Tokyo Skytree rises 634 metres above the city’s eastern neighbourhoods, making it the world’s tallest tower and one of Tokyo’s most recognisable landmarks. Opened in 2012, it serves as a broadcasting tower as well as a viewpoint. Its height carries a local reference: the digits 6-3-4 can be read as mu-sa-shi, recalling Musashi, the historic province that included much of present-day Tokyo.
The Tokyo Skytree observation decks sit at 350 and 450 metres, with the higher Tembo Galleria following a gently rising, glass-walled walkway. From either level, the city spreads out in a dense patchwork of rivers, rail lines and rooftops. On clear days, particularly in winter or after rain, Mount Fuji may appear on the western horizon.
Book tickets ahead if you want a specific time, especially around sunset and on weekends. The upper gallery requires a separate ticket or a combined admission, so check which level you’re buying. Tokyo Skytree Station and Oshiage Station both serve the complex; allow time to explore the shops and restaurants at its base, or the older streets of nearby Asakusa.