Tokyo Skytree Town Experience

Often compared to the Freedom Tower in New York, the London Eye, and Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the Tokyo Skytree just celebrated its tenth anniversary. Providing a dramatic change to the city’s skyline in 2012, the Tokyo Skytree also gave the city a new television tower. And, it created an exciting place to visit that draws both locals and tourists alike. To celebrate this monumental anniversary, special events dot the calendar through June 2022.

A Tale of Two Decks

Constructed in traditional indigo blue, Tokyo Skytree stands almost 2,100-feet high with two observation decks. The lower Tembo Deck at 1,150 feet spans 10 floors from the 340th to the 350th.  It has splendid views but more of a frenetic environment due to its popularity and live music playing at times. Visit before sunset to see the lights of Tokyo illuminated. A souvenir shop and the official Tokyo Skytree Restaurant exist on this deck.

The second observation deck known as the Tokyo Skytree Tembo Galleria sits at about 1,500 feet. Only about a third of visitors opt to pay the additional entry fee for this deck. With fewer crowds, this deck presents a more serene, almost zen-like experience. This upper deck is reached by a ramp through a glass tunnel that ascends the tower, circling the outside from the 445^th to the 450^th floor with full 360 views of the city.  Temporary art exhibitions are installed at the top.

Museums at Tokyo Skytree Town

Besides the views, there’s plenty to see at Tokyo Skytree Town. Plan an entire afternoon or evening to take it all in.  There’s an on-site Sumida Aquarium with penguins, freshwater goldfish, eels, jellyfish (various varieties), etc. and a simulation tank that incorporates all the fish in nearby Tokyo Bay. There’s also a Planetarium on the 7^th floor and the Postal Museum Japan on the 9^th floor.

Beer Garden at Tokyo Skytree Town

In the outside courtyard on the 4^th floor, there’s a Beer Garden for people to enjoy a view of the tower.  There are couches and lounge chairs for taking pictures while reclining in various positions, as well as selfie opportunities with the tower behind and above you.  You can grab a local Japanese beer at the pop-up restaurant and some BBQ Shabu Shabu and Chicken Kare Age (fried chicken with a dipping sauce) to snack on.

The Beer Garden takes advantage of the seasons to change its theme, for example in the winter there is an Ice Skating rink and Christmas Market.

Tokyo Solamachi Shopping Mall

Completing a visit to Skytree Town there’s a mall on the first 7 floors with over 300 shops and 50 restaurants. The entrance is through the fourth-floor beer garden and as a tourist I really enjoyed this part of the experience. There were separate kiosks and stalls selling local products from all over Japan ranging from souvenirs to fans, knives, foods, sweets, and candies.

There are also two antenna shops representing regions outside of Tokyo where you’ll find authentic local products from those regions.  These were opened by Japanese regional governments like Nikko, Chiba or Hokkaido, to showcase their products in Tokyo. People who have relocated to Tokyo from these regions can buy things from their hometown or ingredients to prepare meals that remind them of home. Antenna shops sometimes have restaurants attached but those at Skytree don’t.

The third floor includes a traditional fashion shopping center with Uniqlo and other local boutiques, and the 2nd floor has a supermarket that sells a wide variety of fish and sweets.

The first floor is a souvenir shop selling postcards, replicas of the tower and other memorabilia for tourists. There is also a Food Court on the 6th and 7th floors and Solomachi Dining with the Skytree view on the 30^th and 31^st floors.

Embraced by both tourists and locals alike, Tokyo Skytree Town remains a must-see attraction with 10,000+ visitors a day and 20,000+ visitors a day on weekends. Anyone visiting Tokyo should plan an afternoon or evening there.