Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building North Observatory — Attraction in Tokyo

I have been coming here for years. Both towers have good views even though the glass is reflective and some other buildings obscure a bit of the view. Still awesome for being free! The staff are nice and it's easy to get here on the subway. The bar in the North tower is a great date night idea especially when the jazz pianist is playing. You can also buy some zany souvenirs if you want.

Only a couple complaints. I have been coming up here every 6 months or so for about 8 years and I don't think it has been renovated. The increased tourist traffic has caused alot of wear and tear on the carpet and window sills. It is clean but really shows it's age. Also, the North tower gets really busy at sunset. The backpackers who jam the viewing areas with their huge backpacks and sit on the windowsills blocking the view are becoming a real nuisance. I know everyone wants a great pic of Fuji at sunset but please be considerate of others and don't sit at the window sill with your camera blocking everyone else's view for 45 minutes. And please don't use the window sill as a park bench to sit on and play with your phone, that's what we use the subway for...

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building – North Observation Deck - F R E E

For photographers visiting Tokyo, the North Observation Deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is an absolute gem — and it’s free! From the moment you step out of the elevator on the 45th floor, you’re greeted by sweeping panoramic views that stretch across the city skyline, with Mount Fuji visible on clear days.

As Photolator photographers, we were impressed by how well the deck is designed for capturing the city — wide, clean windows offer unobstructed shots, and the lighting at sunset turns the skyscrapers into a golden sea. At night, Tokyo’s lights come alive, making for incredible long-exposure opportunities.

Staff are welcoming and organized, and the space never feels rushed. There’s also a small café, perfect for a break while waiting for the perfect light.

Whether you’re a professional photographer or a traveler with a smartphone, the North Observation Deck delivers unforgettable cityscapes — and best of all, it’s one of Tokyo’s best free...

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...