When traveling to Tokyo with family, ‘where can both children and adults have fun together?’ is often a big concern. Shopping alone might bore the kids, and amusement parks can exhaust adults… In such cases, ‘observation decks’ where you can experience Tokyo’s dynamic scenery with all five senses are highly recommended.
This time, we’ve carefully selected and compiled ‘real-world strategies’ for families, covering everything from the classic Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree to the latest trend, SHIBUYA SKY. Be sure to check out these tips before you go, including advice on avoiding crowds at each spot, the pitfalls of bringing a stroller, and hidden gems that will make your children’s eyes light up!
SHIBUYA SKY
📍 Address: Japan, 〒150-6145 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 2 Chome−24−12, Scramble Square 14F, 45F, 46F, RooftopSHIBUYA SKY, located at the top of Shibuya Scramble Square, continues to be overwhelmingly popular even years after its opening. From the rooftop, approximately 230m above ground, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Tokyo. You can lie down with your children on the spacious artificial turf or in net hammocks to gaze at the sky, an extraordinary experience.
【Real-World Tips for Families】
The biggest key to fully enjoying this facility is ‘advance preparation’. First, tickets for the most popular time slot, from dusk to night, become fiercely competitive as soon as they go on sale online at midnight two weeks in advance. Same-day tickets are often sold out, so be sure to book in advance.
Also, the most important thing for families with children is the ‘rules for luggage and strollers’. Due to strong winds, carrying luggage onto the rooftop area is strictly restricted. All items, except smartphones and cameras with neck straps, including hats, must be stored in dedicated lockers on the 46th floor (100-yen coin-operated, refundable). Furthermore, strollers are not allowed in the rooftop area (e.g., helipad), so if you have a small baby, bringing a ‘baby carrier’ is a must.
On the 46th floor, where the indoor observation corridor is located, there’s a baby room equipped with diaper changing tables and nursing spaces, as well as strollers available for rent indoors. So, as long as you know the rules, even parents with babies can safely enjoy the spectacular views. If the weather is bad (strong winds, lightning, etc.), the rooftop area may be closed, but it’s a welcome bonus that you can cancel for free before entry.
Tokyo Tower
📍 Address: Japan, 〒105-0011 Tokyo, Minato City, Shibakoen, 4 Chome−2−8Completed in 1958, Tokyo Tower has long been cherished as a symbol of Japan. Did you know it’s actually a highly satisfying ‘interactive’ tourist spot for families?
【Real-World Tips for Families】
If you’re visiting with children, instead of taking the elevator straight up, we highly recommend challenging the ‘Open-Air Outside Staircase Walk’ (approx. 600 steps). The experience of walking up between the red steel frames while feeling the wind will spark your children’s sense of adventure. Preschoolers (ages 5-6) to elementary school children can complete the climb in about 15 minutes, and the sense of accomplishment from ‘climbing Tokyo Tower on my own two feet!’ will be an unforgettable memory. Quiz panels scattered along the outdoor stairs are also a clever way to keep children engaged.
Once you reach the observation deck, experience the thrilling sensation of floating 145m above ground on the glass-floored ‘Skywalk Window’. Also, looking west at dusk reveals the magnificent silhouette of Mt. Fuji, which then transitions into a beautiful Tokyo nightscape – this magic hour is a must-see. If you wish to join the higher ‘Top Deck Tour (250m)’, we strongly recommend booking online in advance to avoid waiting times and receive a discount.
Even after descending the tower, the fun doesn’t end. At ‘GALAXY’, a souvenir shop on the 3rd floor of the ‘Foot Town’ facility directly below, you can buy store-exclusive commemorative medals. Or, at ‘RED° KIDS’ inside the digital theme park ‘RED° TOKYO TOWER’, you can experience next-generation sand play, making it a full day of fun. If the weather is good, the classic route is to take a stroll in the adjacent ‘Shiba Park’ on your way home and take family photos looking up at the majestic Tokyo Tower from below.
Tokyo Skytree
📍 Address: Japan, 〒131-0045 Tokyo, Sumida City, Oshiage, 1 Chome−1−2Standing at 634 meters, Tokyo Skytree is one of the world’s leading landmarks, offering an overwhelming view of the Kanto Plain below. Paired with ‘Tokyo Solamachi’, the commercial facility at its base, it’s the ultimate tourist spot where everyone in the family can find something they ‘want to do’.
【Real-World Tips for Families】
Skytree also gets very crowded on weekends and in the evenings. Waiting in line for same-day tickets with children is incredibly difficult, so be sure to arrange your web tickets using advance booking sites like Asoview. This not only shortens your waiting time but also applies a discount, killing two birds with one stone. The easiest time to avoid crowds is ‘weekday mornings’.
Ascending to the ‘Tembo Galleria’ approximately 450m above ground, cars and buildings appear as tiny as a diorama, and children are sure to be thrilled, glued to the windows. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of window cleaning gondola work up close, a hidden gem.
And the ‘Tokyo Solamachi’ at its base is a powerful ally for family tourism. The ‘Sumida Aquarium’ on the 5th and 6th floors features one of Japan’s largest indoor open-air penguin tanks, and strollers are allowed. Also, the huge food court ‘Solamachi Tabeterasu’ offers child-friendly menus like udon and hamburgers, ensuring everyone in the family is happy even if tastes differ. Furthermore, there’s an indoor playground called ‘Chiikyu no Niwa’ and popular character shops like Kirby and Chiikawa. Solamachi’s presence, which is unaffected by weather and provides a place to rest whenever you’re tired, significantly lowers the hurdles for family visits to Skytree.
3 Real-World Tips for a Successful Family Trip to Tokyo
1. Advance ticket purchase is your ‘safety charm’
All three facilities introduced here are popular spots representing Tokyo. Spending time queuing for same-day tickets will significantly drain children’s energy and temper. Online advance reservations and ticket purchases lead not only to smooth entry but also to budget savings (web discounts).
2. Check ‘luggage’ and ‘stroller’ rules in advance
Observation facilities have their own rules regarding luggage and strollers for safety reasons. Especially for rooftop facilities like ‘SHIBUYA SKY’, strollers are not allowed due to strong winds. Simulating the presence of lockers at each facility or when to switch to a baby carrier before departure will prevent you from panicking on-site.
3. Plan a ‘flexible’ schedule that isn’t too packed
Children get excited and surprisingly tired when climbing to high places. After the observation deck, the trick is to plan for a spot where both parents and children can relax without stress, such as ‘Solamachi’s food court’ or ‘Shiba Park’s lawn’. Make lots of precious family memories with Tokyo’s spectacular views!
