What other travelers are saying about Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Two really fun experiences here! First, you can ride the elevators to the top floor observation towers for FREE! Yes,I said it-FREE! The South Tower is even open late into the night (9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with last entry at 9:30 p.m.) Nice views of the city. I was surprised at how much greenery there is in the middle of Tokyo. On the day we went, it was foggy so our view was limited, but it was still fun. There is a nice gift shop. The tourist information area is located on the first floor and you can book FREE tours. The second really fun offering is the nightly Guiness World Record sized projections on the facade of the building. There are several different shows so you can buy yourself a drink from a vending machine or a nearby 7 Eleven, relax, and enjoy the colorful presentation. There were a few food trucks while we were there. It was not crowded.
I love how I could see all of Tokyo from here! The best part is that it is FREE and that it was walking distance from my hotel. I saw that they also have night time viewings which I was interested in, but I couldn’t go since I didn’t have time. They organized this very well so they manage people going up & down. I went on a Wednesday and the southside was closed, which was unfortunate. I still got to view from the north side so it was totally fine! Make sure to check when they’re open or closed before going. They also have a gift shop on the very top floor from the north tower so you can also do some shopping there too.
The observatory has amazing views across Tokyo. You can see Mt. Fuji, although a little hazy on the day we went, it was a wonderful view. Gives you some idea of the scale of the city, it is vast. Great place, there is a shop at the top, even sells beer. Best thing is entrance is free, just a short queue.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building should be on everyone’s list when visiting Shinjuku as there are two really great experiences - The best part is that they are FREE!! There is an observation deck in both towers - you catch the elevators on the first floor to the top floor observation towers. The South Tower is even open late into the night (9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with last entry at 9:30 p.m.). We went up the south tour at lunch hour on a Tuesday and it wasn’t busy at all. What was even better was they had an “open mic” piano with some beautiful piano musicians playing while you took in the views.
The second great experience is the nightly Guiness World Record sized projections on the facade of the building. There are several different shows and they run every half-hour starting at 7:30pm. Buy yourself a lemon-sour (or other drink) from a vending machine or a nearby 7 Eleven, relax, and enjoy the colorful presentation. Again we went on a Tuesday evening and it wasn’t crowded at all. There were a few food trucks while we were there. Definitely recommend adding this spot to your visit!
The observatory is a lovely space with all round views of Tokyo. On a good day, you can even spot Mt Fujiyama in the distance. Access is free with a fast moving queue.
The gift and coffee shop is also very nice and convenient.