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Both offer stunning views of Tokyo, both are accessible to tourists, and both appear on dozens of Tokyo bucket lists. But they're very different experiences - and for most visitors, one will suit your itinerary far better than the other. After visiting both observation decks multiple times, we have a clear winner. Here's why.

Tokyo has so many super observation decks - and some of the best ones are completely free. From the record-breaking height of Tokyo Skytree to the budget-friendly Metropolitan Government Building, here's our guide to the 10 best observation decks in Tokyo plus a few extra tips for getting those views in

Kobe Port Tower is back — and better than ever. After a major 2024 renovation, Japan's most recognisable red tower now has an open-air rooftop deck and a 360° rotating café. Here's everything you need to know before you visit, from tickets and opening times to the best time to go for those famous night views.

Forget about Sky Tree, Shibuya Sky and even the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building: Odaiba Beach and Odaiba Marine Park is where you'll get what we think are the best views of the city... and for free, too! If you haven't seen Rainbow Bridge and the Tokyo skyline from Odaiba Marine Park, you're absolutely missing out. Here's everything you need to know.

With three decades of visiting Tokyo as tourists, we're pretty clued in on our viewing platforms, and our honest answer, for different reasons, is that we don't put either on our itineraries. We'll explain why, but just in case you're set on doing one or the other, let's compare the two.

For some of the best views in Kansai, a pleasant hour or two in meticulously maintained gardens, complete with tropical greenhouse, a forest walk to a hidden waterfall and a gondola ride to boot, set aside an afternoon (or morning) to explore Kobe's Nunobiki Herb Gardens and Ropeway. If you do nothing else in Kobe, do this! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission, ♡ at no extra cost to you ♡ *All

Most first-time visitors to Japan shell out thousands of yen to queue at Shibuya Sky or Tokyo Skytree, but the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎, Tōkyō-to Chōsha) in the heart of Shinjuku offers some of the city's most spectacular - and entirely free - panoramic views. This isn't just a tourist platform; it's a bustling, working government office, but the twin observation decks are open to the public for 360-degree vistas of the sprawling metropolis.

Tokyo Tower: Tokyo's iconic landmark is just a few metres taller than the Eiffel Tower Get ready to ascend a piece of Tokyo's heart and soul at Tokyo Tower (東京タワー)! With its instantly recognisable orange-and-white lattice design, this iconic broadcast tower is a nostalgic symbol of Tokyo's post-war resurgence and a beloved spot for truly classic panoramic views. Reminiscent of its Parisian cousin, the Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower offers a charmingly retro vibe combined with mode

Get ready to have your breath taken away and maybe your ears popped at Tokyo SkyTree observation deck (東京スカイツリー)! Not to be confused with Tokyo Tower, SkyTree is a colossal broadcast and observation tower that pierces the Tokyo skyline, standing as one of the tallest structures in the entire world and offering unparalleled, breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of the sprawling metropolis, stretching all the way to Mount Fuji on a clear day. Disclosure: This post contains

Lotus ponds, a boating lake, museums, a zoo: Ueno Park has something for everyone. Get ready to stretch your legs and dive into a world...

The mirrored entrance to Tokyu Plaza Omotesando is a popular photo spot Get ready to discover a true architectural and retail delight at Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku (東急プラザ表参道原宿)! Also known as "Omokado", this isn't just another shopping mall; it's an iconic landmark at the bustling intersection of Omotesando and Meiji-dori, known for its dazzling, kaleidoscope-like entrance and a truly stunning rooftop garden. It's the perfect spot to immerse yourself in Tokyo's cutting-e

Miyashita Park rooftop garden is an oasis in the heart of Shibuya Welcome to Miyashita Park (宮下公園) , Shibuya's incredibly cool and unique...

Shibuya Sky isn't the highest observation deck in Tokyo, the tickets are notoriously hard to get and bad weather can be a bummer, but Shibuya Sky has drawn us back every time we've been in Tokyo. We could and do spend hours ups there! Shibuya Sky's unique selling point is that it's open air, at least on the top floor. So it has a totally different atmosphere than all of those behind-glass observation platforms. It feels more like a cool place to hang out.