Tokyo Tower
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Akabanebashi Station · 5 min walk (Toei Ōedo Line)
- Hours
- 9:00–23:00 (Main Deck, last admission 22:30); 9:00–22:45 (Top Deck Tour, last admission 22:15)
- Admission
- Main Deck: ¥1,500 (adults), ¥1,200 (high school), ¥900 (children 7–15), ¥600 (children 4–6); Top Deck Tour: ¥3,300 (adults, web advance) / ¥3,500 (same-day)
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Best time to go
- Late afternoon into dusk to view both daylight scenery and the lighting turn-on, or clear winter mornings for Mount Fuji visibility
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Standing 332 meters tall, Tokyo's iconic red-and-white lattice tower offers a nostalgic, retro charm alongside breathtaking 360-degree views of the metropolis and Mount Fuji on a clear day. Visitors can explore the multi-level observation decks, a vibrant foottown complex filled with shops and cafes, and unique seasonal illumination displays that light up the city skyline after dark.
What Japanese guides note
The traditional approach connects through adjacent Zōjō-ji Temple and Shiba Park, entering from the historic Sangedatsumon gate before reaching the tower base. While tickets for the 150-meter Main Deck can be bought on arrival, the 250-meter Top Deck Tour operates on timed reservations that frequently sell out in advance on weekends. Photography on the stairs of the underground parking lot is prohibited by facility operators for pedestrian safety and traffic flow.
Details from local sources
- Under the Japanese Civil Aeronautics Act, the tower is painted in alternating bands of international orange and white rather than standard red and white. [source]
- Visitors who climb the approximately 600 outdoor stairs from FootTown to the 150-meter Main Deck receive an official Noppon-certified staircase climber card. [source]
- Located on the second floor of the Main Deck at 150 meters, Tower Daijingu is the Shinto shrine at the highest altitude across Tokyo's 23 special wards. [source]
- The tower switches its 180 Landmark Light floodlamps between cool silver metal halide bulbs on July 7 and warm orange high-pressure sodium bulbs in early October. [source]
Insider Tip
Skip the main elevators and take the 600-step outdoor staircase to the main deck on a weekend for a unique, breezy climbing experience.
Frequently asked
Can you climb Tokyo Tower on foot instead of taking the elevator?
Yes. An open-air staircase of approximately 600 steps runs from the FootTown roof to the Main Deck at 150 meters. It opens on weekends and holidays from 9:00 to 16:00 for climbing up, takes 12 to 15 minutes, costs standard admission, and awards an official climbing certificate.
What is the difference between the Main Deck and the Top Deck?
The Main Deck sits at 150 meters with two floors, glass floor sections, and Tower Daijingu shrine. The Top Deck sits at 250 meters and requires the guided Top Deck Tour ticket, which includes geometric mirror interiors, voice guides, advance timed entry, and a welcome drink.
What time does Tokyo Tower turn off its lights at night?
Tokyo Tower turns off its Landmark Light illumination nightly at midnight (24:00). A popular local urban legend known as the Lightdown Legend claims that couples who witness the exact moment the tower lights turn off together will find lasting love and relationship happiness.
How do you get to Tokyo Tower by train from central Tokyo?
Six subway and train stations surround the tower. The closest stop is Akabanebashi Station on the Toei Ōedo Line, a 5-minute walk from the Akabanebashi exit. Onarimon Station on the Toei Mita Line takes 6 minutes, Kamiyacho on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line takes 7 minutes, and JR Hamamatsucho takes 15 minutes.
Our Tokyo walking tours
On the same walk
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