Great Places to Get Pictures of Bird's Eye Views of Tokyo Japan

Tokyo is one of 47 prefectures in Japan. Here are three great places to get a nearly 360 degree bird's eye view of Tokyo Japan.

1. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Number 1 has free admissions (day and evenings) to their North and South Observation floors on the 45th floor.

2. Another place is Tokyo Tower which has different admission prices depending if you want to go to the Main Observatory or the Special Observatory which is higher up at around 250 meters.

3. Tokyo City View is located on the 52nd floor of the mixed-used skyscraper called the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. Its ticket counter is on the third floor (so it is not free).

On a clear day, you can see the full expanse of Tokyo with its tall buildings.  This picture was taken from 250 meters up on Tokyo Tower.  This spectacular view was from so high up that you can see the curvature of the Earth...

This next photo is from the 45th floor of the Metropolitan Government Building Number 1.  A bird was flying across the window at the time.  So in fact this is a bird's eye view of Tokyo from the same level of the birds....

Apparently, these photos were taken not on an absolutely a clear day. In fact, you can see rain drops on the windows in the next picture. Nevertheless, the skyscrapers are still amazing....

In fact on days like that, it is good to be inside.  Here is a view of Tokyo through a window taken from the inside of the Government Building.

Tokyo Tower has a main observatory at the height of 150 meters and another special observatory at the height of 250 meters. You can get a view of the scene of Tokyo as viewed from the main observatory on the Tokyo Tower website.

Tokyo Tower with a height of 333 meters is the second tallest structure in Japan and is the 22nd tallest tower in the world. It is no longer the tallest structure in Japan because the Tokyo Sky Tree which is still under construction has surpassed it in height in March 2010 (even in is unfinished form) ^[ref]. When due to be completed in December 2011, Tokyo Sky Tree would be 634 meters high.

In the observation decks, you can walk in a complete circle to get a 360 degree view of Tokyo. Here are some more photos from the higher Special Observatory of Tokyo Tower...

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Number 1 has free admission to its observation floor on the 45th floor. Located in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, the closest train station to it is the Tochomae station of the Toei Oedo Line (also known as the E28 station stop).

Standing at 243 meters with 48 floors, it is the seventh tallest structure in Japan. At the time of its construction completion in 1991, it claimed the title of being "tallest building by roof height" in Tokyo. Although other structures (such as Tokyo Tower) beat its height due to its antenna structure. However, in 2006, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Number 1 lost even that title when other newer skyscrapers (such as the Midtown Tower) surpassed it in roof height.

Here are some more pictures taken from the Government Building...

The Roppongi Hills Mori Tower has 54 floors and is the 10th tallest structure in Japan at 238 meters.

It has an observation deck located on the 52nd floor. This height level (at 250 meters) of this observation deck is similar to that of Tokyo Tower's Special Observatory deck.

You can learn more about this observation deck and get a virtual panoramic view of Tokyo on their website. On the website you can switch between daytime view and night-time view of Tokyo.

The Roppongi Tower is a mixed-used skyscraper. Besides the City View, it also contains art gallery, museum, shops, restaurants, and offices. It is also the home of Pokemon Company.

Here are some views from the Roppongi Hill Tower...

Tokyo Tower

List of tallest structures in Japan

Tokyo Sky Tree

Roppongi Hills Mori Tower

Roppongi Hills Tokyo City View Tour

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Notes

Images may have been digitally enhanced such as cropped, re-sized, sharpened, and/or color adjusted

Article written in May 2010 -- facts and statistics may change since time of writing.