional restaurants. Often better value.

Best Photo Spots Around Skytree

The Skytree itself looks dramatic from the right angle. If you want photos OF the tower (not just from it):

• Azumabashi Bridge (Asakusa side): the iconic Asahi Beer Hall flame + Skytree composition. Famous photo. 15-min walk from Skytree.
• Sumida Park riverside: the cherry-blossom-and-Skytree shot in spring.
• Solamachi rooftop terrace (4F outdoor): direct upward shot. Free.
• Jukken Bridge: classic reflection shot in the canal water.
• Tobu Hotel Levant 24F bar: elevated angle with one drink minimum.

Tokyo Skytree vs Tokyo Tower

The eternal question. Tokyo Tower (333m, central, red-and-white, built 1958) and Tokyo Skytree (634m, eastern, white-and-blue, built 2012). Both are observation experiences, but with different feelings.

Tokyo Tower

Lower (333m), central, classic Tokyo. Best photographed FROM, not visited.

Tokyo Skytree

Higher (634m), eastern. The taller tower with more dramatic views.

For nostalgia

Tokyo Tower wins — the pre-war Tokyo classic.

For views

Skytree wins — twice the height, sees further.

If you have time for one observation experience and want sheer height, choose Skytree. If you have time for one view-OF-the-tower photo, Tokyo Tower from Zojoji Temple is more iconic.

One-Day Skytree + Asakusa Plan

1. 10:00: Arrive at Asakusa. Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise-dori.
2. 12:00: Lunch at Daikokuya tempura.
3. 13:30: Walk across Azumabashi Bridge — Skytree photo.
4. 14:00: Tokyo Skytree Combo ticket (350m + 450m). Allow 90 minutes.
5. 16:00: Solamachi mall — Sumida Aquarium or Pokemon Center Skytree.
6. 17:30: Sunset views from Tembo Deck if you re-enter (some tickets allow same-day re-entry).
7. 18:30: Dinner at Solamachi or back in Asakusa.

Practical Tips

• Book online: save ~¥200 + skip the queue.
• Re-entry policy: some tickets allow same-day re-entry — check at booking.
• Cloakroom: available at the entrance for large bags. ¥200.
• Photography: tripods banned. Phone or handheld camera only.
• Free Wi-Fi on the observation decks.
• Audio guide available in English (¥500 rental). Worth it for the architecture history.
• Accessibility: fully wheelchair-accessible including the Galleria ramp.
• Lighting changes: the Skytree itself changes color at night, alternating between blue and purple themes.

Should You Skip Skytree?

Yes if:

• You only have 3 days in Tokyo and Shibuya Sky is on your list (similar experience, more central).
• Weather is overcast — the views are heavily weather-dependent.
• You hate crowds and weekend queues.
• Budget is tight — Tocho free observation gets 60% of the experience for ¥0.

Skip if you can do Tocho (free, central) + Shibuya Sky (paid, 360-degree rooftop) instead. For a more iconic, more dramatic, more "I've been to Tokyo" picture, Skytree wins. For practicality, the alternatives compete.

Pair with the Right Side of Town

Skytree pairs naturally with Asakusa. See our Asakusa Complete Guide for the temple-and-Skytree day, and our Tokyo Photography Spots for the best angles to capture both.