Embedded Files
Updated October 15, 2026 | By Tokyo Paul
Everyone knows about Tokyo Skytree and the crowds at Shibuya Sky, but the city is full of other places to take in a skyline, and many of them are free. This guide gathers ten views, seven of them free and three paid, with details drawn from published sources. Hours, prices, and closures change, so confirm each place's current information before you go, especially for evening visits.
Free Views
Free Views
1. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Shinjuku. GO TOKYO's guide to the city's best views lists the north and south observation decks of this building among the free decks. Both are on the 45th floor, about 202 meters up, and offer good daytime views with a chance of seeing Mount Fuji. A security check is required, and you take the elevator from the first floor of Main Building No. 1. Wikipedia lists the hours as 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with the two decks open on alternating days, so check which one is open on the day you visit. GO TOKYO also notes that the building hosts projection mapping throughout the year.
2. Caretta Shiodome Sky View, Shiodome. GO TOKYO's views guide lists the Sky View at Caretta Shiodome as a free viewpoint with panoramic views of Tokyo Bay, while the Sky Restaurant on the 46th and 47th floors is a paid option. The complex is also home to the Ad Museum Tokyo. Opening hours are not listed there, so check the official page, especially if you hope to visit in the evening.
3. Yebisu Garden Place Tower, Ebisu. The viewpoint on the 38th floor of Yebisu Garden Place is free, and GO TOKYO describes it as good for both day and night views. The Museum of Yebisu Beer in the same complex has a Tasting Salon, so you can pair the view with a beer tasting if you wish. Check the official page for current opening hours before you go.
4. Sky Carrot Observation Lobby, Sangenjaya. GO TOKYO describes this free lobby in Carrot Tower, at Sangenjaya next to Shibuya, as a lower-key spot that is popular with young couples. It makes a relaxed alternative to the busier decks in central Tokyo, and it is worth checking the official page for hours before you go.
5. KITTE Marunouchi Garden, Tokyo Station. The rooftop garden on the sixth floor of the KITTE complex overlooks Tokyo Station and is popular for train-spotting and photography. GO TOKYO lists it as free and says KITTE is about a one-minute walk from the Marunouchi South Exit of JR Tokyo Station. Hours vary by floor and facility, so check the official website for current times.
6. Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center, Asakusa. The eighth floor is a free observation terrace with a panoramic view of Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree, and it is popular for photography. According to the GLTJP travel directory, the center is directly in front of Kaminarimon, about a one-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line, and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., though hours vary by floor and the observation terrace stays open until 10:00 p.m.
7. Bunkyo Civic Center, Korakuen. Wikipedia describes a free observation deck on the 25th floor, 105 meters up, with a roughly 330 degree view that includes Mount Tsukuba to the north, Tokyo Skytree to the east, and, depending on conditions, Mount Fuji to the west. Its tilted glass reduces reflections from the indoor light. GO TOKYO adds that tripods are not allowed and that autumn is the best season for the leaves at Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens. Hours and closures can change, so check the official site for current status.
Paid Views
Paid Views
8. Tokyo City View, Roppongi. A Time Out Tokyo listing says it is on the 52nd floor of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, with the Mori Art Museum on the 53rd floor for an extra fee. As of that 2024 listing, adult admission was 2,000 yen on weekdays and 2,200 yen on weekends and holidays, with discounts for online tickets, and hours were 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with last entry at 9:30 p.m. The listing also says the rooftop Sky Deck was closed indefinitely, so check the official site before planning around it.
9. Tokyo Tower. A Japan travel directory says Tokyo Tower was built in 1958 and that its Main Deck is at 150 meters and its Top Deck at 250 meters. It lists Main Deck admission for adults at 1,500 yen and the Top Deck Tour at 3,500 yen, with the Main Deck open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Prices and hours can change, and the tower may close during storms. The Main Deck is a good option when you want a classic view with a retro landmark in the frame.
10. Shibuya Sky, Shibuya. GO TOKYO describes Shibuya Sky, the observation deck at Shibuya Scramble Square, as about 230 meters high, with 360-degree views. It opened on November 1, 2019, and the views include Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, and Mount Fuji. It is a ticketed deck, so check the official site for current prices and hours.
Bonus Picks
Bonus Picks
A few more viewpoints from GO TOKYO's views guide are worth a note. The Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou-Park in Ikebukuro, about 251 meters up, is an indoor park in the sky with artificial grass, so it works on rainy days, and the Ikebukuro Sunshine complex also has food and shopping. In Odaiba, Odaiba Marine Park is a good place to watch the sunset over Tokyo Bay and the illuminated Rainbow Bridge at night, and the Telecom Center Building Observatory on the 21st floor looks toward the Rainbow Bridge, the Odaiba Ferris wheel, and Tokyo Tower. The guide does not list admission or hours for these, so check each official page before you go.
Tips For Great Views
Tips For Great Views
Match the deck to the moment. Yebisu Garden Place is described as good for both day and night views, Odaiba Marine Park suits sunset, and the Bunkyo deck's tilted windows reduce reflections from the indoor light. Clear weather matters if you hope to see Mount Fuji, so keep a flexible plan in case of clouds, and consider pairing a free deck with a nearby walk, meal, or museum visit so the outing still feels worthwhile if the skyline is hazy. Because hours and closing days vary, and GO TOKYO does not list opening hours for most viewpoints, check each official page before you travel.
Related Reading
Related Reading
Further Reading
Further Reading
Page updated
Report abuse