Tokyo East · Sumida / OshiageNo.161★★★Open in map →
Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Skytree in Sumida is Japan's tallest tower at 634 m and the world's tallest self-standing broadcast tower. Its Tembo Deck at 350 m and Tembo Galleria at 450 m offer panoramic views across Tokyo and on clear days to Mount Fuji. The tower is also the television and radio broadcast antenna for the Kanto region.
Tokyo Skytree stands at 634 m — a height chosen partly to match the reading of '634' as 'mu-sa-shi' in Japanese, referencing the old Musashi Province that covered the area. Construction began in 2008 and the tower opened to the public in May 2012. The tower replaced the Tokyo Tower in Shiba Park as the main broadcast transmission point for the Kanto region. It sits in Sumida-ku, a short walk from Asakusa, and is surrounded by the Tokyo Skytree Town complex, which includes Solamachi (a shopping and food mall), an aquarium, and a planetarium.
Background & history
The Tokyo Tower in Minato-ku had served as the broadcast tower for the Kanto region since 1958, but digital broadcasting requirements for height led to the decision to build a new tower. The site in Oshiage, Sumida-ku was selected from several candidates in 2006. Construction took about four years and the tower was completed in February 2012. At 634 m it is Japan's tallest structure and the world's tallest self-standing broadcast tower.
What to look for — in walking order
- Tembo Deck (350 m)
- the main observation floor at 350 m, with 360-degree views of Tokyo; glass floor panels at one section let you look straight down
- Tembo Galleria (450 m)
- a spiral walkway at 450 m, the highest point open to the public, with a glass-enclosed tube giving an elevated view; requires an additional ticket
- Mount Fuji view
- on clear days — most often in winter — Fuji-san is visible to the southwest from both observation levels
- Tokyo Skytree Town / Solamachi
- the shopping and food complex at the base of the tower; useful for a meal before or after the ascent
How to enjoy it
Opening times: 10:00–22:00 on weekdays (last admission 21:00), 9:00–22:00 on Sundays and public holidays. Tembo Deck admission is ¥2,100 for adults on weekdays (¥2,300 on weekends and holidays); Tembo Galleria adds ¥1,000. Advance online tickets are cheaper and skip the queue. Clear days with Fuji views are most common from November to February. The observation levels are indoors, fully enclosed, and accessible.
How to actually get there
- Asakusa Station (Tobu Skytree Line) → Tokyo Skytree Station (1 stop, ~3 min).
- Exit at Tokyo Skytree Station; the base of the tower is directly above — follow signs to the 4F ticket counter.
- Ascend to the Tembo Deck (350 m); optionally add the Tembo Galleria (450 m) with a supplementary ticket at the desk.
- Asakusa Stn → Tokyo Skytree Stn (Tobu Skytree Line, 1 stop)
- From Asakusa Station on the Tobu Skytree Line (Tobu Isesaki Line), take the train one stop to Tokyo Skytree Station (about 3 minutes). The station is directly beneath the tower; follow the signs to the entrance. The same station is also called Oshiage (Skytree) on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line and the Asakusa Subway Line, so you can arrive from many directions.
- Tokyo Skytree Stn → Asakusa Stn, or continue by metro
- Return to Asakusa Station (one stop on the Tobu line, about 3 minutes), or use Oshiage Station for direct metro connections across Tokyo. Trains run frequently until around midnight.
Before you go
- Cash
- Tembo Deck (350 m): ¥2,100 adults (weekday), ¥2,300 on weekends/holidays. Tembo Galleria (450 m): ¥1,000 additional on top of Tembo Deck fare. Buy advance tickets at the official website to save and skip the ticket queue. IC cards (Suica, PASMO) work on both the Tobu line and the metro.
- Closing days
- The observation decks can be crowded on weekends and public holidays; weekday mornings are quieter. Views are often obscured by haze in summer (June to September); clearest views are in winter. On days with heavy rain or strong wind, visibility drops significantly.
- Another way
- From central Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya), take the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line direct to Oshiage (Skytree) Station without changing trains. From Tokyo Station, take the Toei Asakusa Subway Line to Oshiage.
- After you get off
- Both Tokyo Skytree Station (Tobu) and Oshiage Station (metro) are directly beneath the tower and connected to the base complex. Follow the 'Tokyo Skytree' signs from either station exit.