Shibuya Sky vs. Tokyo Skytree vs. Tokyo City View

Visiting Tokyo and wondering which observation deck is the best? During my recent trip to Tokyo I visited Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo City View. Each of these observation decks offers different experiences and views.

Based on my experience visiting them, I will give you a summary of the similarities and differences between these observation decks so you can decide which Tokyo observatory is the best one for you.

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Location

These 3 observation decks are located in vastly different areas of Tokyo and the convenience of getting there could potentially affect your decision.

Shibuya Sky is located right above the train station in Shibuya. There are a ton of different train and subway lines at Shibuya station, such as Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line, Fukutoshin Line, Den-en-toshi Line, JR Yamanote Line and many others.

With so many train lines, Shibuya Sky is probably the easiest to get to among these 3 observation decks. Since Shibuya is such a popular tourist attraction, it is easy to combine Shibuya Sky with other things on your Tokyo itinerary.

Tokyo Skytree is located in Sumida City, on the north eastern side of Tokyo. It is across the Sumida River from Asakusa, one of the most touristy attractions in Tokyo. If you are visiting Asakusa, then it is easy to get to Tokyo Skytree as there is a direct train connecting the two.

However if you are not visiting Asakusa, then Tokyo Skytree is pretty out of the way to visit. If you do go to Tokyo Skytree, you can visit Sumida Aquarium and eat at Kirby Cafe nearby.

Tokyo City View is an observation deck located above the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills, a high end neighborhood known for its nightlife and expat populations.

Roppongi is east of Harajuku and is pretty much between Harajuku and Ginza, so it is still pretty central. If you are shopping or visiting Tokyo around Christmas, then you probably will stop by Roppongi to see the illumination and its famous Christmas lights.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices

Shibuya Sky

Shibuya Sky is open daily from 10am to 10:30pm, with the last admission at 9:20pm except on New Year’s Day. Although the observation deck itself may be open, the outdoor roof deck may be closed due to weather and you won’t know until the day of. There are also random closures that will be announced on the official website.

Tickets cost 2500 yen per adult, and the official website redirects you to Klook to purchase the ticket. It is also included in the Greater Tokyo Pass.

In addition, Shibuya sky offers a photoshoot package, with the option of including kimono rental. You can purchase the plan on the official website.

You absolutely need to book Shibuya Sky tickets in advance, otherwise you will not be able to get in as it gets sold out almost everyday. Most people go for the sunset tickets but those tend to sell out within minutes (if not seconds). You can stay for as long as you want once you are in, but it takes 10-30 minutes just to get in, so time your entrance wisely to not miss the sunset.

Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo Skytree is generally open from 10am to 10pm, but it’s open from 9am to 10pm on Sundays and specific holidays, including New Year’s Day.

Unlike the other two observation decks, Tokyo Skytree has 2 levels that can cost additional if you want to visit both. You can also save money by purchasing tickets online.

• Tembo Deck advanced ticket: 2100 Yen per adult
• Combo Ticket (Tembo Deck + Tembo Galleria) advanced ticket: 3100 Yen
• Tembo Deck same day ticket: 2400 Yen
• Combo Ticket (Tembo Deck + Tembo Galleria) same day ticket: 3500 Yen

You can buy advance tickets online on Klook, it is also included in the Greater Tokyo Pass.

If you buy tickets in person, you may need to wait in line for a little bit and pick a time slot on the ticket kiosk.

Tokyo City View

Tokyo City view is open from 10am to 10pm (with the last admission at 9:30pm) daily, including New Year’s Day. However there are days with special events that may restrict access to certain parts of the observation deck.

Tokyo City View has a few different ticket prices depends on the day (and where you buy tickets):

• Weekday online: 1800 Yen for adults
• Weekday on-site: 2000 Yen for adults
• Weekend & Holiday online: 2000 Yen for adults
• Weekend & Holiday on-site: 2200 Yen for adults

It is much cheaper to buy the tickets on Klook. It is also included in the Greater Tokyo Pass.

Tickets don’t really sell out so you can buy them in person.

Height

Tokyo Skytree is the tallest of the 3 observation decks in Tokyo, with the Tembo Deck at 350 meters and the Tembo Galleria at 450 meters.

Tokyo City View’s indoor observation deck is located on its 52nd floor, at a height of 250 meters.

Shibuya Sky is 229 meters tall, making it the shortest of the 3 observation decks.

Views and what you see

All three observation decks give you a 360 degree view, but since they are at different locations and at different heights, you can see different things from each of them.

Shibuya Sky

Shibuya Sky is the shortest of the 3 and since it’s in Shibuya, you can have a view of the surrounding areas including the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing. You can also see a small Tokyo Tower, Skytree, Yoyogi Park/ Meiji Temple and other landmarks and neighborhoods in Tokyo. On a clear day you can see as far as Mt. Fuji.

Tokyo City View

Tokyo City View is the best of the 3 observation decks to see the Tokyo Tower, since it’s located not too far from it. Most people go there for the purpose of seeing Tokyo Tower. But since it’s also a 360 degree observation deck, you can have a nice view of the buildings, Tokyo Skytree and even the airport.

Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo Skytree is the tallest so it has the best sweeping view of Tokyo. You can see the airport, Asakusa, and even Mt. Fuji from Tokyo Skytree. You can also see the famous Asahi flame from Tokyo Skytree.

However I could not see Tokyo Tower from Tokyo Skytree. So if your top priority is to see the Tokyo Tower then you should consider Tokyo City View.

Observation Deck Experiences

The three observation decks offer very different experiences, some are more of a traditional observation deck whereas others are more known for its Instagram worthiness (Shibuya Sky I’m looking at you).

Shibuya Sky

Shibuya Sky is the most popular observation deck in Tokyo for many reasons. One of which is the different photo and video spots it offers.

Among the 3 observation decks, Shibuya Sky is the only one with an outdoor deck.

After going up the elevator, you will be asked to store all your belongings except your phone and camera (camera must have a strap). You cannot bring a selfie stick or tripod to Shibuya Sky.

The indoor deck (same level as the locker) is the 46th floor of the building and is known as the Sky Gallery. This floor is the indoor observation gallery with digital installation and displays, as well two corners with silver balloons, and a small cafe.

The 47th floor is where everyone takes photos at Shibuya Sky. It is the outdoor area with a clear view of Mt. Fuji (on a nice day), the rest of Shibuya and the surrounding areas as well as Tokyo Tower. There are sitting areas as well as a bar on the 47th floor.

If you want the instagram photo on Shibuya Sky at the corner of the building then be prepared to wait 20 minutes to an hour, depending on time of the day. The official photographer will take a photo of you (for purchase) and each party has 1 minute to take photos themselves.

Tokyo City View

Tokyo City View is on top of Mori Art Museum in the middle of Roppongi. Unlike Shibuya Sky, you can get last minute tickets to Tokyo City View with minimal wait.

The elevator will take you directly to the observation deck. Unfortunately the outdoor deck closed, so now you can only visit the indoor portion at Tokyo City View. The indoor section has floor to ceiling windows, so you can still get amazing views of Tokyo from every angle.

Immediately after getting off the elevator you will come to the million dollar view of Tokyo Tower. As you can expect, this is the most crowded section in the entire observation deck. Regardless of what time of the day you visit, there will be a ton of people sitting on the floor trying to get a shot of themselves with Tokyo Tower in the background.

Even though Tokyo City View is not the closest observation deck to Tokyo Tower (the Sky Lobby at Azabudai Hills is), it has one of the best unobstructed views of Tokyo Tower.

Among the 3 observation decks we are comparing, Tokyo City View has the best view of Tokyo Tower.

There are special exhibits at Tokyo City View and as you walk around the observation deck in a circular fashion, you will see as far as Shibuya and Shinjuku and Tokyo Skytree.

Tokyo Skytree

Located in Sumida City, Tokyo Skytree is the tallest observation deck in Japan and it is a very popular place for tourists to visit.

You can buy the tickets online for a particular time slot, but when I visited I just got tickets in the lobby. There was a line but the line moved quite quickly.

There are two floors you can visit depending on what tickets you get. The elevator goes up to 600m per minute and takes you up to the Tembo Deck on Floor 350. Immediately after getting off the elevator, you will be greeted with the panoramic view of Tokyo.

You can walk around the whole floor (in a circular fashion) to get an unobstructed view of Tokyo and the airports. Unfortunately I could not find Tokyo Tower no matter how hard I looked.

If you paid for Temple Gallery tickets, you will board a separate elevator for Floor 450. This floor is much smaller and you will be walking through a circular looking “tunnel” with views on your right side. Be warned that due to all the sun exposure it can get really hot on this floor (I visited in the winter and I was sweating during this part).

Each of the floors you visit have high resolution digital telescopes. Floor 350 has a cafe and an “official” photo spot where you can purchase the photos.

When you exit you will walk down to Floor 345 where there is a souvenir shop, a mailbox, and a restaurant high in the sky.

It is worth mentioning that Tokyo Skytree is above a nice shopping center, which is great if you want to do some shopping and eating afterwards. There is also the Kirby Cafe right next door as well as the Sumida Aquarium.

Which Tokyo Observation Deck has the Best View

Each of the 3 observation decks has great views so it’s hard to say which one is the best.

Tokyo City View has the best view of Tokyo Tower whereas Tokyo Skytree has the most vast view since it’s taller. If you want the best photo opportunities then Shibuya Sky is probably the best for you.

Which Tokyo Observation Deck is the Most Worth It?

If you are looking for experiences, then Shibuya Sky is the most worth it due to its variety of photo spots and experiences. It is no wonder it is the most difficult to get tickets.

If you are looking for free observation decks, then the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building as well as Sky Lobby at Azabudai Hills should be your top picks. I didn’t get a chance to go to them during my most recent trips but they are definitely worth stopping by. Although I did read that you need to buy a cup of coffee to go to Azabudai Hill’s Sky Lobby now.

If you are looking to take the best photo of Tokyo Tower, especially in the evening, then Tokyo City View at Roppongi is the most worth it.

Summary of the major differences between Shibuya Sky, Tokyo City View and Tokyo Skytree

Which observation deck in Tokyo would you like to visit?

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