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Tokyo Skytree – the dizzyingly tall structure located in Asakusa, Tokyo – is THE WORLD’S TALLEST TOWER and the World’s second tallest structure. I might be spoiling the conclusion to the question “Is Tokyo Skytree Worth it?” when I say I’ve been to Tokyo Skyetree no less than three times… Anyway, stick around for this short and to the point review of the Tokyo Skytree.
So is Tokyo Skytree worth it? Standing 2 080 feet (634 meters) tall it’s a must-see and must-do for any Tokyo tourist. If you find yourself in Tokyo, this should be checked off your bucket list. World’s tallest tower: Check! And if you follow my advice, you can avoid the biggest crowds and not even blow your budget.
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Why Tokyo Skytree is Worth it
How do you go about calculating if something is “worth it”? It, of course, depends on your budget and how much you appreciate touristy stuff because this is a very touristy landmark. I’m coming for this from an angle where it’s your first or second time to Tokyo. In my opinion, you have to take the following three things into account:
- What you actually get out of it. The experience itself.
- How much it costs (ticket prices)
- The time you spend (standing in line)
If both the cost and the time spent is high then what you get out of it needs to be very impressive. Fortunately, if you do it the right way, you can probably escape the biggest crowds, save time and thus get excellent value for money. So what do you actually get for your money? Let’s dive into these three points.
The Experience
This one is obvious: The view! You get an awesome view from the highest viewing platform in one of the most impressive cities in the world. You’re in the world’s tallest tower and the world’s second tallest building. I think it’s an impossible task to describe such a special view with words, so I won’t spend too much time trying to. All I can say is that this is something I think you have to experience for yourself.
360° View of Tokyo
Both observation decks are 100% designed to give a good user experience. You have tall windows going from the floor to the roof making it easy to see. At times it can be a bit crowded (especially on the 1st observation deck) but since it’s a 360° observation deck there are about a gazillion windows, so you shouldn’t have to wait for long.
There are also some cool touchscreens where you can get interactive images of the city, so it’s easier to understand what’s where and what you’re looking at.
The Elevator
Before you get to the enjoy the fantastic view you need to use the elevator because it’s not possible to take the stairs. 🙂 And I can assure you the elevators in Tokyo Skytree are not your standard elevators. In fact, the four elevators in Tokyo Skytree are the fastest large-capacity elevators in Japan. They have the capacity of 40 persons each and move at a speed of almost 2 000 feet (600 meters) per minute. Warning: These puppies will make your ears pop!
Taking the elevator is an experience in itself. You’re not only whizzing through the air at a speed of 2 000 feet (600 meters) per minute; you can also enjoy the view through the elevator’s glass doors. On top of that, there’s a display showing you the altitude you’re at. It’s fascinating to see how fast it counts upwards to the 2nd Observation Deck, which is at 1 476 feet (450 meters). This is a very cool elevator ride!
Cake + Beer + Awesome View = Happiness 🙂
Eating cake on top of the world! At the 1st Observation Deck (1 150 feet / 350 meters) you’ll find Skytree Cafe. If you’re anything like me, you can drink beer and eat cake pretty much everywhere. If you are privileged enough to do it while gazing out over extraordinary Tokyo, I say go for it! But it is rather pricey. A beer with nuts is 900 yen, and a piece of cake is 600 – 1 200 yen. That’s an expensive cake! Maybe it’s worth it if it’s a once in a lifetime experience? (Or for me, a three in a lifetime experience!)
The Glass Floor
This is not for the faint-hearted! At the 1st Observation Deck, there’s a glass flooring you can walk over. A picture doesn’t do it justice but let me try to put it into perspective for you. Can you see the small buildings by the river? Those are actually 8 – 10 stories high, so Tokyo Skytree is humongous.
This is a picture I got off Google Street View. It’s taken approximately from where the red arrow’s pointing. Do not underestimate how tall this friggin’ tower is.
How Much are Tokyo Skytree tickets?
On the face of it, the tickets can seem quite expensive. To get access to the upper platform you need to cough up 3 090 yen (adult ticket). If you’re a family of four (2+2), it will cost you around $80, so I completely understand if you’re thinking twice about visiting Tokyo Skytree.
But let’s take a closer look at the price. What does it equate to? According to Numbeo.com a normal meal (with appetizer and dessert) for two people at a mid-range restaurant is about 5 000 yen. With drinks, it’s easily 6 000 – 7 000 yen. Two adult tickets to the upper observation deck in Tokyo Skytree is less than a dinner for two with drinks. So how about you do this?
The day you want to visit the tallest tower on Earth you also decide to venture down the small back alleys of Tokyo in search of an authentic and cheap meal. That’s what I did! Just a few minutes from Tokyo Skytree I stumbled upon a tiny Izakaya with seating for only four people. And when I say Izakaya, it was more like an Izakaya/living room. When the owner closed up shop, the bar area turned into his living room.
My friend and I had some lovely ramen and some sort of slimy beans. Dirt cheap (only 1 500 for two, with two beers) and very “exotic.” Unfortunately, I didn’t take pictures, but I shot a short and awful video (this was back in 2012) on my cell phone. Here you’ll see a couple of screen grabs of the most important things. 1) The size of the place. It’s tiny! 2) Bīru! (Beer, if you didn’t catch that).
This is shot with my back against the wall by the way.
The place was weird, and it’s especially strange to find such a genuine, untouched and small Izakaya just a few minutes from one of Tokyo’s main tourist attractions. If you want to see where it is, check out Google Maps below. It’s the entrance by the hanging umbrellas. But shhh! Don’t tell anyone about this gem. Let it be our little secret.
I think I just made a pretty good case for why Tokyo Skytree is worth it! Cut back on dining expenses and visit the Skytree! Not only will you get one of the world’s most impressive “man-made” views, but you might also find a hidden gem in one of the many back alleys of Tokyo.
Here are the ticket prices as of 2018:
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With a fast ticket, you get to skip the line to the 1st Observation Deck. I’ve never seen the need for a fast ticket myself because I try to find the sweet spots. Check out how you avoid the crowds below.
How do I Avoid the Biggest Crowds?
Tokyo Skytree is, of course, a popular attraction for Japanese people as well as tourists. And that’s important to take into consideration when figuring out when to go.
- Firstly, and this is important: Stay away from public holidays. During the public holidays, the crowds are big, and the lines can be long.
- Do not go over the weekend (including Friday)! The weekend is considerably more crowded than the weekdays.
- Go in the evening. Fewer people, fewer strollers, shorter lines, more space. But be sure not to cut it too close to closing time, as you need at least an hour in the tower to soak up and enjoy the view.
Have a quick glans at this chart. Here you can see crowds based on historical data collected by Google. There’s no doubt the weekend should be avoided if you don’t particularly like standing in line. And as you see, towards the evening there tends to be fewer people compared to mid-day.
Tips and Tricks
Here are a few quick tips for you. These are based on my own experiences. I especially recommend the last tip. I would even go so far as to characterize it as a trick!
Cloud City
This is a really obvious one, but you’d be amazed how many don’t think about it since this is an “indoor activity.” You know where I’m going: Check the weather forecast before you go! You’re visiting the world’s tallest tower to see the amazing view, right? Or are you into seeing clouds up close? Freak!
Go to the 2nd Observation Deck!
You’ve already paid 2 000 yen, and now you’re going to save money? Don’t let the cheapskate in you win! You’re only a 330 feet (100 meters) fabulous elevator ride from the upper observation deck. The difference in view from the 1st (1 150 feet / 350 meters) and 2nd observation deck (1 476 feet / 450 meters) and isn’t that great, but that’s not the point. Firstly, you need to cross this off your bucket list. Secondly, and more important, the upper deck is often more roomie with fewer people. I guess a big chunk of people are satisfied at the 1st observation deck and never complete the last stretch. Therefore the 1st observation deck is usually more crowded than the 2nd, even though the 1st deck is bigger.
See Two Different Tokyos in One Visit
Tokyo in daylight and Tokyo at nighttime are two completely different cities. The first time I went I did so in the evening after the sun had set. It’s fascinating to see a billion lights from such an enormous city. The second time I went, I went midday. It was a clear day, and I could see for miles and miles. It was a very different experience compared to the first time. Well, already having been there twice: Now I was a real pro! So when did I go the third time? An hour or so before the sunset. I can easily spend 2-3 hours in Tokyo Skytree (cake+beer+view remember?), so if I go 1-2 hours before the sunset, I get to experience the two completely different Tokoys. And also the sunset in itself can beautiful.
Want to try out this protip? Here are the sunset times for the 15th in each month:
- Januar, 4:50 p.m.
- February, 5:22 p.m.
- March, 5:48 p.m.
- April, 6:16 p.m.
- May, 6:38 p.m.
- June, 6:58 p.m.
- July, 6:57
- August, 6:31 p.m.
- September, 5:49 p.m.
- October, 5:06 p.m.
- November, 4:34 p.m.
- December, 4:28 p.m.
I took this photo on my third visit to Tokyo Skytree. It’s centered on Tokyo Tower, and you can see Mount Fuji in the background while the sunset is outside the picture on the right side.
How You Get to Tokyo Skytree
The best way to get to Tokyo Skytree is to take the subway (Hanzomon Line or Asakusa Line) to the Oshiage Station SKYTREE. Then head out the exit for the Tokyo Skytree Town. After you head up about four sets of escalators, you’ll be in the shopping complex underneath Tokyo Skytree. From there you can make your way to the ticket counter for Tokyo Skytree which is located on the 4th floor.
So Is Tokyo Skytree Worth it?
So what do you think? We all have different opinions. Awesome tourist attraction or awful tourist trap? Let me know in the comments down below.