Tokyo, Japan’s capital city is known as the largest city by metropolitan area. Tokyo is also known for iconic landmarks and its impressive skyline. Dominating Tokyo’s skyline are two iconic structures, Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree. As these two towers compete for attention many visitors are torn between deciding whether to visit Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, or both. I recently visited the observation decks for both the Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree and had a completely different experience at each attraction. In this post, I’ll dive into my experience and thoughts of visiting each tower and compare and contrast Tokyo Tower vs Tokyo Skytree, so you can decide which attraction is right for you.
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Dominating Tokyo’s skyline, at 333 meters tall, Tokyo Tower is a communications tower with a couple of observation decks.
Tokyo Tower was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France and is considered to be Japan’s second tallest structure after Tokyo Skytree, of course.
Completed in 1958, Tokyo Tower still stands as one of Tokyo’s most famous attractions.
When visiting Tokyo Tower visitors have two options if wanting to visit the observation decks. There is a Main Deck and Top Deck tour. The Main Deck is 150m high while the Top Deck is 250m. There is a combination ticket that allows visitors to go to both the Main Deck and Top Deck (recommended). From each deck, you get fantastic panoramic views of the Tokyo skyline.
There is an elevator that takes you to the main deck at 150m. For those that want to get an extra workout in, you can take the staircase from Foot Town to the Main Deck, which is around 600-steps, so not to bad. We opted to take the stairs on the way down, only because we exited a door and thought we found the stairs going to the elevator only to find out we had 600-steps to the bottom.
The Top Deck is much smaller then the Main Deck and an elevator is required. This part of the tour offered a brief history of Tokyo Towers construction and the engineers and planners behind it. At the top, you get a small beverage and cheesy photo opportunity, which I always decline. On a perfect day, visitors can see Mt. Fuji off in the distance.
The bottom of Tokyo Tower consists of a mall like area called Foot Town. Foot Town is full of souvenir shops, cafes, and arcades.
Admission and Hours
ADMISSION (MAIN DECK) (TOP DECK)
Adults – (¥1,200) (¥3,000)
High School – (¥1,000) (¥2,800)
Jr. High and Elementary School – (¥700) (¥2,000)
Children (4-6 years old) – (¥500) (¥1,400)
HOURS
Main Deck – 9:00 – 22:30
Top Deck – 9:00 – 22:15
PROS
✅ Less Crowded then Tokyo Skytree
✅Spectacular views from both the Main Deck and Top Deck
✅ Easy to access from anywhere in Tokyo
✅ Tours are well organized
✅ When going early, reservation is not required
CONS
❌ A bit expensive for what it is if purchasing the combined ticket
❌ Top Deck can feel cramped as it is not very spacious
Book Tokyo Tower Tickets in Advance
Admission tickets to Tokyo Tower can be purchased in advance.
Through Get Your Guide, I purchased an Admission Ticket in advance, which allowed me to choose the exact time and day I wanted to visit Tokyo Tower.
If purchasing an admission ticket through Get Your Guideyou can check availability on the website.
Tokyo Skytree
Similar to Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree is a telecommunications tower with observations deck. Towering over Tokyo Tower at 634 meters, Tokyo Skytree is Japan’s tallest structure.
For visitors, Tokyo Skytree is built on top of a modern shopping complex, but the main attractions here are the two observation decks, Tembo Deck and Tembo Galleria.
When visiting Tokyo Skytree, it is recommended to make reservations online prior to coming. Tickets can be reserved online via the Tokyo Skytree website.
Please note, being one of Tokyo’s most popular attractions, Tokyo Skytree can be very crowded. We made online reservations for an evening time slot and still waited 30-45 minutes before getting a ticket and then waited another 30 minutes to take the elevator to the first observation deck.
When visiting Tokyo Skytree, there are two options when purchasing tickets, a Combo Ticket which includes both the Tembo Galleria and the Tembo Deck, the other option is the Single Ticket that includes just the Tembo Deck.
Tembo Deck – Tembo Deck is the first observation deck that is 350m. Panes of glass offer spectacular 360° views of Tokyo. The Tembo Deck has a cafe, telescopes, restaurant, a glass floor, and many other features.
Tembo Galleria – The Tembo Galleria is part of the Comb Ticket and brings visitors to the 445th and 450th floors of Tokyo Skytree. At 450m up, there is no better view of Tokyo. Don’t worry, there is an elevator that goes to both the Tembo Deck and Tembo Galleria.
I think the extra ¥1,000 for the Combo Ticket is worth it.
Admission and Hours
ADMISSION (Combo Ticket) (Single Ticket)
**Combo Ticket includes Tembo Deck and Tembo Galleria. Single Ticket only includes Tembo Deck.
Weekdays
18 Years and Older – (¥3,100) (¥2,100)
12 -17 Years Old – (¥2,350) (¥1,550)
6 to 11 Years Old – (¥1,450) (¥950)
HOURS
10:00 – 21:00 (Last Admission is 20:00)
Open 365 Days a Year
PROS
✅ Without a doubt, best views of Tokyo
✅ Modern, everything is new
✅ Surrounding mall has stores and restaurants
✅ Night views of Tokyo are incredible
CONS
❌ Long lines, even when making a reservation
❌ To many people on each deck
❌ Poor organization
❌ Location makes it a challenge to get to
Book Tokyo Skytree Tickets in Advance
For a hassle free visit to Tokyo Skytree, it is recommended to purchase your ticket in advance. Admision Tickets can be purchased here, through Get Your Guide.
Booking your Admission Ticket guarantees you a spot to visit Tokyo Skytree with your preferred date and time. This ticket includes admission to the Tembo Deck and Tembo Galleria.
Tokyo Tower vs Tokyo Skytree: Which is Right for You?
Ultimately, I’d recommend visiting both Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree. But sometimes we are limited on time and visiting both of Tokyo’s iconic towers is not possible.
Both Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree offer amazing views of Tokyo. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either attraction. I believe three things should play a role in your ultimate decision of visiting Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree if you simply can’t visit both. Those three factors are location, time, and preferences.
If you are staying near Minato City then I’d recommend visiting Tokyo Tower but if you are more north near Taito City, then I’d recommend Tokyo Skytree.
If history peaks your interest then Tokyo Tower is a given but if you are into more modern architecture then without a doubt visit Tokyo Skytree.
My personal opinion based on my experiences at both towers, I felt Tokyo Tower to be more enjoyable. I visited both towers on a Sunday. Tokyo Tower I visited in the morning and Tokyo Skytree I visited at night. I found Tokyo Tower to be better organized and less crowded, making for a better experience.
Conclusion
Tokyo Tower vs Tokyo Skytree, which is right for you? In the end, both of these amazing structures are worth visiting. These iconic Tokyo landmarks offer unique experiences and incredible views of Tokyo. Tokyo Tower definitely has more history and has always been a symbol of Tokyo but Tokyo Skytree is much taller, more modern, and uses cutting-edge technology. The ultimate deciding factor on visiting Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree comes down to personal preferences, locations, and time. Trust me, no matter if you decide on visiting Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, or both like I did, you will not regret either decision.
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Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵
Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖
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Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁
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Train Travel 🚂🚊
For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
Comments (3)
I didn’t realize the there was another “Eiffel Tower” in Tokyo. How cool.
I never really did either until visiting. I knew the Tokyo Tower existed as a comm tower but never knew it was inspired by the Eiffel Tower.
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