10+ Best Observation Decks in Tokyo (many of them free!)
- japansophy
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
I've lost count of how many times I've been to Tokyo, but I still get a small thrill every time I step out of an elevator and a city of 14 million people suddenly appears below me in every direction. Tokyo's observation decks are a genuine highlight - and there are enough of them that you could spend a whole trip just going up things.
The good news: you don't have to spend a fortune. Some of the best views in the city are completely free. Here's my rundown of Tokyo's best observation decks, from the cheapest to the most spectacular, plus a few bonus spots worth knowing about.
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*Any prices quoted below are as of June 2026 and are subject to change
At a glance: Tokyo's best observation decks compared
Observation Deck | Height | Adult Price | Best For |
Tokyo Skytree | 350 / 450m | ¥1,800-4,400* | Record heights; glass floor thrills |
Shibuya Sky | 229m | ¥2,500–3,700* | Scramble Crossing view; open-air roof |
Tokyo Tower | 150 / 250m | ¥1,200 / ¥3,000* | Classic icon; nostalgic feel |
Metropolitan Gov. Bldg. | 202m | FREE | Best free panorama in the city |
Roppongi Hills City View | 250m | ¥1,800* | Art museum combo; good view of Tokyo Tower |
Caretta Shiodome | ~200m | FREE | Quick, easy, no crowds; Tokyo Bay views |
Yebisu Garden Place | ~170m | FREE | Hidden gem; quiet local vibe |
Asakusa Tourist Info Center | ~50m | FREE | Senso-ji and Nakamise street on one side, Skytree on the other |
Hikarie Sky Lobby | ~60m | FREE | Scramble Crossing on a budget |
Odaiba Seaside Park | Ground level | FREE | Rainbow Bridge & bay panorama |
1. Tokyo Skytree – Tokyo Skytree Observation Deck
At 634 metres, Tokyo Skytree is the tallest structure in Japan and one of the tallest in the world. Tokyo views don't get more panoramic than this. There are two levels: the Tembo Deck at 350m and the Tembo Galleria at 450m, with different prices. On a clear day you can see Mount Fuji. Books out quickly, especially for sunset. Be warned: I've seen some scam ticket sites out there for Tokyo Skytree tickets in particular. Buy only from the official website or reputable sites like Klook, GetYourGuide or Viator.
Check out our post on Tokyo Skytree here and our "Tokyo Skytree vs Tokyo Tower: which is best" post here
2. Shibuya Sky – Shibuya Sky Observation Deck
Shibuya Sky is the one to visit if you want an open-air rooftop experience rather than glass-and-steel enclosure. It sits on top of Shibuya Scramble Square and lets you look directly down onto the famous Shibuya crossing, which from 229 metres looks like a living ant farm. Hammocks and a sky bar add to the appeal. It's still one of our favourites in Tokyo and lovely for a chill hour or two. Shibuya Sky has recently introduced staggered ticket prices, depending on when and what time of day you go. You've probably heard already but tickets for the hot time slots (sunset) literally sell out in minutes. Booking ahead is essential, since tickets are very rarely available on the day. Tickets go on sale two weeks in advance.
We have lots of tips for Shibuya Sky here
3. Tokyo Tower – Tokyo Tower Observation Deck
Tokyo Tower is the the OG of Tokyo observation decks. The views aren't the highest in the city, but they're lovely, and you can see Skytree itself in the distance. The Main Deck at 150m will do the job, in our opinion; the Top Deck at 250m costs extra. We like Tokyo Tower more for the tower itself, rather than the views, anyway. There's something very cool about walking up to the base of the tower and seeing it from down there before you go in and go up that you don't get with modern constructions. Undecided about whether to spend your yen on Tokyo Tower or Skytree? Read our post comparing the two to help you choose. We have a post dedicated to Tokyo Tower too.
4. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building – Free Observation Deck
This is the one I send people to first when they're on a budget. The Tocho observation deck on the 45th floor - 202 metres up - is completely free, open most evenings until 11pm, and offers a sweeping view across Shinjuku and beyond. You can see everything from Mount Fuji to Tokyo Skytree on a clear day. It's also very accessible, with a metro station right beside it. There's a fun projection show on the building facade after dark too. Read our post on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office observation deck here.
5. Roppongi Hills Mori Tower – Tokyo City View observation deck
At 250 metres above sea level, Tokyo City View in the Mori Tower gets a bit of extra height from Roppongi's elevated position. It's also in the same building as the Mori Art Museum, which means you can combine a contemporary art fix with the view - a combination that feels very Roppongi. In our opinion, the Tokyo City View observation deck has one of the best Tokyo Tower views... and a view of Tokyo without its most iconic landmark is hardly a view at all!
6. Caretta Shiodome – Shiodome Sky View observation deck
Caretta Shiodome is a large shopping complex in the Shiodome area that has a free viewing floor on its upper levels (46th floor). It's not a big area, just a few big windows really, but it's not on most tourists' radar, so it's rarely crowded. You get really lovely views out over the bay to Odaiba, rather than the standard city views you get in most other observations decks. It might not be worth going out of your way for, but it's right beside Hamarikyu Garden and Tsukiji market, so it's a solid stop if you're already in Shiodome or Ginza. It gazes right down on Hamarikyu, so you might enjoy seeing the garden from another angle before or after you visit it. The complex opens at 10am and closes at 11pm.
7. Yebisu Garden Place Tower – Ebisu Observation Lounge
This is my personal hidden gem and only found out about it through a Japanese friend who lives in Ebisu. Yebisu Garden Place Tower has free observation floors on the 38th and 39th levels, looking out over a quietly beautiful part of south Tokyo - all low-rise residential streets, parks, and in the distance, Tokyo Tower! That makes this place our best free view of Tokyo Tower. Few tourists know about it... yet, which is good because the viewing area isn't especially big. Open 11am to 11:30pm.
8. Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center observation deck
The Asakusa Tourist Information Center (right across the road from Kaminarimon Gate) has a free observation floor on its upper level with an unusual angle: you're looking down at the roof of Senso-ji and the Nakamise shopping street from one side of the observation deck and across the river past the iconic Asahi "golden flame" to Tokyo Skytree. It's a genuinely brilliant view for a photo and costs nothing. If you're doing Asakusa anyway - and you probably will be - don't miss it. Open from 9am to 8pm. It can get crowded in the middle of the day, and long queues for the elevator can form. We were there last time at around 10am and it wasn't bad at all.
9. Shibuya Hikarie Sky Lobby – Free Scramble Crossing View
The Hikarie building is right next to Shibuya Station and has a free "Sky Lobby" on the 11th floor. Don't expect panoramic city views - it's only about 60 metres up and largely looks toward the scramble crossing and Shibuya 109. But it's free, it's right there, and if you want to see the crossing from above without paying Shibuya Sky prices, this is your answer. Visitors to Tokyo are starting to get clued in about this viewing spot, so you might have to wait your turn for pics... but did we mention it's free?
10. Odaiba Seaside Park – Bay Views and Rainbow Bridge
Technically this is an outdoor viewing area rather than an observation deck, but Odaiba Seaside Park offers one of the most photogenic views in Tokyo: the Rainbow Bridge arching across Tokyo Bay with the city skyline behind it. It's free, it's stunning at night, and the Statue of Liberty replica adds a weird, kitsch charm. Odaiba is one of our favourite days out, especially with the kids in tow, so combined with teamLab Planets, for example, you can catch this view during the day and at night.
A few more Tokyo views worth mentioning...
Sunshine 60 Tenbou Park in Ikebukuro. Part of the Sunshine City complex, which also has an aquarium, shopping and restaurants. Views include Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree and Fuji on a clear day. Admission 700-1200 yen, depending on the day. Buy tickets in advance here.
Solamachi at Skytree. The 30th and 31st floors of the Solamachi shopping & dining complex at the base of Tokyo Skytree offers free views over the city from the same perspective (without the height) of Skytree.
Ginza 6 rooftop garden. This isn't one you have to go out of your way to see, but if you're in Ginza anyway, the rooftop garden of the Ginza 6 shopping centre has a pleasant city view with Tokyo Tower peaking over the surrounding skyscrapers.
i-Link Town, JR Ichikawa Station. Not technically in Tokyo but relatively quick and easy to reach, this 45th floor observation deck has superb views of Tokyo Skytree and the city beyond. On very clear days, you can see Mount Fuji too.
Hotels in Tokyo with great views
Hotels with the best views in Tokyo don't come cheap, as you can imagine, but there are some affordable options too.
Prince Park Tower Tokyo: the photos you see of people waking up in the morning, pulling back the curtains and - bam! - there's Tokyo Tower right outside the window in what seems to be tickling distance? That's the Prince Park Tower Tokyo hotel.
Its 4* cousin, the Tokyo Prince Hotel, has similar views of Tokyo Tower from some rooms for half the price.
But to be honest, the views of Tokyo Tower from the two Prince hotels, as gorgeous as they are, are almost too close-up. The Hyatt's Andaz Tokyo is considered to have some of the best Tokyo Tower views in the city, with plenty of cityscape for context. But it's definitely a special occasion hotel.
Further away but still with beautiful views of Tokyo Tower, this time including the Imperial Palace grounds and moat, is the Grand Arc Hanzomon. We adore this hotel, even though it's a bit out of the way.
If you've seen the movie "Lost in Translation", you'll remember the fab city views that Charlotte had from her room. That hotel is the Park Hyatt Tokyo in Shinjuku.
At the other end of the scale, and the other end of town, the 3* Kanzashi Tokyo Asakusa has a rooftop terrace with stunning views of Skytree, the Sumida River and Sensoji temple.
Tokyo Observation Decks FAQ
Which Tokyo observation deck is best for sunset?
Shibuya Sky is the most popular for sunset and the tickets for that timeslot book out in minutes. But it's worth it because the open-air deck means no glass between you and those sunset views. The Metropolitan Government Building is a great free alternative but can get crowded.
What is the tallest observation deck in Tokyo?
Tokyo Skytree's Tembo Galleria at 450 metres is the highest publicly accessible observation point in the city - and one of the highest in the world.
Are there free observation decks in Tokyo?
Yes - plenty. The best is the Metropolitan Government Building (202m, usually open until 11pm). The Asakusa Tourist Information Center, Hikarie Sky Lobby, Yebisu Garden Place, and Caretta Shiodome all offer free elevated views.
Are there any open-air observation decks in Tokyo?
Shibuya Sky is probably the best open-air observation deck in Tokyo, with fabulous city views in every direction. It's not really an observation deck per se, but we can also recommend the views over the bay to Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower and the city skyline from Odaiba Marine Park.
Which observation deck in Tokyo is the best?
Our vote always goes to Shibuya Sky. It's not the highest - or the cheapest - but it never feels crowded, even at full capacity, the views are 360°-amazing (and include Tokyo Tower and Skytree) and it's also a really lovely place to chill for a while in the open-air.
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