If you’re looking for some of the best views over Tokyo you can’t go past Tokyo Tower (東京タワー).
Standing at 333 meters tall, the Tokyo Tower is the world’s tallest, self-supported steel tower and it is actually 13 meters taller than it’s more famous big brother, the Eiffel Tower! It was built as a symbol of Japan’s post-war rebirth as a major economic power.
The Tower was Japan’s tallest structures from when it was built in 1958 until 2012, when it was surpassed by the Tokyo Skytree.
Visiting the Tokyo Tower
There are two different observation decks at the Tokyo Tower offering different views over the city. The main observatory stands at 150 metres tall and is the main deck for visitors coming to the Tokyo Tower. Then there is a special observation deck that is 250 metres tall and offers views as far away as the Tokyo Skytree. You can even see Mount Fuji from here on a clear day!
The main deck is open from 9am until 11pm each day, with the last admission at 10:30pm. Tickets for the main deck cost ¥900 (just under $12 AUD) per adult.
The top deck tour includes admission to both the main and top deck of the observatory and is open from 9am until 10:45pm, with the last tour departing between 10pm and 10:15pm. Tickets for the top deck tour cost ¥2,800 (about $36 AUD) per adult. You can only access the top deck with a reservation onto a top deck tour, so make sure you book in advance to avoid missing out.
The observation decks are not the only attraction at the Tokyo Tower though. At the base of the tower you can find Foottown, which is it’s own 4-story building that includes a wax museum, aquarium, arcade, food court and souvenir marketplace where you could easily shop for hours.
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Fun facts about the Tokyo Tower
Not just a pretty face, the Tokyo Tower has some really unique and distinguishable features. Here are a couple of the random interesting facts about the tower we learnt during our visit –
- The tower has several look down windows on the floor of the main observation deck, where you can look directly under you for a very unique views.
- The elevator that takes you up to the observation tower is completely glass, which means your views start from the minute you get in the elevator.
- The tower is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.
- The third floor of Foottown is home to the Guinness World Records Museum Tokyo.
Tokyo Tower is such a unique and interesting structure, it definitely deserves a visit when you’re exploring the city.
And with it’s bright orange colour, how can you miss it?!
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Getting to the Tokyo Tower
The closest subway stations to Tokyo Tower are Onarimon Station on the Mita Subway Line, Akabanebashi Station on the Oedo Subway Line and Kamiyacho Station on the Hibiya Subway Line which are all about a 5-10 minute walk from the tower.
If you’re coming in from the JR Yamanote Line you can get off at Hamamatsucho Station and it’s about a 15-20 minute walk. Tokyo Tower is open from 9am – 11pm everyday and costs 1600 Yen to visit both observation decks, or just 900 Yen to visit only the main observation deck.
Tokyo Tower || 4 Chrome – 2-8 Shibakoen, Minato
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