Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building North Observatory

Unclaimed

This is a great place to catch a view of Tokyo! Best of all.... it's free! Sunset was at 18:35 so we arrived there at 17:00. There was already a lineup to go up but they had signs to indicate the time it took from your position in the line. We waited 30 mins which wasn't too bad as the line moved pretty quick. When we got up to the top, there were lots of room in front of the windows. Many people stuck around for sunset and the views at night were just as, if not more, spectacular. There is a coffee shop at the observatory as well if you want to take a break to relax, though many seats were taken up by people waiting for the sun to set. When we got out, there was also a light show projected at the building. This was in May 2025 and suggest you check to see if this is available when you visit! I really enjoyed coming here as we didn't need to book in advance like other observatories in the city. The surrounding areas were nice to see, a lot quieter than the busy streets of Shinjuku.

Best free view of the city. The wait can take a while. You enter under the ground level floor and you have to show your bags to security. Then you take the elevator up to the observation floor. There is a cafe and souvenir shop on the observation floor. They don’t seem to mind when tourists sit on the floor against the wall inside, which is nice because there doesn’t seem to be many places to just rest without having to go to a restaurant or cafe. We went for night time views, but the lights reflecting off the glass made it very hard to get good pictures. I recommend wearing dark colors if you plan to go there at night so your shirt doesn’t reflect in the glass. Afterward, we saw the projection light show on the government building— free and happens every half hour in the evening. The show lasts about 15 mins. There are about 4 different shows. One is a Gundam, there is a Godzilla, another is Godzillas, and another show. I suggest doing a night time viewing from the observation deck and then viewing the projection light show since you are already there.

This was my first time going up in the tower. It is definitely worth going up there. It was not busy, but it did have a moderate amount of people visiting. It is free to go up and even though the line was a bit long, it moved very fast. The ride up to the 45th floor is about 60 seconds. The entrance to the place is under the tallest building and easy to spot with signs leading you there. The views are amazing from up there. It is worth seeing.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is one of those spots in Tokyo that often flies under the radar, which is surprising, considering it offers a free observation deck with panoramic views of the city (on a clear day, you can even spot Mount Fuji). Unfortunately, when I visited, the city was wrapped in a thick fog, so the view was more atmospheric blur than skyline spectacle. That said, the experience was still worth it: the building is impressively designed, easy to access, and most importantly, not crowded at all. A rare find in Tokyo. Inside the observation deck, there's a small souvenir corner, some vending machines, and, for those who like collecting them, four official ink stamps to mark your visit. It’s a nice touch for stamp collectors or anyone who enjoys small, meaningful travel mementos. If the weather cooperates, it’s a must for budget-conscious travelers who still want that “top of Tokyo” moment. But even on a foggy day, the calm atmosphere and lack of tourist chaos make it a worthwhile stop.

We visited in May, and although it wasn’t the clearest day - so I didn’t take very many photos -the view was still impressive—a great spot to take in Tokyo’s sprawling skyline. Entry is completely free, which makes it excellent value compared to other observation decks in the city. Although given the number of daily visitors, I wouldn’t mind if a small entry fee were introduced—perhaps even as a donation to a rotating charity, to support local causes or assist pensioners. Looking out over Tokyo was a memorable experience. You truly get a sense of the city’s vastness and incredible density. I do wish we’d had time to return in the evening—the view must be even more spectacular after dark. Next time