Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower are the city's two most famous vertical landmarks, and they're often positioned as rivals. In reality, they offer entirely different experiences — and many visitors with time benefit from seeing both.
Tokyo Skytree: The Record-Breaker
Opened in 2012, Tokyo Skytree at 634 meters is Japan's tallest structure and the world's tallest freestanding broadcast tower. The Tembo Deck (observation floor) sits at 350 meters — higher than the top of the Eiffel Tower. A glass floor panel allows you to look straight down 350 meters. The upper Tembo Galleria (450 meters) is a spiral glass walkway that gives the sensation of standing in open sky above a city carpet stretching to the horizon.
Admission: Tembo Deck ¥2,100, Tembo Deck + Galleria ¥3,400. Book online to skip queues (particularly on weekends when waits can reach 90 minutes). The surrounding Solamachi shopping complex is free to enter and excellent for Japanese food and retail.
Best for: The most dramatic bird's-eye perspective of Tokyo, glass floor vertigo, clear-day views to Mt. Fuji (southwest) and sometimes as far as Mt. Tsukuba (north).
Tokyo Tower: The Nostalgic Icon
Built in 1958 and modeled on the Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower at 333 meters was Japan's symbol of postwar recovery and remains one of its most beloved landmarks. The Main Deck sits at 150 meters — not particularly high by global standards, but the tower's central location in Minato ward places it surrounded by Tokyo's most interesting urban fabric.
Admission: Main Deck ¥1,200, Top Deck ¥3,000 (Top Deck tour only, at 250 meters). The Top Deck tour (limited numbers, requires advance booking) provides a more intimate experience than Skytree's observatory.
Best for: The nostalgic experience of climbing a 1950s-era steel tower, views of Zojo-ji Temple immediately adjacent (one of Tokyo's great close-up juxtapositions), and the iconic orange-and-white tower itself as a photography subject.
Key Differences
Height: Skytree (350m/450m observation) significantly higher than Tokyo Tower (150m/250m). Crowds: Both popular; Skytree tends to be busier on weekends. Location: Skytree is in Asakusa/Sumida ward (excellent combination with Senso-ji). Tokyo Tower is in Minato ward (combine with Zojo-ji, Roppongi Hills). Atmosphere: Skytree is ultra-modern and glass-forward; Tokyo Tower is analogue and retro. Photography: Tokyo Tower is better photographed from outside (especially from Zojo-ji or Shiba Park); Skytree provides the better view from inside.
The Verdict
Visit Skytree for the spectacular height experience and best views. Visit Tokyo Tower for the nostalgic atmosphere and the exterior photography it enables. If you can only do one: Skytree for first-time visitors who want maximum impact; Tokyo Tower for those who appreciate the historical significance and retro character. Both are worth doing if you have 3+ days in Tokyo.