Summary
Although I have only been to Tokyo once, thanks to the convenience of Tokyo’s subway, metro, and train systems, it is possible to visit many popular night view spots in Tokyo during a short free trip. Tokyo’s city center and suburbs, including Tokyo Tower, the observation deck of the World Trade Center, and the Mori Building in Roppongi Hills, are all famous Tokyo high-rise night view spots. In addition, there are also places where you can enjoy the view for free, such as Tokyo Station, the Thunder Gate of Senso-ji Temple, or the bustling streets of Ginza. These are free Tokyo night view spots that you can reach and easily capture.
Tokyo Tower
The night view from the special observation deck of Tokyo Tower allows you to overlook the city streets of Tokyo from a high place.
Tokyo Tower is not only a famous landmark in Tokyo, but also a must-visit for every traveler on their first free trip to Tokyo. You can also climb up to the observation deck of Tokyo Tower to enjoy the bustling cityscape of Tokyo from above. The Tokyo Tower observation deck is divided into a large observation deck 150 meters above ground and a special observation deck 250 meters above ground. Although both floors of the observation deck offer a 360-degree view, the view from the special observation deck is even more expansive. It is recommended for first-time visitors to spend a little money to climb up to the special observation deck.
| Visiting Information: Address: 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo (5 minutes walk from Akabanebashi Station on the Tokyo Metro) Opening Hours: Main Observation Deck: 9:00-22:00 (Last entry at 21:45) Special Observation Deck: 9:00-21:30 (Last entry at 21:00) Open all year round Tickets: Please check the Tokyo Tower official website |
You can see the whole view of Tokyo Tower from the alleys while walking from Akabanebashi Station to Tokyo Tower.
World Trade Center Observatory
The night view of Tokyo World Trade Center is one of the popular spots to see in Tokyo.
The Tokyo World Trade Center Observatory, located in Hamamatsucho, was built in 1970. Although it is only 40 floors high, it was a highly popular high-rise building in Tokyo at that time. By climbing up to the 40th floor (152 meters) observatory of the World Trade Center, you can not only enjoy a 360-degree night view, but also see landmarks or scenery such as Tokyo Tower, Roppongi, Odaiba, Shinjuku, and Tokyo Skytree. It is one of the recommended high-rise night view spots in Tokyo. In addition, due to the aging of the building, the World Trade Center is expected to be demolished and rebuilt in 2019, so friends who want to seize this opportunity to enjoy the high-rise night view should take advantage of the last chance.
| Visiting Information: Address: 2-4-1 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Take the Tokyo Metro Asakusa Line/Oedo Line to Daimon Station Exit B3) Opening Hours: 10:00-20:30 (Last entry 30 minutes before closing) Tickets: 620 yen Official Website: Click here for more information |
From the World Trade Center, you can see the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Bay night view in Odaiba.
Mori Building in Roppongi Hills
Climbing up the Mori Building in Roppongi Hills offers a great view of Tokyo at night.
If you are not satisfied with Tokyo Tower or the World Trade Center, you can choose the Mori Building in Roppongi Hills. The Mori Building, the tallest building in Roppongi Hills, is a 53-story building, and the Tokyo City View on the 52nd floor is an observation deck with a 360-degree glass wall. Because it is located at a high place, compared to the 40-story World Trade Center, you can not only enjoy views of Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Odaiba Rainbow Bridge, and other buildings, but also see distant areas such as Yokohama and Mount Fuji when the weather and visibility are good. In addition, when the weather is good, the SkyDeck on the 53rd floor is also open for visitors. Without the glass curtain, the view is even more expansive.
| Visiting Information: Address: 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Take the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line to Roppongi Station Exit 1C and go straight to the entrance of Roppongi New Town Building) Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 10:00-23:00 (Last entry at 22:30) Friday, Saturday, and the day before public holidays: 10:00-01:00 (Last entry at 00:00) SkyDeck Observatory: 11:00-20:00 (Last entry at 19:30) Tickets: Adults 1800 yen; SkyDeck requires an additional 500 yen Official Website: Click here for more information |
It is also recommended to visit the Mori Building before sunset to enjoy both day and night views.
Tokyo Station
KITTE Building is a recommended spot to enjoy the night view of Tokyo Station for free.
Tokyo Station has a history of over a hundred years, and the “Marunouchi Station Square” in front of the station was fully opened at the end of 2017 after four years of renovation. If you want to appreciate and capture the charming features of Tokyo Station’s red brick architecture, there are three buildings near Tokyo Station where you can enjoy the view for free:
- KITTE Building: The “KITTE Garden” on the 6th floor of the KITTE Building next to Marunouchi Station is a place where you can enjoy the open night view of Tokyo Station for free. (Tripods are not allowed)
- Marunouchi Building (Maru Biru): The free observation deck on the 5th floor of the Marunouchi Building next to KITTE mainly offers views of the Marunouchi South Exit of Tokyo Station and allows you to capture the full view of Tokyo Station. (Tripods are not allowed)
- Shin Marunouchi Building (Shin Maru Biru): The observation deck on the 7th floor is actually a free open terrace area, and it is the only place among the three where you can fully appreciate the front view of Tokyo Station. (Tripods are not allowed)
| Visiting Information: Address: From Marunouchi Station, go to the front of Marunouchi Station. KITTE: 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Marunouchi Building: 2-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Shin Marunouchi Building: 1-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Opening Hours: KITTE: 11:00-23:00 (11:00-22:00 on Sundays and national holidays) Marunouchi Building: 11:00-20:00 (11:00-19:00 on Sundays and national holidays) Shin Marunouchi Building: 11:00-23:00 |
Shin Marunouchi Building, located across from Tokyo Station, is a great place to enjoy the full view of Tokyo Station.
Ginza Night View
The famous clock tower building in Ginza is one of the must-visit urban night view buildings in Tokyo.
Ginza in Tokyo always gives people a sense of luxury due to its concentration of fashion, food, beauty, and other characteristics. However, because of the feeling of numerous shop signs in Ginza, walking on the streets of Ginza and taking pictures with a camera anywhere will capture charming urban scenery. If you are tired of the usual high-rise buildings in Tokyo or want to try a different night view street photography, walking on the streets of Ginza would be a good choice.
| Visiting Information: Take the Tokyo Metro to Ginza Station. |
In the evening, the streets of Ginza are particularly charming with numerous brand signs and beautiful exterior architecture.
Senso-ji Temple Thunder Gate
Senso-ji Temple’s Hozo-mon Gate and Five-story Pagoda have a different view at night.
Senso-ji Temple and the Thunder Gate in Asakusa, Tokyo, are the oldest temples in Tokyo. The huge “lantern” of the Thunder Gate is often a place where tourists stop to take pictures. During the day, it can feel a bit crowded due to the large number of visitors. If you want to experience a different side of Senso-ji Temple, you can visit in the evening. The Thunder Gate, Hozo-mon Gate, and Five-story Pagoda are all illuminated at night, allowing you to experience a different view of Senso-ji Temple from during the day.
| Visiting Information: Take the Tokyo Metro or Tokyo Metropolitan Subway to Asakusa Station. |
The most famous “Thunder Gate” of Senso-ji Temple is still eye-catching at night.
