Tokyo Night Views - Sensoji Temple
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8 Best Night Views in Tokyo

With plenty of things to do and see, Tokyo never fails to impress its visitors. If you have questions like “Where to go in Tokyo at Night,” “Where to visit in Tokyo in the evening,” “The best places to see incredible views of Tokyo’s skyline,” “Things to do in Tokyo at night” then you have come to the right spot to find your answers.

Tokyo has a special kind of nightlife. Other cities will offer you restaurants, music and dance venues, and lots of lights, but in Tokyo, there’s even more to see. The city lights are truly incredible, even from the ground, but there are also many places where you can see them very well from up high.

Whether you are in the city for a business trip or a vacation, you should take the time to visit these amazing night views in Tokyo:

1. Sensoji Temple

Sensoji Temple at Night, Tokyo
Beautiful illumination! Sensoji temple at night. Photo Credit: IQRemix at Flickr.

Tokyo’s oldest temple is worth a visit at any time of day, but at night it is especially magical. The temple was built in 645 AD and is a Buddhist holy site.

Unlike many other temples, you can visit this one at night. The lighting makes the red color and traditional style of the temple into something magical.

The area nearby is full of souvenir and food stands, making it a perfect sightseeing destination. While many of the shops in the area are closed at night, you’ll be able to see some of the area’s unique street art on their locked doors.

Staying in a hotel around this neighborhood is an unique experience. You will find lots of restaurants, bars and souvenirs shops. In the evening, you can take a walk along the Sumida River.

This hotel in Asakusa area is the most popular one with great views of Sensoji Temple and Tokyo Skytree, though it depends on your accommodation budget.

2. Tokyo Skytree (Sumida River at Asakusa)

Tokyo Skytree in Japan at Night
You will see this kind of view of Tokyo Skytree when you take a walk along the Sumida River. Photo Credit: T.Kiya at Flickr.

This is the tallest freestanding tower in the world and currently is the second tallest structure in the world.

It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tokyo, offering incredible views of the surrounding city and bay. At night, it is very brightly lit and is worth seeing from the outside as well.

A great photo of the Tokyo Skytree can be taken from across the Sumida River near Asakusa (Sensoji Nitenmon) Pier.

You can see the entire tower from here without needing to crane your neck. You won’t find anything else like the Skytree in any other place in the world.

3. Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge over Tokyo Bay, Tokyo. Photo Credit: Fabian Reus at Flickr.

This is the most famous bridge in Tokyo. It spans over Tokyo Bay and was built in 1993 to carry the Metropolitan Expressway No. 11 Daiba Route and the hi-tech Yurikamome Line.

At night, you can see how the bridge earned its name, as its white supports are lit up in rainbow colors.

You’ll get the best view if you go to Odaiba and either Daiba Park or Odaiba Haihin-Koen. Many cities feature brightly lit bridges, but none compare to the many brilliant colors of Tokyo’s Rainbow Bridge!

4. Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower at Night. Photo Credit: T.Kiya at Flickr.

It’s hard to miss the Tokyo Tower. It extends 333 meters tall in red and white above the city skyline.

It is primarily a broadcasting tower, but there is also a viewing platform that provides a great view of the bustling cityscape.

There are three tiers of Tokyo Tower. The first, Foot Town, is a busy area of shops and cafes that are located at the base of the tower.

The Main Observatory is 150 meters up, while the best view is had from higher up, at 250 meters, at the Special Observatory.

Tokyo Tower is open from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM, allowing you to view the city as it lights up at night.

You can enjoy incredible night views of this tower from Shiba Park and Zojoji Temple’s compound.

5. Tokyo Station

Tokyo Station at Night. Photo Credit: bethom33 at Flickr.

This huge train station is the terminal station for the Shinkansen bullet train and numerous trains (and around a million passengers) pass through it every day.

Tokyo Station has a long history and was originally built in 1914. The great Kanto Earthquake destroyed much of it in 1923. It was also heavily damaged during the war.

In 2012, the beautiful station building was reconstructed. This is an icon of the capital and at night its red brick is artfully lit, making for a warm and welcome sight.

Whether you plan to take a train or are just sightseeing, make sure to stop to admire the view.

6. Tokyo City View (Tokyo City View Observation Deck)

Night view from Mori Tower, Roppongi Hills. Photo Credit: Mori Building Co., Ltd.

This incredible observation deck is located 250 meters above sea level atop the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. There is an indoor and outdoor observatory above it.

The rooftop observatory is the only open-air observatory in Kanto. From these heights, you can look down onto the busy Roppongi District below.

It’s a great place to enjoy the sunset and see all the many incredible lights of Tokyo turn on at night. You can see many of the major highlights of the city from Tokyo City View, including the Skytree and Rainbow Bridge.

7. Tokyo World Trade Center Building

Tokyo Skytree’s Night View from World Trade Center Building Tokyo. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Even busy, bright Tokyo had its first skyscraper and that was the Tokyo World Trade Center. It is 163 meters tall and was built in 1970 over Hamamatsucho Station.

Don’t let its age fool you; the Tokyo World Trade Center has been recently renovated and that includes its observation deck. Here, you can get a panoramic view of the city below.

You can get especially excellent views of Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden, Tokyo Tower, the Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Bay, as well as passing bullet trains. At night, this vast view is filled with lights, making it a great romantic spot.

8. Shinjuku

A typical street view of Shinjuku in the evening. Photo Credit: Sergey Galyonkin at Flickr.

Tokyo features plenty of busy nightlife, but Shinjuku might be some of the busiest. This large entertainment district surrounding the very busy Shinjuku Station features all manner of shopping and dining options.

At night the area lights up. One of the interesting facts about Shinjuku is that the area possesses the highest number of restaurants in Tokyo.

The view of Shinjuku’s many lights is especially good from the observation deck of the Metropolitan Government Office skyscraper, which can be accessed for free. The other nearby skyscrapers also feature restaurants and observation decks with great views.

Learn how to spend three days in Tokyo during the cherry blossom season.

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