Inspired by the Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower is a 332.9m-tall communications and observation tower in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. This guide will highlight what you can do at the tower, besides just taking in the breathtaking view of the cityscape.
Image credit: @andychengjp
Image credit: @chiao_love_eat
If you are itching for a stunning shot with the tower for your ‘gram, we will also let you in on the location of a secret photo spot.
Tokyo Tower’s FootTown is a 5-storey building directly under the tower, and it consists of plenty of eateries and shops.
The first floor of the building includes a welcome lounge, service counters, and the main elevators that take you directly to the observatory decks. There are also coin lockers where you can store your belongings, should you not want to bring anything up with you.
Image credit: @tokyo_lipcoffee_tower
If you are feeling peckish and fancy a snack or drink, look out for the cafe, LIP COFFEE, and a crepe shop called Marion Crepes.
The second floor of the building – also known as Tokyo Omiyage Town – has a plethora of souvenir shops and restaurants where you can eat and shop your heart out before taking in the amazing view at the observatory decks.
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The third floor of the building has an Animate, Japan’s leading retailer of anime goods, and the Tokyo Tower Official Shop Galaxy, which is the tower’s official souvenir shop.
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The third floor is also where you’ll find the Tower Gallery. The Tower Gallery is a museum that seeks to share the 60-year-old history of Tokyo Tower with its visitors.
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The fourth and fifth floor of Tokyo Tower’s FootTown used to house a One Piece exhibition, but the exhibition unfortunately closed in July 2020 due to the pandemic.
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The 150m main deck in Tokyo Tower has a Skywalk Window where visitors can view the tower from a unique vantage point – below their feet.
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The 250m top deck features stunning geometric mirrors that reflect the scenery from all directions, creating a surreal atmosphere for visitors.
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The top deck also has the Great Shinto Shrine of the Tower – a shrine that is used to pray for love and exam success.
If you are still lost on what to do at the observation decks, don’t worry as it is tourist-friendly. There are welcome drinks and photo services included in the official guided tour, which is available in English.
For more information and reservation details on the guided tour, visit the Tokyo Tower website.
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Tokyo Tower is a tourist attraction after all, so it can be difficult to take a clear shot of the structure – unless you know what we know. Yes, we discovered a secret photo spot that will not just impress all of your friends, but also yield you top-notch pictures.
Image credit: @ukaishiba
The secret photo spot is just opposite Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai, a traditionally furnished Japanese restaurant that specialises in tofu. The tofu restaurant is a 5-minute walk from the Akabane-bashi-guchi Exit of Oedo Line Akabane-bashi Station.
Once you spot the tofu restaurant’s entrance and sign, look out for a stairway directly opposite it. Ta-da, you’ve found the spot!
Image credit: @karekare__0423
Now that you know what awaits you at the famous Tokyo Tower in Japan, you can plan a day trip to the tower to enjoy the breathtaking cityscape views. Don’t forget to visit the secret photo spot before you leave the tower!
Getting there: Tokyo Tower is a 5 to 10-minute walk from the Onarimon Station on the Mita Subway Line, the Akabanebashi Station on the Oedo Subway Line, and the Kamiyacho Station on the Hibiya Subway Line.
Address: 4 Chome-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato City, 105-0011 Tokyo
Opening hours: 9AM-11PM, Daily
Admission: ¥3,000 (~USD26.09) for general admission to both decks; ¥2,800 (~USD24.35) for high school students; ¥2,000 (~USD17.39) for elementary and junior high school students; ¥1,400 (~USD12.18) for kids ages 4 and above; free for ages below 4.
Telephone: 03-3433-5111
Website
For more places to visit in Japan, check out:
Cover image adapted from: @andychengjp and @chiao_love_eat
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