Encountering the Tokyo Tower
When you're strolling through a neighborhood and suddenly catch sight of a crimson iron tower in the corner of the skyline, at that moment, you'll know for sure: "I am in Tokyo."
Seeking Out the Tokyo Tower
As one of Tokyo’s most iconic urban landscapes, the Tokyo Tower is a city landmark that every traveler visiting Tokyo must make a pilgrimage to photograph. Built in 1958, the Tokyo Tower is one of the most representative engineering structures of Japan’s Showa era, witnessing both Japan’s post-war reconstruction and serving as the national radio wave transmission center. To this day, it stands tall on Tokyo’s skyline, becoming a classic Tokyo symbol in everyone’s heart, its significance evolving with time, distance, and environmental changes.
The first encounter with the Tokyo Tower is not just a sudden, striking presence in your vision, but a profound emotional journey that unfolds layer by layer from afar to near. Whether it’s during a picnic, a park stroll, or a visit to a historic temple, the Tokyo Tower is closely linked to everyone’s memories, acting like a Tokyo anchor, outlining and shaping the Tokyo travel experience.
Whenever you walk through different streets, turn into different alleys, and weave between the gaps of streets and buildings, you always enjoy the pleasure of discovering the Tokyo Tower’s presence. It becomes part of the everyday street scene, connected to streets, pedestrians, buildings, and even park benches. Furthermore, due to the surrounding buildings, terrain, sense of distance, the viewer’s position, or the current season and light, it presents different forms and memories.
Don’t you also look forward to a Tokyo trip, wondering from which street corner, which high-rise window, or even which inconspicuous alley you will first spot the Tokyo Tower?
Table of Contents Tokyo Tower Top Deck Classic Tokyo Tower Photo Spots Tokyo Tower Underground Parking Garage Stairs Prince Shiba Park Akabanebashi Intersection Stylish Tokyo Tower Surroundings Photo Spots Zojoji Temple Shiba Park No. 1 Azabudai Hills Roppongi Hills Mori Tower Nagaisaka Slope A One-Day Itinerary for Stunning Tokyo Tower Photo Spots
Tokyo Tower Top Deck | The Destination and the Starting Point
Stepping inside the Tokyo Tower and riding the elevator up to the 250-meter-high Top Deck, what unfolds before your eyes is not just an observation deck, but a special space that feels like floating above Tokyo, enough to count the past memories of Tokyo. At that moment, you are no longer a traveler looking up at the Tokyo Tower, but at the same height as her, seeing how this city sparkles in the night.Operating Hours: 9:00 AM - 10:45 PM (reservations and deposit required in advance) Admission Fees: Please see the official website for details.
Adult: Online pre-order ¥3,300, same-day ticket ¥3,500 High School Student: Online pre-order ¥3,100, same-day ticket ¥3,300 Junior High/Elementary School Student: Online pre-order ¥2,100, same-day ticket ¥2,300 Child (4 years and older): Online pre-order ¥1,500, same-day ticket ¥1,700 Go!
1 Classic Tokyo Tower Photo Spot | Tokyo Tower Underground Parking Garage Stairs
Originally an inconspicuous exit of an underground parking garage staircase, it unintentionally became a viewfinder through the lens, transforming the Tokyo Tower into a highly futuristic and sci-fi structural scene. Especially at night, the lights projected onto the metal and concrete surfaces create a strong contrast, giving it a very cyberpunk atmosphere.
Key Photography Keywords: “Crimson iron tower with concrete wall” “A cyberpunk movie perspective” “Extremely symmetrical futuristic feel”
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission Fee: Free
2 Classic Tokyo Tower Photo Spot | Prince Shiba Park
Prince Shiba Park is one of the few green spaces in Tokyo where you can fully appreciate the Tokyo Tower and enjoy a local living atmosphere. The openness of the park makes the Tokyo Tower stand out even more. Visiting in different seasons offers different beauties, such as cherry blossoms in spring, greenery in summer, or autumn leaves in fall. Prince Shiba Park highlights the coexistence of the landmark and everyday urban life, transforming the Tokyo Tower from a commercial and tourist symbol into a part of Tokyoites' lives. Key Photography Keywords: "Picnic on the grass under the sun" "Unlimited Tokyo Tower viewing seats" "Daily life of Tokyo residents"
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission Fee: Free
3 Classic Tokyo Tower Photo Spot | Akabanebashi Intersection
This is one of the classic photo spots for the Tokyo Tower, especially suitable for capturing urban-feeling photos. Standing at the intersection, you'll see the tower emerging from the end of the street, with the flow of traffic and crosswalk in the foreground, and the alternating flashing of traffic lights, pushing the rhythm and urban atmosphere of Tokyo to its peak. Key Photography Keywords: "Tokyo street feel" "Neon lights and light trails" "Intersection of traffic flow, streetlights, and traffic lights"
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission Fee: Free
Stylish Tokyo Tower Surroundings Photo Spot | Zojoji Temple – A Dialogue Between a Buddhist Temple and a Tower
Zojoji Temple is located in front of the Tokyo Tower, and the open space in front of the temple provides the most classic symmetrical perspective. Under the lens, the 17th-century temple architecture versus the 20th-century steel landmark seems to create a dialogue emphasizing the span of time. Whenever sunset approaches, the evening glow reflects on the temple roof, and the tower lights are about to turn on, that moment feels like the history and future of Tokyo are condensed into the same frame. Key Photography Keywords: "Visual conflict of history and modernity coexisting" "Between the eaves of the Buddhist temple and the lights of the tower" "It's a power spot in Minato Ward"
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission Fee: Free
Stylish Tokyo Tower Surroundings Photo Spot | Shiba Park No. 1 – The Crimson Iron Tower Surrounded by Flowers
Shiba Park No. 1 is a small garden. Through the staggered arrangement of plants and walkways at different heights, the paths and flowers within the park are interspersed, making the Tokyo Tower appear to emerge from the greenery, creating a soft visual frame of the Tokyo Tower coexisting with the four seasons. Key Photography Keywords: "Colorful flower circles in spring" "Cherry blossoms and Tokyo Tower" "Classic Japanese drama scene" Even outside the flowering season, you might as well take a walk in Shiba Park No. 4, where you can capture the classic scene of the Tokyo Tower nestled perfectly between rows of trees.
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission Fee: Free
Tokyo Tower Surroundings Photo Spot | Azabudai Hills – The Visual Shock of Towering Before Your Eyes
The close proximity of high-rise buildings makes the Tokyo Tower emerge from between the skyscrapers, with the sense of distance from Azabudai Hills being particularly shocking. Azabudai Hills is a newly developed high-end commercial district in Tokyo in recent years. Its perspective highlights the height relationship between the Tokyo Tower and modern skyscrapers. Due to the reflection of the glass curtain walls, the image of the Tokyo Tower is often refracted and segmented, forming a futuristic visual effect. Key Photography Keywords: "Intertwined neon tones" "Dialogue with city lights" "The most three-dimensional perspective of the Tokyo Tower"
Operating Hours: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Admission Fee: A minimum order at the restaurant is required to enter the 33rd-floor viewing platform.
Tokyo Tower Surroundings Photo Spot | Roppongi Hills Mori Tower – The Unique Stunning View of City Lights
Roppongi Hills Mori Tower boasts one of Tokyo's best 360-degree unobstructed panoramic views. Looking at the Tokyo Tower from here is like seeing a burning amber in a sea of city lights. Especially at dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun reflects on the red and white steel frame, and after night falls, the orange lights intertwine with the surrounding cool-toned skyscrapers, forming an extreme contrast of light and shadow. Key Photography Keywords: "Using skyscrapers to衬托 its classic red and white color scheme" "Moving twilight moments" "Tokyo Tower standing among private residences and houses"
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Admission Fee: Free
Tokyo Tower Surroundings Photo Spot | Nagaisaka Slope – The Everyday Feel of Tokyo's Alleys
Nagaisaka Slope is a hidden gem photo spot for photography enthusiasts. When you look down from the top of the slope, the Tokyo Tower is perfectly embedded in the gap revealed by the street, as if carefully framed by urban buildings. The most recommended time is at dusk, when the setting sun slightly falls on one side of the Tokyo Tower, and the orange light intertwines with the red and white steel frame, which is one of the most gentle urban silhouettes of Tokyo in my heart. Key Photography Keywords: "Looking up at the tower from low-rise residential areas" "The closest perspective to Tokyo residents" "Early morning, mist, morning light, and the Tokyo Tower"
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission Fee: Free
