Tokyo Tower – See Panoramic Views of One of the World’s Largest Cities

A bright orange communications and observation tower in the heart of Tokyo, Tokyo Tower consistently ranks as one of the top sightseeing destinations in Japan. Not only is it the second-tallest structure in the entire country (after Tokyo Skytree), but it is also very centrally located in Tokyo city. This provides an unparalleled opportunity to get a 360-degree view of the city skyline. Any visit to Japan’s capital should include a visit to this iconic landmark.

Intro to TOKYO TOWER

Though Tokyo Tower is the common name of this Japanese landmark, the official name is Nippon Denpato, which translates to “Japan Radio Tower.” The tower was completed in 1958 and has been visited by over 150 million people since then. While one of its main sources of income is tourism, Tokyo Tower is also a functioning broadcast tower that supports a television antenna. The antenna is leased to Japanese broadcasters such as Fuji TV, NHK, and TBS.

The tower’s lattice structure, which supports the antenna, might look quite familiar to you. It was, in fact, inspired by the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. However, while the Eiffel Tower is made of wrought iron, Tokyo Tower‘s main structural material is steel. Additionally, unlike the bronze Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower is painted white and a color known as “international orange.” These colors are necessary for the tower to comply with air safety regulations. The tower must be repainted every five years and, because of the height of the tower, the process takes an entire year to complete.

Height, Floor count & Views

As one of the two tallest towers in Japan, Tokyo Tower is easily one of the best places for panoramic views of Tokyo. It is located in the Shibakoen district of Tokyo‘s Minato ward. The tower has two separate floors, a main floor and a top floor, from which you can take in the sights. The lower of the two, which stands at a height of 490 feet (150 meters), is known as the Main Deck. Over 300 feet above that, at a height of 819 feet (250 meters), is the smaller Top Deck.

The Main Deck of the tower is reached by a flight of 600 stairs. Don’t worry, there is an elevator option as well! On the main deck, you’ll find a souvenir shop and a cafe. There is also a glass floor where you can look straight down to the ground far below if you’re feeling brave enough. The Top Deck is reached via a glass-paneled elevator. It offers bird’s eye views from high above the buildings that surround the tower. Though the Main Deck is relatively low when compared to the Top Deck, it nevertheless offers incredible views as well. If you’re short on time or just looking to save a bit of money, a trip up to the Main Deck will give you a fantastic experience.

If you look towards Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, you’ll see the towering skyscrapers of Roppongi Hills, and if you turn your sights towards Odaiba, you’ll see the famous Rainbow Bridge. On some days it is even possible to see as far as the Boso Peninsula across Tokyo Bay, the Izu Islands in the Pacific, and the peak of Mt. Fuji in the east. The best time to see these distant landmarks is on crystal-clear winter mornings.

Tours, Admission & Opening Hours

Tokyo Tower‘s Main Deck is open daily and year-round from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., with last admission at 10:30 p.m. However, depending on the volume of visitors to the tower on a given day, the final admission time may be brought forward. Top Deck Tours also run every day from 9 a.m. until 10:45 p.m., with the final tour departing between 10 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.

The tower’s Top Deck can only be accessed as part of a tour. A Top Deck Tour includes an exciting ride up the tower’s glass-paneled elevator, information about the history of the tower, and a multilingual audio guidance system in 13 different languages that provides the names of buildings and other nearby landmarks surrounding the tower. You’ll also be provided with a photo-card gift, drink service, and famous Japanese hospitality. Keep in mind that a Top Deck Tour requires reservations to be made ahead of time.

The price of admission to the Main Deck is ¥900 for adults, ¥500 for older children, and ¥400 for younger children. A ticket for a Top Deck Tour is ¥2,800 for adults, ¥1,800 for older children, and ¥1,200 for younger children. Younger children are four years old and over, older children are primary and junior high school students, and adults are senior high school students and older. Admission for a Top Deck Tour also includes admission to the Main Deck.

Indoor Theme Park

The main draw of Tokyo Tower, aside from the tower itself, is the Tokyo One Piece Tower indoor amusement park located directly below in the Foot Town building. Foot Town is the entry point to the Main Deck as well as the location of the official Tokyo Tower gift shop, a tourist information center, a cafe, and more. Tokyo One Piece Tower, which is located on the first and the third to the fifth floors of Foot Town, is based on the popular manga and anime series One Piece. It opened its doors in 2015 and has been a huge draw for locals and tourists alike ever since.

Tokyo One Piece Tower features a range of different attractions and shows based on the characters and settings from Eiichiro Oda’s beloved manga. Guests can take fun photos with the Straw Hat Pirates and participate in various games and live events inspired by the series. There is also a gift shop that carries exclusive One Piece merchandise you won’t find anywhere else, and restaurants where you can eat meals straight from the One Piece world. Tokyo One Piece Tower is definitely one of the top amusement parks to visit in Japan, even if you aren’t necessarily a fan of the anime.

Admission to Tokyo One Piece Tower costs ¥3,200 for adults (18+), ¥2,700 for teens (13-18), and ¥1,600 for children (4-12). The park is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, with final entry at 9 p.m.

Arriving by train

As it is in the middle of Tokyo, there are a number of different options for getting to Tokyo Tower by train or subway. The station you should get off at depends on which line you are using and how far you are willing to walk. Here are the different train lines and station options for getting to the tower, as well as how long it will take to walk to the tower from each:

• Akabanebashi Station on the Metropolitan Subway Oedo Line, 5-minute walking distance
• Onarimon Station on the Metropolitan Subway Mita Line, 6-minute walking distance
• Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, 7-minute walking distance
• Daimon Station on the Metropolitan Subway Asakusa Line, 10-minute walking distance
• Hamamatsucho Station on the JR Yamanote Line, 15-minute walking distance

If you plan to travel to Tokyo Tower by train, then you’ll likely want to get a prepaid IC card. IC cards allow you to pay for any train by simply tapping your card at the gate. While these cards don’t offer a discount, they provide a quick and convenient way to pay as you make your way to this incredible attraction and explore other Tokyo landmarks.