Tokyo has not one, but two sky-high landmarks. While one is a sleek and futuristic giant, the other is a nostalgic red-and-white dream. Both offer unbeatable views, but which one should you visit? Let’s break it down!
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of key facts:
Features
Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Tower
Height
634m
333m
Observation decks
2 (Tembo Deck at 350m & Tembo Galleria at 450m)
2 (Main Deck at 150m & Top Deck at 250m)
Style
Futuristic & glassy
Retro & Eiffel-inspired
Built in
2012
1958
Location
Sumida
Minato
Ticket price (Adult)
With clouds drifting below and the city shrinking into a miniature, it’s a futuristic dreamscape above the noise.
Tokyo Tower stands at 333 m with observation decks at 150 m and ~250 m, while Tokyo Skytree rises to 634 m, featuring decks at 350 m (Tembo Deck) and 450 m (Tembo Galleria).
Skytree provides more expansive vistas—including Tokyo Tower itself and Mt. Fuji on clear days—due to its extreme height. But Tokyo Tower gives a more immersive city view, nestled amid downtown skyscrapers.
Yes! Both towers feature thrilling glass floor sections on their observation decks.
Tokyo Tower is significantly cheaper, making it the go-to choice for budget-conscious visitors.
Skytree tickets cost slightly more (~¥200 extra) on weekends and holidays. Tower pricing remains mostly static, though Top Deck bookings can sell out.
Both are wheelchair-friendly. Skytree offers accessible elevators, toilets, and routes throughout its floors. Tokyo Tower has some limitations — for example, only one wheelchair user on the Top Deck at a time — but has accessible facilities on multiple floors.
Tokyo Tower features “Foot Town” with restaurants, souvenir shops, VR attractions, an aquarium, and seasonal pop-ups. Tokyo Skytree is part of “Skytree Town,” including a shopping mall with 300+ stores, Sumida Aquarium, a planetarium, a museum, cafes, restaurants & Pokémon Center.
Tokyo Tower is popular in the evening and at night for its iconic illumination, but it's less crowded around midday. Tokyo Skytree tends to be busiest between 12pm and 6pm on weekends and holidays, while weekdays, early mornings, and evenings usually offer shorter queues and a more relaxed experience.
Tokyo Tower: 5–15 min walk from Onarimon, Akabanebashi, Kamiyacho, or Hamamatsucho stations. Tokyo Skytree: Direct access via Tokyo Skytree Station (Tobu line) or Oshiage Station (Toei, Metro, Tobu).
Tokyo Tower offers VR zones and interactive exhibits in Foot Town. Skytree delivers a broader family experience with an aquarium, planetarium, and kid-friendly attractions.
Tokyo Tower has a cafe-bar on the Main Deck, whereas Skytree has Sky Restaurant Musashi on the 345 m level and several cafes on lower floors.
Both towers feature restaurants, cafes, and restrooms on observation levels and base floors. Accessibility varies: Skytree toilets are uniformly wheelchair-friendly, while Tower varies by level.
Yes! Many travelers recommend seeing both. Together, they offer comprehensive perspectives on old and new Tokyo.
TOKYO SKYTREE Tickets
Tokyo Tower Tickets
TOKYO SKYTREE Tembo Deck & Tembo Galleria Tickets
Tokyo Tower Top Deck Tickets