When you want to look around Tokyo at a glance, going to the high place is best. When foreign friends visited Japan, they say "let's go to Tokyo Tower." But it is not the highest place. Actually it is just a sort of TV antenna, it is not such a fun place to visit. I recommend seeing the tower itself from another place, not being on it. If you don't need the amenities of a 360 observatory, there are some good places to see Tokyo. And some of them are free of charge.
Here are good Tokyo Observation Points." These are my recommendations!
My best 3
1.Roppongi Hills Tokyo View : Access
Height: 250 meter above sea level
Roppongi is known for its nightlife and the presence of Western tourists and expatriates. When foreign celebs and artists come to Japan, they never miss a visit to Roppongi and sometimes leave as a sort of "brave legend". Lexington Queen the famous club, will let you know who visited them the night before. For example, they say that last night Jude Law went there. After the Roppongi Hills Tokyo was built, our image of Roppingo had changed a little. Roppongi view is open until 25pm (1am) - you can visit here after you drink. Roppongi hills has a museum, movie theater, restaraunts, shopping areas, a hotel, parking garage, etc. I reccomend checking the museum shop. You can find some Roppongi Hills original goods, some are designed by Takashi Murakami and Akira Yamaguchi. From this place, you can see Tokyo tower, Yokohamaland tower, Tokyo Bay bridge etc., etc.
2.Ebisu Garden Place : Access: 3 minutes walk from Ebisu St.
Height: 39F
Garden Place has a shopping center, restaraunt area, Westin hotel, movie theater, and Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography is neax to here. You can get a good view in the elevetor hall of the restaraunt floor. I can tell you this is the best place to see Shinjuku at night, then in the day time, you might see Mt. FUji on a clear day. After enjoying the view, you can eat dinner in Garden Place, however I really reccomend going out to eat. Ebisu a is good place for dining out. I make Ebisu Garden Place No.2, because I really like Ebisu and its easy access to the JR line.
3.Yokohama Landmark Tower : Access
Height/ 273m
This is not Tokyo, but very close to the Tokyo area. Sky Garden (Observatory floor) is on 69F, it's the highest place in a building in Japan actually. The elevator to the Sky Garden holds the Guinness record for fastest speed; 750m/minute. It takes about only 40 seconde to rise up to the 273m mark. Landmark Tower is in the area of Minato Mirai 21/. There are amusement parks, shopping areas, and you can see Yokohama bay and visit Chinatown, etc. I recomend visiting Red Brick Warehouse (JP) at nighttime, it is very romantic, with light-up buildings and a view of Yokohama Bay Bridge.
Shinjuku Skyscraper District = Free of charge
The Shinjuku west district is famed for its array of skyscrapers. The views afforded by a trip to the upper reaches of many of the buildings are magnificent. They are all free of course.
Access: 5-10 minutes walk from JR Shinjuku St. West exit
Tokyo Metropolitan Government building
Height: 202m
There are two places open to the public, the North side room and South side room. I think South is much better than North. On a clear day you can see Mt. Fuji very well. Here is the ovservatory info.
Shinjuku Center Building
Height: 53F: You can see Tokyo Gulf from this observatory in 53F.
Shinjuku NS Building
Height: 30F : There is a observatory in 30F. And their transparent elevator is great.
Shinjuku Sumitomo Building
Height: 51F Lobby : There is a observatory in 51F.
Shinjuku Nomura Building
Height: 50F Lobby : There is a observatory in 50F.
Other famous places
Tokyo Tower : Access
Height: Main: 150m, Special: 250m
Other Facilities: Wax Museum, Mysterious Walking Zone, Tokyo Tower Trick Art Gallery
(You can enjoy all this on one ticket.)
Basically this is a sort of Tower for TV and radio broadcasts. Tokyo Tower was the symbol of Tokyo in the past, and it was actually the highest place to see around Tokyo. But now this is not highest, actually 150m is not so high anymore. Therefore I recommend seeing this tower from another place, not from inside it. Anyway, Tokyo tower changes color at night during summer and winter. When I was working as assistant director of a TV documentary program, I needed to shoot it. I walked to the 160m point outside the stairs of the tower, which people usually can never walk to. How was it? I was walking had a polished handrail.
Sunshine 60(JP) : Access(JP)
Height: 240m
The Sunshine 60 was the highest building in Japan for long time. It has an aquarium, planetarium, shopping area, restraunt area, and a small amusement park named Nanja Town. Nanja town reproduces a "downtown in the 1960s"feel. There also is a "Fried Dumpling Studium" and "Dessert republic".
If you want to see Tokyo. please go Roppongi Hills. Even thought entrance fee is expensive, it's great place and you can have great memory of Tokyo. I love that place. By the way, I was working in the Sunshine City Building on the 54th floor Office after I graduated from college. Sometimes families visited the office area using elevators for office staff only, in order to save on the entrance fee for observation. Hahaha! But you can't do that.
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