Tokyo Skytree Tower

Address: Tokyo Skytree, 1 Chome-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo, Japan

Website: https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/

Hours: Daily (hours vary by deck; check website)

Admission: Admission to observation decks ticketed (daytime Tembo Deck typically around ¥2,100; combined tickets higher) - check website for current prices

Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting and observation tower in Tokyo that reaches 634 metres in height and serves as a major city landmark and media antenna. It opened to the public in 2012 and combines telecommunications functions with tourism and shopping.

Two main public observation areas provide panoramic views - the Tembo Deck at 350 metres and the higher Tembo Galleria at about 450 metres - along with shopping and aquarium facilities at the base. The tower is a focal point of the Sumida district skyline and includes a lower commercial complex called Tokyo Solamachi.

Construction began in 2008 and the tower was completed and opened in 2012 to replace older broadcast infrastructure and to create a new tourist attraction. It was built using modern engineering for seismic stability and to accommodate digital broadcasting requirements.

Tokyo Skytree stands on the Sumida riverside in eastern Tokyo, approximately 7 km northeast of the Imperial Palace and a short walk from Oshiage and Asakusa transport hubs. The surrounding area is a mixed commercial district with river views and shopping facilities.

• Height and viewing conditions: Height is 634 metres, making it one of the tallest towers in the world; best views on clear days and evenings for city lights.
• Tickets and access: Timed-entry tickets for the observation decks are recommended during weekends and holiday seasons to avoid long queues.

What to See#

• Tembo Deck (350 m): Main observation deck at 350 metres offering 360-degree views of Tokyo, restaurants and glass-floor sections for views straight down.
• Tembo Galleria (450 m): Higher observation gallery at around 450 metres known as the Tembo Galleria - a sloping skywalk with city views at greater altitude.

Tokyo Skytree is adjacent to Oshiage (Skytree) Station, served by the Tobu Skytree Line and through-services from the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Toei Asakusa Line and Keisei Oshiage Line-follow signs inside Oshiage Station and you are a minute or two on foot from the base. From central Tokyo (e.g. Tokyo Station) it’s a short train ride or about a 20-30 minute drive (around 8 km, depending on route and traffic).

• Buy a timed-entry ticket online in advance and aim for an early-morning slot (right after opening) for clearer views and shorter queues; sunset is spectacular but far busier.
• Enter from Tokyo Solamachi shopping complex rather than struggling with street-level queues-the mall has direct access, food options, and quieter lines to the ticket counters.
• If you prefer a lower-cost view or want to avoid the crowds on the observation decks, explore Solamachi's upper floors and terraces for pleasant skyline views and restaurants that many overlook.