City ❀ Country ❀ Beach
Osaka quickly became one of the most memorable stops on our family trip to Japan. It is a place where vibrant energy, rich history, and incredible food all came together in the best possible way. We did our research prior to visiting and found that …
If you’re visiting Japan for the first time, you’re probably wondering: Is Universal Studios Japan worth it? You may be also wondering if Universal Studios Japan (USJ), which is located in Osaka, will fit into your itinerary. With so many incredible cultural experiences, historical sites, …
When people think of Tokyo’s skyline, they often think about famous landmarks like Tokyo Skytree or Tokyo Tower. Both are beautiful in their own ways, and they charge admission fees for the breathtaking views they offer. Nestled in the heart of Shinjuku is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck. This observatory is truly a hidden gem! It actually consists of two decks! How Tokyo blends city efficiency with breathtaking views is truly fascinating to me.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck & its building in entirety is an impressive work of architecture. And I love architecture! The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building rises like futuristic glass structures. It has twin symmetrical towers that feels both modern and out of this world. Walking up to the building, you immediately sense that this is more than just an office complex; it’s a statement of Tokyo’s strength, ambition, and relentless energy. It is here, within this hub of the city’s administration, that visitors are welcomed up to the observation decks—one in each tower—for a glimpse of Tokyo from the skies.
The best part? It is totally free! Unlike many observation points across the world that often come with price tags, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck invite both locals and tourists to share in the view without any financial barrier. This simple gesture makes the experience feel particularly welcoming, especially in a city where travel expenses have added up quickly just to get here.
The journey begins as you enter the lobby. The interiors, much like the exterior design, are spacious and impressive. You’ll find clear signage pointing you toward the elevators that whisk you up to the decks. The elevator ride itself is quick, a smooth ascent that seems to take mere seconds, a sharp contrast to other elevators I’ve been in.
Before you know it, the doors open, and you step out onto the deck, greeted with floor-to-ceiling windows that stretch across the entire space.
The first thing that strikes you is the sheer vastness of Tokyo. It seems like you can see all of Tokyo in a 360° from standing in just one spot. You can see neighborhoods in Shinjuku unraveling into the horizon. Shibuya (home of the famous Shibuya Crossing), Roppongi, Ginza, and further out, are residential districts that cradle the city’s core. On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji in the distance with its iconic silhouette. This reminds me that even in one of the most urban environments in the world, nature still claims its place. Unfortunately, we were unable to see much of Mt. Fuji.
The deck has a relaxed & quiet atmosphere, and unlike some observation points that feel rushed or overly crowded, there’s a lot of room to linger here. So, take your time and take a lot of photos. You’ll find small markers pointing out key landmarks—Tokyo Tower, Skytree, Meiji Shrine, and even the distant Yokohama skyline on especially clear days.
Facing west, you might catch that elusive glimpse of Fuji. Looking north, the Sumida River snakes its way through the city. Turn toward the east, and you’ll see Tokyo Skytree piercing the sky like a needle. Southward, you will notice more greenery with parks and suburban neighborhoods blending into the distance.
The North Tower’s observation deck has an added charm—it stays open late into the evening. This means visitors can experience Tokyo by night, when the city truly transforms into a dazzling sea of lights. The neon glow of Shinjuku is particularly striking from here, the electric billboards and bright signs shimmering in patterns that feel almost like a live performance. Watching Tokyo light up from above is magical, a reminder of why the city is often described as a place that never sleeps. We didn’t stay into the night because of prior plans, but if you inquire they have special events at night. That night they were having a projection mapping of Godzilla. That would have been real impressive to watch!
There’s also a small café on the deck where you can sit with a cup of coffee or even a light meal while continuing to soak in the view. It’s a simple setup, but the novelty of sipping a drink while looking out over one of the world’s greatest cities is something you’ll carry with you long after you’ve left. The café also has a nice sized souvenir shop in the center of observation deck and sell unique keepsakes to commemorate your visit without being too overpriced.
For those planning a visit, the decks are easy to reach. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building sits just a short walk from Shinjuku Station, one of the busiest transportation hubs in the world. From the bustle of the station’s shops and restaurants, you emerge into the more open avenues of the government district. The transition itself is interesting—Shinjuku is known for its flashing signs and crowds, but as you approach the two towers, the atmosphere shifts. It becomes calmer, with wide boulevards and modern structures framing the skyline. It’s actually a refreshing change of pace before ascending into the sky.
Around the government building is a kawaii (cute) love sign and surrounding areas just outside the business district, a short walk, is Nakano Broadway, a quirky shopping mall especially for lovers of all anime. There are always side streets that are quaint you can walk through as well.
For photographers, the decks are a dream. The wide windows and multiple angles give you plenty of opportunities to capture Tokyo’s scale. That said, you’ll want to be mindful of reflections on the glass—visiting during daylight hours can help reduce glare, while evening shots may require a little creativity to get that perfect shot. Many visitors simply put their camera lens right up to the glass to minimize reflections and that’s exactly what I do.
Before you leave, check out the bottom floor of the towers as there are sometimes special event displays. In this case, we encountered the 25th Summer Deaflympics!
As you prepare to leave, the return elevator ride feels like a gentle re-entry into Tokyo life. Stepping back into the streets below, the hum of the city surrounds you once more. But now you carry with you a bird’s-eye perspective. You leave with a vivid impression of Tokyo that stretches far beyond what you can explore on foot.
In the end, what makes the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observation Deck so special is not just the view. It’s the experience of seeing Tokyo in its entirety. You leave with a feeling of the enormity of the city yet finding yourself grounded within it. It’s free, accessible, and beautiful. It is an underrated hidden gem in a city full of flashy attractions. Whether it’s your first visit to Tokyo or you’ve been here countless times, this is a place worth returning to. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best things really do come without a price tag.
If you have a specific question about this post, please email me.
PIN ME!
You might also like to read:
Tokyo is a city where modern skyscrapers, futuristic train stations, and ramen shops coexist with ancient shrines & temples that seem to whisper history in every wooden beam. Among these, Yasukuni Jinja Shrine stands out. It stands out not only for its serene beauty but …
Have you ever walked into a business and your mouth just dropped? High-tech businesses with great concepts is the future and this innovative robot cafe is just that! DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe in Tokyo, Japan employs disabled people to be the faces behind the robots. …
Senso-Ji Temple is Tokyo’s most famous and oldest temple that tourists visit. If this is your first time in Tokyo, I highly recommend a visit. In association with the 7th century, this period is known as the Edo period. You can hop off the Tokyo Asakusa Station and take a short walk to the Kaminarimon Gate (Thunder Gate). A giant red lantern hangs in the center of the main gate and is considered the main temple.
As we walked toward the temple, we noticed a map and realized this entire area is bigger than we thought. Yes, you will hear people talking, but the talking is at a minimum noise level. You will smell incense in the air. This place is a temple after all and people are worshipping.
We arrived to Senso-Ji Temple around 9am Tokyo time and it was already busy here. It does get busier throughout the day, so I suggest getting here as early as you can. There is a shopping street and you can grab food here as well.
Here at the base of the temple people worship by clapping their hands and forming them in praying formation. It was come to my attention that people clap their hands to show respect and get the attention of the spirits to listen to their prayers.
Just a short walk away from Senso-Ji Temple is a nearby Kimono rental storefront called Yae. It was about $50 for an all day kimono rental plus hairdo. These make great photos at the temple! Men outfits are also available.
What I love most about Japanese temples is the architecture. I love the height of the layers and the peaks that flare up at the corners. The colors are bold and since red is my favorite color its no wonder I love these structures so much. I just think it looks stunning! This 5-story pagoda is one of Tokyo’s tallest.
For a small fee, you can receive a paper fortune called omikuji through a box. If you receive a bad fortune, you can tie it to a designated area and leave it behind. This symbolizes that you’ve left the “bad” luck behind.
With only a 7 minute walk away, you can visit Ueno Park. We didn’t walk too much around here, but it looks like a great place to visit especially during cherry blossom season. It is a large park that is famous for many museums: Tokyo National Museum, National Science Museum, National Museum for Western Art, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and also is home to Ueno Zoo.
If you’re especially visiting Tokyo for the first time, make sure you don’t miss visiting Senso-Ji Temple. You will never forget your experience at Tokyo’s most famous and oldest temple.
If you have a specific question about this post, please email me.
PIN ME!
You might also like to read:
A visit to Tokyo Tower is a must if you’re visiting Tokyo for the first time. It resembles the Eiffel Tower in which you can visit the observation decks. However, Tokyo Tower is the tallest tower in the world making it a popular tourist spot! …
If you’re a Disney fan and contemplating whether to visit Tokyo DisneySea because you think it’s similar to Tokyo Disneyland or any other Disney park you’ve been to, you’re wrong. Tokyo DisneySea is like no other theme park I’ve ever been to. That’s saying a …
I am here to provide you some first time Japan travel tips based on our family experience. We hope you enjoy your vacation like we did! Our adventure started at the end of September. We left our quiet home in Florida to Chicago. It was a short layover until we boarded the very long plane ride to our final destination of Tokyo. We were very excited to start our journey. I had always wanted to visit an Asian country and how we chose Japan came from our younger son who was (and still is) a huge Anime fan. Anime originated in Japan.
The plane food on this flight was amazing! We flew ANA Airways, a Japanese airline. The stewardess was so accommodating to our son who is gluten intolerant.
Our arrival to Japan was jetlagged, but filled with excitement and anticipation for new experiences! We were going into this adventure with open minds and a courtesy for their culture.
Before we go further into our adventure, let me share our itinerary with my notes. I have never shared my travel planning with anyone other than family, but this is how I do things. I just use Word, highlight, bold, bullet points and sort by city. Pretty much anything that stands out to me and makes me feel organized.
The 3D billboards are a huge tourist experience! I had never seen any until we went to Tokyo. You will see many tourists standing across the street and taking videos/photos. They are really cool. One of the most popular ones is the cat.
The culture in Japan is nothing like I’ve ever seen before. I was expecting culture shock, but this blew it out of the park! When we first rode the subway in Tokyo no one, I mean NO ONE, spoke. I have ridden the subway in New York City and that is NOT what happens. The overhead speaker in Tokyo said to “please silence your cell phone and refrain from talking.” It also said to “please give up your seat for those in need.” A lot is said in both Japanese & English.
I was shocked on how courteous & respectful Japan is overall. And that’s not all! Cleanliness is Japan is superb! You won’t see debris or litter of any kind on the streets of Japan. We went to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, & Hiroshima and it was the same everywhere. In fact, public trashcans are not a thing. You are supposed to hold on to your trash until you go back to your hotel/home or find a 7-11 or similar convenience store and throw it there. But be forewarned that the trash receptacles at the convenience stores are very small!
It is frowned upon to eat & drink while walking in public places. If you’re visiting Japan in the future, take a reusable bag you can tuck into your backpack for potential trash. Also, many restaurants have a box or bag where you can place your purse and/or bags next to your table while you dine.
Let’s talk toilets. Oh my goodness, the toilets are VERY different than the U.S. toilets. They are high tech. There were a few instances at the beginning that I had to figure out this contraption just to flush. Luckily I found the main buttons because it said in English FLUSH. The public restrooms are also super clean! There are also many places that offer hand sanitizer stations.
And most importantly, before you go to Japan, read up on culture & customs, like you’re doing right now. Get informed and don’t be an ugly tourist. Many tourist spots have signs at places where they don’t want you to take photographs. Most of those spots are places of worship & homes/street they live at. Also, if you want to take a photo of someone specific (not speaking about in public place) like Geishas in Kyoto, ask first before taking their photo. It is considered rude otherwise.
Be aware of what locals do.
Here they stand on the left side of the escalator so people can pass on the right side.
If you’re a foodie like me, you will fall in love with Japan! You can grab a bite to eat practically anywhere. Keep in mind that it’s best to eat there and not while walking. If you buy food from a street vendor where there are no tables & chairs, which is very clean by the way, it’s best to eat it right there in front of the vendor. That is acceptable. However, if you have a food allergy, I strongly recommend you make & bring a card yourself using a translation app like this one.
If you want some fast food, there are plenty of choices. From KFC to McDonald’s, they are there. However, many have been tweaked to fit their cultural diet. For instance, many McDonald’s sandwiches include an over easy egg! I wish I could’ve shipped cases of that canned nectar juice because it was AMAZING!
With so many great choices, you won’t go wrong. Osaka is actually nicknamed The Nation’s Kitchen because it is rich in its culinary culture. We had a lot of fun, as you can see with the vast food photos, exploring all the food!
One of the coolest places we dined at was in Tokyo’s DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe. This is where the servers/waiters/host are controlled robots! There will be a full post on this a little later.
Although we didn’t do this experience, I wanted to include it here because it looks like a lot of fun. The honest reason why we didn’t do this is because I didn’t like that you’re riding side by side with actual vehicles and I read some reviews that locals frown upon this experience. But you do you and if this is something you’d really like to do, then go for it.
If you’re anywhere near my age, then you will remember walking into a grocery store or a department store with your parents and seeing that iconic childhood memory machine of the bouncy ball dispenser or cheap plastic giant ring. Right? Well, Japan has taken it to a whole new level! These machines are called “gacha machines” or gashapon machines. They are machines that dispense round capsules that contain a small toy or collectible. You insert a coin, turn the crank, and a toy capsule comes out. Normally, you can see a selection of that gacha machine’s toys that you could get. This is not just for children, but many adults use them for fun.
It’s not everyday that you can walk around town in a kimono. I wanted to do something different. Gladly to my surprise, I wasn’t the only one renting a kimono for photos. You can rent the kimono, accessories, shoes, plus a professional hairstyle for under $50. You get to choose the kimono style, colors, and hairstyle with accessories. It was so much fun dressing up and having photos done.
Shopping in Japan is amazing because there are SO many things! If you’ve ever shopped at a flea market where your eyes are overwhelmed with all the stuff there is to buy, that’s the feeling I got. Looking for a souvenir? You will find it. Looking for a keychain, you will find it. If you’re looking for stickers, you will find it. The only thing to be aware of is that if you are shopping for clothing, t-shirts for example, make sure you go up one or two sizes. I am an XL in the U.S. and I had a very hard time finding my size. An XL in the U.S. is marked as an LL in Japan, BUT it fits like a L in the U.S. It is extremely hard to find a shirt in Japan that fits like a U.S. XL.
Japan overall is a really budget friendly place to visit. There are, however, three things you will spend money on that will take up most of your vacation budget: Flights, hotel, and transportation. I’m talking about transportation to & from cities, not within a city. The subway system within each city is economical, but if you want to visit different cities like we did (Tokyo-Osaka, Osaka-Kyoto & back, Osaka-Hiroshima & back), the best way to travel timewise is to take the bullet train called the Shinkansen. It’s not cheap, but VERY well worth it! We were there on the Tokaido Shinkansen’s 60th anniversary. This is the bullet train that runs between Tokyo & Osaka.
Furthermore, if you need to store your luggage many, if not all, subway stations offer lockers!
Disney transportation is THE best in Tokyo!
It’s always bittersweet going home after a nice vacation. We had a fantastic time and made the best of every place we went. Thank you Japan for welcoming us so nicely, helping us when we needed directions, and the delicious food!
If you have a specific question about this post, please email me.
Related post!
Hilton Tokyo Bay is a beautiful & wonderfully located unofficial Disney resort located only a shuttle away from Tokyo Disneyland. That is one of the main reasons why we decided to stay here because we are huge Disney fans. In addition, it’s easy access via …
