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At 634 meters, Tokyo Skytree is the tallest tower in Japan, and most visitors go up in the middle of the day. That’s a mistake. The Tokyo Skytree night view is the version worth crossing the city for: a sea of lights that runs to the horizon in every direction, with the Sumida River bridges and Tokyo Tower picked out in the dark.
This guide explains why evening is the best time to go up, how the two observation decks compare after dark, what tickets cost and when last entry is, and where to see the tower’s own lighting from the ground. Prices and hours come from the official Tokyo Skytree website as of October 2026.
Contents
- Why the Tokyo Skytree Night View Beats a Daytime Visit
- Tembo Deck vs Tembo Galleria at Night
- Tokyo Skytree Tickets, Hours and Last Entry
- The Best Time for the Tokyo Skytree Night View
- How Tokyo Skytree Lights Up at Night
- Where to See Tokyo Skytree Lit Up From Outside
- Getting There and Making a Night of It
- Quick Tips for Your Visit
- Frequently Asked Questions About Tokyo Skytree at Night
- What do you do in Tokyo After 10?Join our Tokyo Nightlife Private Tour
- Skip the Guesswork: See Tokyo After Dark With a Local
- About the Author
Why the Tokyo Skytree Night View Beats a Daytime Visit
In daylight, the view from 350 meters is impressive but flat, which is exactly why the Tokyo Skytree night view wins. Tokyo is a low, gray city that goes on for a very long way, and from that height it can look like one huge parking lot. After dark, everything changes. Expressways become rivers of headlights, the office towers of Shinjuku and Marunouchi glow as separate clusters, and the bridges over the Sumida River light up right below you.
There are practical reasons too:
- It’s a better use of your day. Daylight hours are for temples, markets and neighborhoods that close early. The observation decks stay open until 22:00, so Skytree fits neatly between dinner and a night out.
- The glass works with you. In daylight you get haze and glare. At night the windows are darker, and if you hold your phone close to the glass you can get sharp photos of the lights.
- Asakusa is right next door. You can walk or take one stop to Asakusa afterwards and see Senso-ji lit up after the daytime crowds have gone home.
If you want the best of both, go up just before sunset. You’ll see the city in daylight, watch it fade, and stay for the lights coming on, all on one ticket.
Tembo Deck vs Tembo Galleria at Night
Skytree has two observation levels, and they feel quite different after dark.
Tembo Deck (350m): The Main Night View
The Tembo Deck covers Floors 340, 345 and 350. Its tall glass windows wrap all the way around the tower, giving you an unbroken 360-degree view of the city at night. This is where most people spend their time, and for good reason. The windows are huge and there’s plenty of space to move between the different directions.
A few things worth knowing:
- Floor 340 has a glass floor section. Looking straight down 340 meters at the lit streets is far more unnerving at night than it is during the day.
- SKYTREE CAFE serves drinks. It’s one of the few places in Tokyo where you can sip a drink 350 meters up. At night it closes at 21:45, with last orders at 21:15.
- Sky Restaurant 634 is on Floor 345. It serves high-end Japanese “Tokyo cuisine”. It closes at 22:00, but last entry is 19:30, so book ahead if you want dinner with the view.
Tembo Galleria (450m): The Highest Point You Can Reach
From the Tembo Deck, the Tembo Shuttle elevator takes you another 100 meters up. The elevator has glass sections, so you watch the night view drop away as you rise. At the top, the Tembo Galleria is a sloping glass corridor that spirals about 110 meters from Floor 445 up to Floor 450. Floor 450 is the highest point visitors can reach in the tower.
The corridor is narrower than the Tembo Deck, and it feels closer to the outside of the tower. At night, with the glass walls curving around you, it really does feel like walking through the sky, and you get the Tokyo Skytree night view from 100 meters higher than the deck below.
Is the Tembo Galleria Worth It at Night?
If it’s your first visit and the weather is clear, yes. The extra height doesn’t completely change the view, but walking up through the dark in a glass tube is the most memorable part of a Tokyo Skytree visit at night. If you’re on a budget, or the clouds are low, the Tembo Deck alone still gives you most of the experience.
Tokyo Skytree Tickets, Hours and Last Entry
Ticket prices at Tokyo Skytree change by date, so the official site lists “from” prices. These are the starting adult (15+) prices:
| Ticket | Adults (15+) | Children (6-14) |
|---|---|---|
| Combo ticket (Tembo Deck + Tembo Galleria) | from ¥3,000 | from ¥1,500 |
| Tembo Deck only | from ¥1,800 | from ¥900 |
| Tembo Galleria add-on (on site) | ¥1,400 | ¥700 |
Children aged 5 and under go free. The Tembo Galleria add-on is only sold at the ticket machines on the Tembo Deck, to people who already have a Tembo Deck ticket.
Buy online. If you buy at the 4th-floor ticket counter or the vending machines, there’s an extra ¥500 service fee per ticket. Booking online for a set entry time also helps you avoid the queues that build up on weekend evenings.
Hours. The observation decks close at 22:00, and last entry is at 21:00 (one hour before closing). Opening time is 10:00 on weekdays and 9:00 on weekends and holidays. Hours can change without notice, so check the official Tokyo Skytree website for the date you plan to visit.
Don’t leave it until the last minute. If you arrive at 20:50 you’ll technically get in, but you’ll be rushed through the best part of the night.
The Best Time for the Tokyo Skytree Night View
Aim to be at the top about 30 minutes before sunset. In Tokyo that’s roughly 17:00 in October, earlier in midwinter and closer to 19:00 in early summer. This gives you the “magic hour”, when the sky is still deep blue and the city lights are already on. That’s when photos look best.
If you can’t make sunset, any time after dark works for the Tokyo Skytree night view. The view doesn’t get worse as the night goes on. Weekday evenings are usually calmer than weekend ones.
Check the weather before you go, because cloud can wipe out the Tokyo Skytree night view entirely. On a clear night you can see a very long way. When the cloud base is low, though, you may find yourself looking at a wall of white from 450 meters.
How Tokyo Skytree Lights Up at Night
The tower itself is part of the show. Every evening Tokyo Skytree is lit in one of three regular designs, which change from night to night:
- Iki (粋): pale blue, inspired by the waters of the Sumida River
- Miyabi (雅): “Edo purple”, with sparkles of gold-leaf-like light
- Nobori (幟): tachibana orange, a traditionally lucky color, with designs that suggest festival banners
After sunset there’s a transitional white lighting phase, and then the evening’s main design runs until midnight. Special lighting designs regularly replace the normal three. This autumn’s official lighting calendar includes a pink “Pink Ribbon” design for breast cancer awareness and a Halloween special. The official lighting page publishes the day-by-day schedule, so check it if you’re hoping to see a particular color.
Keep in mind that you can’t see the lighting while you’re up in the tower. To watch it, you need to be on the ground.
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Where to See Tokyo Skytree Lit Up From Outside
These spots near the tower are free, and they show off the lighting best:
- Jukkenbashi Bridge: a small bridge over the Kitajukken River, about 10 minutes’ walk from the tower. On a still night, the Skytree is reflected upside down in the water. It’s the classic photo spot.
- Azumabashi Bridge: the red bridge by Asakusa. Here you can photograph the Skytree with the Sumida River and the Asahi Beer building, all in one shot.
- Sumida Park: a riverside park on the Asakusa side. It’s quieter at night, with open views across the river.
Getting There and Making a Night of It
Tokyo Skytree sits directly above Tokyo Skytree Station on the Tobu Skytree Line, and next to Oshiage Station. Oshiage is served by the Hanzomon, Asakusa and Keisei lines. The base of the tower connects to Tokyo Solamachi, a large shopping complex with restaurants on several floors, so it’s easy to eat before or after going up.
The smart move is to pair the Tokyo Skytree night view with Asakusa, just across the river. Cross the Sumida River and you’re in one of Tokyo’s best evening neighborhoods. Senso-ji is lit up after dark, and the side streets fill with locals drinking. Our Asakusa night tour guide covers the route from the temple down to the river. For somewhere cheap to sit down with a beer and grilled skewers, Hoppy Street in Asakusa is close to Senso-ji.
If you’re planning to go somewhere else afterwards, remember that the deck closes at 22:00 and Tokyo’s trains don’t run all night. Check our guide to Tokyo’s last train times before you decide where to go next.
Quick Tips for Your Visit
- Book a timed ticket online to skip the ¥500 counter fee and the queue.
- Wear dark clothes. Light-colored tops reflect in the glass at night and show up in your photos.
- Turn off your flash. It only lights up the window. Press your lens against the glass instead.
- Have a backup plan for cloudy nights. If the top is hidden, a lower viewpoint can be better. Our guide to rooftop bars in Tokyo with a night view has options closer to street level.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tokyo Skytree at Night
Is the Tokyo Skytree night view better than the day view? For most people, yes. During the day you see a wide gray city. At night you see lights, roads and rivers that make the scale of Tokyo easy to grasp. Going just before sunset lets you see both.
How late is Tokyo Skytree open? The observation decks close at 22:00, and last entry is at 21:00.
How much does it cost to go up Tokyo Skytree at night? There’s no separate night price. Adult tickets start from ¥1,800 for the Tembo Deck and from ¥3,000 for the combo ticket with the Tembo Galleria. The exact price depends on the date.
What time does Tokyo Skytree light up? The lights come on after sunset with a white transition phase. The main design (Iki, Miyabi, Nobori or a special design) then runs until midnight.
Can you see Tokyo Tower from Tokyo Skytree at night? Yes, on a clear night Tokyo Tower is visible to the southwest, lit against the city.
What do you do in Tokyo After 10?
Join our Tokyo Nightlife Private Tour
You deserve better than overpriced bars and missed opportunities. We’re here for you.
Skip the Guesswork: See Tokyo After Dark With a Local
The Tokyo Skytree night view is easy to do on your own. The harder part comes when the decks close at 22:00 and you’re standing in Oshiage wondering where to go next. Tokyo’s best bars are often on the fifth floor of a building with no English sign. If you’d like someone who lives here to take you from the city lights to the places locals actually drink, take a look at our Tokyo After 10 nightlife private tour. Your guide handles the route, the ordering and the “is this place OK for foreigners?” questions, so all you have to do is enjoy the night.
