Tokyo Tower Guide – What’s to Know?

Tokyo Tower is one of the city’s most iconic sights, boasting birds-eye views, beautiful illuminations, and an interesting history. Once the world’s tallest tower, it holds a special place in the hearts of locals. Once you lay eyes on its bold red-and-white visage, you’ll know that you have indeed, at last, found Tokyo.

At 333 meters, the second tallest tower in Japan has two great observation decks, but is much more than just a lookout point. You’ll find shopping and dining, events and entertainment, even a Shinto shrine and an e-sports/virtual reality amusement center here. The tower also celebrates its 65th anniversary until June 30, 2024, holding various events to mark the milestone.

A popular spot for taking in the sprawling cityscape, Tokyo Tower’s modernist charm can be enjoyed from outside when it lights up at night — but the real thrills come from the dynamic city views from each of its observation decks. Read on to learn what makes Tokyo Tower stand out, and how to make the most of your visit.

Tokyo Tower was finished in 1958, in Japan’s Showa period, and is a symbol of the nation’s post-war rebirth. A creation of architect Tachu Naito, and when Tokyo Tower was finished, it was the tallest freestanding structure in the world!

The tower was built in a year and a half — mostly by hand — by around 220,000 craftspeople. Tokyo Tower remains a favorite landmark among locals, perhaps even more than its new neighbors in the city skyline.

Many more monoliths have popped up around the city since, and Tokyo SkyTree finally surpassed it in 2012, making Tokyo Tower now the second-tallest in Japan. Nearby, new skyscraper Azabudai Hills came close when it opened in November 2023, topping out at 330 meters. The 33rd-floor Azabudai Hills Sky Lobby is, in fact, one of the best places to photograph Tokyo Tower from in 2024!

Tokyo Tower fun facts:

•    Reflecting its original purpose, Tokyo Tower’s official name is actually “Japan Radio Tower”
•    Tokyo Tower was designated one of Japan’s Registered Tangible Cultural Properties in 2013
•    Around 10,000 people have visited daily since the tower opened, peaking at 40,000 in a day, and 5.2 million in a year
•    A third of the steel used to build it was recycled, some from scrapped American tanks
•    The entire tower is totally repainted every 7 years — by hand!

What’s inside Tokyo Tower? The tower has three main areas to explore: Foot Town, the Main Deck, and the Top Deck.

Any journey up Tokyo Tower starts at its feet, in the area aptly named “Foot Town.” A five-story building at the tower’s base, it’s a hub of activity packed with eateries dishing out everything from traditional Japanese cuisine to international flavors, and shops offering Tokyo Tower memorabilia and Japan-themed goodies.

The first floor of Foot Town has the ticket counters, info desk, and coin lockers, and is where you’ll board the Main Deck Elevator or enter the Top Deck Lane if you have tickets to go all the way up. The second floor is all about shopping and dining.

The third to fifth floors also house Redº Tokyo Tower: and e-sports and VR attraction zone that opened in 2022. If you’re visiting Japan with a view to enjoy high-tech entertainment, Redº Tokyo Tower certainly ticks that box. Read more below!

On the rooftop of Foot Town, you’ll find the outdoor stairway leading up to the main deck, if you want to get a workout during your visit. It’s also a good spot to look up at the tower from below.

Ascend to the Main Deck, and you're greeted with the vast canvas of Tokyo's cityscape. At 150 meters up, this two-story observatory is where you can stand on glass floors and feel the city breathe beneath you. If you are not afraid of heights, see how long you can take looking straight down at the ground almost 145 meters beneath your feet!

The thrill is real, and so is the romance, with couples making it a spot for vows and breathtaking views. If you are lucky, on a clear day you just might catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance.

The upper observation deck is 250 meters up, 100 meters higher than the Main Deck, so it’s quite a different view! Access is only via the Top Deck Tour departing from a special gate on the Main Deck.

You can book your place at the first floor counter, or make advance reservations from this page. Reservations are advisable on weekends and holidays, especially around sunset. The tour is billed as “A guided tour including heartfelt performances. Hospitality including a multi-lingual audio guide and drink service. A tour covering the past, present and future of Tokyo Tower and Tokyo.”

This level was renovated in early 2018, adding kaleidoscopic mirrors and LED lighting effects, creating the sense of floating above the city in a high-tech spaceship.

In Tokyo Tower’s Foot Town, Redº Tokyo Tower is Japan’s biggest e-sports park — a chance to taste cutting-edge Japanese entertainment as part of your visit. Tickets are sold separately to Tokyo Tower observatory admission, and come as a 1-day or night passport, to give you unlimited games for as long as you stay.

The fun is spread across Foot Town floors 3–5, plus a few extra games on the first floor that are seperate, and not covered by the park ticket:

Inspiration Zone: Step through the entrance on the third floor and be faced with a huge 15-meter LED screen and high-tech projection mapping. This floor holds several retro games like Pacman, a robot battle game, the virtual reality “Kat Walk” experience, and augmented reality puzzle game “Against.”

Attraction Zone: The fourth floor has 18 experiential attractions to keep you entertained for hours, if you have time!  There’s a VR space shuttle ride, VR racing, 360º VR “roller coaster,” and heaps more. There are also more physical experiences, from baseball batting to trampolining.

Ultimate Zone: The fifth floor has a selection of board and card game experiences, the Redº E-Motor space for virtual motorbiking, and the Redº Tokyo Tower Sky Stadium that holds music event and esports tournaments.

With its ever-changing interactive exhibits, Redº Tokyo Tower seems to be a sleeper hit with tourists who enjoy next-level gaming, but is still fairly unknown among travelers. Don’t worry if it seems aimed more at Japanese visitors: there is plenty here to entertain all comers!

Tokyo Tower is pretty convenient from the subway: Take the Oedo Line to Akabanebashi Station, the Hibiya Line to Kamiyacho Station, or the Mita Line to Onarimon Station. It’s about a 5-minute walk from each of them. If you’re using a JR Pass to get around, use Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Yamanote Line, which is about a 15-minute walk.

Tickets vary by age and observation deck. Value tickets include advance bookings for Top Deck Tours, and the Subway Ticket bundle. 

Main Deck Observatory

•    Adult: 1,200 JPY
•    High school: 1,000 JPY
•    Child: 700 JPY
•    Infant: 500 JPY

Top Deck Tour (Price for advanced booking)

•    Adult: 2,800 JPY
•    High school: 2,600 JPY
•    Child: 1,800 JPY
•    Infant: 1,200 JPY

The Top Deck Tour includes Main Deck access. Booking in advance saves 200 JPY, and guarantees your preferred admission time.

Tokyo Tower + Subway Ticket

•    Adult: 1,890 JPY 
•    High school: 1,710 JPY 
•    Middle school: 1,440 JPY 
•    Elementary school: 1,040 JPY

Best value is for adults. The 24-hour subway ticket for age 12+ is normally 800 JPY, or 690 JPY with set. With at least 4 subway rides in one day (price = 180 JPY or more) this pass pays for itself. And you’ll probably use the subway to go to and from Tokyo Tower.

Redº Tokyo Tower

•    Weekday Passport: 4,500 JPY
•    Weekend Passport: 4,600 JPY
•    Weekday Night Passport: 4,000 JPY
•    Weekend Night Passport: 4,100 JPY

To make full use of audio guide apps at Tokyo Tower and other attractions, and to use Google Maps for getting there, you’ll want an internet connection. Rather than roaming with your own carrier, or relying on patchy free Wi-Fi, order a portable Wi-Fi router before your trip to share with the whole group. Couples and solo travelers can get by with a data-only e-sim. Compare options here!

Getting around Tokyo is so much easier with an IC travel card. Order a Welcome Suica here and never fuss over fares and ticket machines again. Read our full Suica Card guide for more info.

Zojo-ji Temple (founded in 1393) is a historic landmark, and Tokyo Tower, well, towers above it for an incredibly picturesque contrast. Nearby, Atago-jinja Shrine once provided panoramic city views, and served as a vantage point to detect fires before the skyline was dominated by skyscrapers. Set atop a hill, it’s well worth climbing the steep stairs to reach it. Shiba Park is known for its broad green spaces and houses the Shiba Toshogu Shrine, where a majestic old ginkgo tree stands, thought to be planted by shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa. An ideal spot for insta-worthy garden shots, or enjoying a picnic with Tokyo Tower as a stunning backdrop.

Another way to enjoy the iconic tower is to stay nearby in a room with a view! Get some inspiration from our guide to Hotels in Tokyo with Amazing Views, or search nearby hotels on Rakuten Travel.

If you’re looking for luxe, The Prince Park Tower Tokyo and Tokyo Prince Hotel are both highly rated and convenient, being in Shiba Park right by the tower.

Q: Can I buy tickets to Tokyo Tower in advance? 

A: Yes, tickets can be purchased online from Rakuten Travel Experiences, which can help avoid long queues, especially for the Top Deck tours.

Q: Which is taller, Tokyo Tower or the Eiffel Tower?

A: Tokyo Tower is taller, topping out at 333 meters, although the gap has shrunk. The Eiffel Tower reached 330 meters with the addition of a new antenna in 2022, but is still a little shorter. Tokyo SkyTree is taller than both.

Q: How high are the Tokyo Tower observation decks?

A: The Main Deck is 150 meters high. The Top Deck, which requires the Top Deck Tour to access, is 250 meters up the tower.

Q: Is it worth going up Tokyo Tower?

A: You don’t have to go up Tokyo Tower to admire its beauty, but the views from up high are certainly worth seeing! Tokyo has plenty of great lookout points to choose from, but Tokyo Tower is among the best, and may be the most iconic and historic.

Q: When is the best time to visit Tokyo Tower?

A: Weekends and national holidays in Japan are always more crowded, so a weekday is best. Get up top before dusk for a chance to see the sun set behind Mount Fuji, weather permitting, but be prepared for crowds if you do (be early to avoid disappointment).

Q: Can you climb the stairs up Tokyo Tower?

A: Yes, the stairway up the outside of Tokyo Tower is open to climbers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (on weekends and public holidays). From the rooftop of the Foot Town area there are about 600 steps, taking about 15 minutes to climb. For your descent, the stairs close at 9 p.m.

Q: Can I see Mount Fuji from Tokyo Tower? 

A: On clear days it is possible to catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji, especially during the colder months when the skies are less hazy. The Top Deck offers the best vantage point for this.

Now you know all about Tokyo Tower, dive into another guide and keep learning about the city!

Tokyo Skytree vs Tokyo Tower — decide which pinnacle to peruse Tokyo from.

Tokyo’s Top 10 Most Instagrammable Locations — for more of the best photo ops in town.

7 Things to Do in Roppongi — classic activities on Tokyo Tower’s doorstep.

Tokyo Itinerary for First-Timers — preparation is everything. Read this if it’s your first time in Tokyo.

And if you’re researching the unique attractions around Tokyo, these articles cover some of the best:

•    Samurai Restaurant Guide
•    Tokyo Joypolis Guide
•    Sanrio Puroland Guide
•    Fuji Q Highland Guide
•    Toyosu Fish Market Guide
•    Tokyo’s Best Aquariums