Tokyo Skytree: How to Get There, How Long to Stay and What to Know Before You Go Up

Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting tower about 634 metres tall, standing in Oshiage, Sumida Ward, on the east side of Tokyo, and it is the tallest structure in Japan. The observation levels are the Tembo Deck and the higher Tembo Galleria, and the tower rises above the Tokyo Solamachi shopping complex. The short answer is that it suits those who want a wide view of Tokyo and are staying around Asakusa or Sumida.

Highlights

• Panoramic views of Tokyo from the Tembo Deck and the Tembo Galleria
• Glass-floor sections for looking straight down, for those who like a thrill
• Sunset views and the changing city lights as night falls
• The Tokyo Solamachi mall and Sumida Aquarium at the base

How to get there

The nearest station is Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Skytree Line, the same line that serves Asakusa. Oshiage (Skytree) Station is on the Hanzomon and Toei Asakusa subway lines and the Keisei Oshiage Line, which links to Narita Airport. Both are right at the tower. From Asakusa you can walk across the Sumida River in roughly twenty to thirty minutes for a stroll, or ride just one stop.

Hours and tickets

Tickets come in several forms: the Tembo Deck alone, a combined ticket including the Tembo Galleria, and advance tickets for a chosen date and time. Prices, hours and purchase conditions change with the season and crowds, so no figures appear here. The principle is to buy a timed ticket in advance if you are heading there for sunset or on a holiday, and to check whether your ticket covers both levels.

How many hours to allow

A visit up the tower usually takes one to two hours, including queues and the lift. With the shopping complex or Sumida Aquarium it becomes half a day. Queues can be long on holidays, so allow more time than you think you need.

Best time to go

Clear days, especially in winter, usually give the longest views and may show Mount Fuji. Around sunset gives a richer variety of scenes but draws more people and tickets go quickly. Weekday mornings are generally calmer. On rainy or foggy days the view can be blocked, so check the forecast and keep a spare day.

Before going up, remember that the view is a wide panorama of a huge city rather than a set of labelled sights, so a map or a comparison photo helps you pick out the Sumida River, Tokyo Bay or the area where you are staying. The observation levels are enclosed in glass, which makes reflections from the interior easy to catch in photos. The usual fix is to hold your lens flat against the glass and shade it with your hand. Visitors afraid of heights should know that parts of the floor are see-through at certain points, and these can be walked around. Families with small children should leave time for toilet breaks and rests while waiting in line.

Nearby

Near the tower are Sumida Aquarium inside Tokyo Solamachi and the Sumida Hokusai Museum, devoted to the artist Hokusai, who was a local of this ward. You can cross the Sumida River on foot to Asakusa and Senso-ji, which makes a neat single-day route.

Tips

• Buy tickets in advance where possible, especially for sunset
• Check the forecast, because the view depends on how clear the sky is
• Lifts run on queue systems, so arrive a little before your booked time
• Mind glass reflections; hold your lens close to the window when taking photos

A frequent mistake is arriving without checking which levels your ticket covers, or turning up when the lift queue is very long. Another is confusing the two stations on different sides of the complex, so open a map and check the nearest exit before you leave the train.

Showing a digital ticket, checking queue status and opening maps all need mobile data. An eSIM installed before the trip lets you do all of that on arrival.

Vedi i piani eSIM per il Giappone

FAQ