Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory: Enjoy The City View For Free!

Enjoy a 360 degree view of Tokyo and find out about all the great facilities inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory for free!

After walking about ten minutes from JR Shinjuku Station, you will spot a sci-fi looking structure among the many skyscrapers within the Shinjuku metropolis. This building with a unique design is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. It is a hidden tourist spot that many people visit.

While it is a building where mainly government issues are carried out, it is also a spot where you can see the grand view of Tokyo from the observatory for free!

Free Entry! See Tokyo From All Angles

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government building is one of the major landmarks of Tokyo. It has two towers, simply called tower one and tower two, but the observatory is located on top of tower one.

Located 202 meters above ground, it is on the forty-fifth floor. You may not be able to tell from the unique shape of the building, but there are two observatories, one facing the north and one facing the south.

The left side faces the south and the right side faces the north. It is quite a sight already, even looking from bottom up! It almost gives off the feel of the moment you enter a dungeon in a video game.

After going through a security check, take the observatory elevator located on the first floor to go soaring up 202 meters high. It only takes 55 seconds for you to reach the observatory!

Upon arriving at the observatory, you will see a grand panorama of Tokyo spread 360 degrees before your eyes! Since it is free, you will see many visitors from all over the world witnessing the spectacular view. Take this great opportunity to walk around the observatory to enjoy the view of the different sights and angles of the city.

Toward the north-east, you can spot Tokyo SKYTREE and the Tokyo Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower.

In this photo, it is rather small, but you can see Tokyo Tower in the middle from the southeast side of the observatory.

On a clear, sunny day, you will even be able to see snow-capped Mt. Fuji from the western side.

Spend A Day Relaxing At The Cafe And Shopping For Souvenirs

Not only can you gaze at the view of Tokyo, but there are relaxing cafes and shops where you can purchase souvenirs. It’s great how you can take your time here and really enjoy the area.

This is the souvenir shop Hakuhinkan. It carries many character goods and items related to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, so they would make perfect souvenirs.

This is Tokyo Cafe 202 that is located in the south observatory. With a comforting atmosphere, you will almost forget you are 202 meters above the ground. The north observatory is open until 11 PM, so you will be able to have a delicious meal with a great night view of Tokyo from the Good View Tokyo restaurant.

As you can see, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building makes a great highlight during your tour around Tokyo. Despite it sounding rather uptight from the name, it is a great place to see Tokyo from above without spending a single yen. Why not see the 360-degree view of Tokyo from the observatory next time?

Information

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observatory
Address: Tokyo, Shinjuku, Nishi-Shinjuku 2-8-1
Business Time: 9:30 – 23:00 (South observatory is open until 17:30)
Fixed holidays: South observatory is closed on the first and third Tuesdays of every month.
North observatory is closed on the second and fourth Mondays of every month along with December 29-31, January 2 and 3.
Nearest station: Shinjuku Station (新宿駅) on the JR and other lines; Tocho mae Station (都庁前駅) Oedo Subway line
Access: 10 minute walk from Shinjuku Station
Telephone number: +81-03-5320-7890
Website: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories

 

Tokyo
Government Offices

 

Tokyo
is the capital city of Japan. It
is the seat of the Japanese Government
and home of the Japanese Imperial
Family. The Diet, the Prime Minister’s
Office, the Cabinet Office, all
the various Ministries, the Supreme
Court, Bank of Japan, and the Board
of Audit are all located in Tokyo.
Tokyo is also the location of the
Imperial Palace and its administrative
office, the Japanese Imperial Administration.

Although
Tokyo is known as a city in the
sense that most people of other
countries know of, in Japan it is
a little different. Here, Tokyo
is a metropolitan prefecture, or
a regional authority, consisting
of 23 wards. Wards (known as “ku”
in Japanese) are special entities
which function as separate administrative
areas. They operate as separate
cities, but all fall under one main
umbrella – the metropolis of Tokyo.

The
Metropolis of Tokyo has a special
governing process. Each ward has
its own local government and manages
its own services just like any city
does. To keep uniformity among the
wards and cohesion as a single city,
Tokyo has a larger government of
the metropolis as a whole – the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Services
such as education, fire-fighting,
police, waterworks and sewerage
are managed by the metropolitan
government.

The
center of the administrative works
of the metropolitan government is
located in the Tokyo Metropolitan
Government Buildings. (Please
refer to our Nishi Shinjuku page
for for details of the Buildings)
For
the convenience of Tokyo visitors,
listed below are the addresses and
telephone numbers of the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government Buildings
and other offices under its jurisdiction
:

 

Tokyo
Metropolitan Government Buildings

2-8-1,
Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
163-8001

Tel:
03-5321-1111

Web:
http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/

 

Foreign
Residents’ Advisory Center

Tokyo
Metropolitan Government Building
No 1, 3F

2-8-1,
Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
163-8001

Tel:
03-5320-7744

 

General
Information Center for Foreign Residents

5-5-30,
Konan, Minato-ku

Tel:
03-5796-7111

 

Tokyo
Labor Bureau with an advisor for
Foreign Workers

1-7-22,
Koraku, Bunkyo-ku

Tel:
03-3814-5314

 

Metropolitan
Police Department

2-1-1,
Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku

Tel:
03-3501-0110

 

Tokyo
Fire Department

1-3-5,
Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku

Tel:
03-3212-2323

 

For
information concerning driver’s
licenses:

 

Samezu
Driver’s License Test Center
1-12-5, Higashi-Oi, Shinagawa-ku

Tel:
03-3474-1374

 

Fuchu
Driver’s License Test Center

3-1-1,
Tamamachi, Fuchu-shi

Tel:
03-0423-62-3591

 

Koto
Driver’s License Test Center

1-7-24,
Shinsuna, Koto-ku

Tel:
03-3699-1151

 

For
car registrations, insurance, road
and vehicle taxes:

 

Tokyo
Land Transport Office

Tel:
050-5540-2030

Following
are the 23 Wards of Tokyo
with the addresses, telephone
numbers and websites of their offices.
Alien applications and registrations
are handled by the offices of the
Wards of residence.

 

• 
Adachi

1-17-1,
Chuohoncho, Adachi-ku 120-8510

Tel:
03-3880-5111

Web: http://www.city.adachi.tokyo.jp/060/english/index.html

• 
Arakawa

2-2-3,
Awakawa, Arakawa-ku 116-8501

Tel:
03-3802-3111

Web:
http://www.city.arakawa.tokyo.jp/foreign/english/index.html

• 
Bunkyo

1-16-21,
Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku 112-8555

Tel:
03-3812-7111

Web:
http://www.city.bunkyo.lg.jp/english

• 
Chiyoda

1-6-11,
Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku 102-8688

Tel:
03-3264-2111

Web: http://www.city.chiyoda.tokyo.jp/english/e-index.html

• 
Chuo

1-1-1,
Tsukiji, Chuo-ku 104-8404

Tel:
03-3543-0211

Web: http://www.city.chuo.lg.jp/foreign/english/index.html

• 
Edogawa

1-4-1,
Chuo, Edogawa-ku 132-8501

Tel:
03-3652-1151

Web: http://www.city.edogawa.tokyo.jp/foreign/e/index.html

• 
Itabashi

2-66-1,
Itabashi, Itabashi-ku 173-8501

Tel:
03-3964-1111

Web: http://www.city.itabashi.tokyo.jp/kkouryu/counseling/index_e.htm

• 
Katsushika

5-13-1,
Tateishi, Katsushika-ku 124-8555

Tel:
03-3695-1111

Web: http://www.city.katsushika.lg.jp/jimu/somu/bunkakokusai/e_benrichou.html

• 
Kita

1-15-22,
Ojihoncho, Kita-ku 114-8508

Tel:
03-3908-1111

• 
Koto

4-11-28,
Toyo, Koto-ku 135-8383

Tel:
03-3647-9111

Web: http://www.city.koto.lg.jp/language/lang-eng/index.html

• 
Meguro

2-19-15,
Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku 153-8573

Tel:
03-3715-1111

Web: http://www.city.meguro.tokyo.jp/english/index.html

• 
Minato

2-5-25,
Shibakoen, Minato-ku 105-8511

Tel:
03-3578-2111

Web: http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/e/index.html

• 
Nakano

4-8-1,
Nakano, Nakano-ku 164-8501

Tel:
03-3389-1111

Web: http://www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/English/toppage-e.html

• 
Nerima

6-12-1,
Toyotamakita, Nerima-ku 176-8501

Tel:
03-3993-1111

Web: http://www.city.nerima.tokyo.jp/
Japanese only

• 
Ota

5-13-14,
Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-8621

Tel:
03-5744-1111

Web: http://www.city.ota.tokyo.jp/english/index.html

• 
Setagaya

4-21-27,
Setagaya, Setagaya-ku 154-8504

Tel:
03-5432-1111

Web: http://www.city.setagaya.tokyo.jp/english/index.html

• 
Shibuya

1-1,
Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku 150-8010

Tel:
03-3463-1211

Web: http://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/eng/index.html

• 
Shinagawa

2-1-36,
Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku 140-8715

Tel:
03-3777-1111

Web: http://www.city.shinagawa.tokyo.jp/s_foreign/english/kucho.html

• 
Shinjuku

1-4-1,
Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku 160-8484

Tel:
03-3209-1111

Web: http://www.city.shinjuku.tokyo.jp/foreign/english/

• 
Suginami

1-15-1,
Asagayaminami, Suginami-ku 166-8570

Tel:
03-3312-2111

Web: http://www2.city.suginami.tokyo.jp/life/english.htm

• 
Sumida

2-23-20,
Azumabashi, Sumida-ku 130-8640

Tel:
03-5608-1111

Web: http://www.city.sumida.lg.jp/english/index.html
  

• 
Taito

4-5-6,
Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku 110-8615

Tel:
03-5246-1111

Web: http://www.city.taito.tokyo.jp/foreign/english/taitou-e.html

• 
Toshima

1-18-1,
Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku 170-8422

Tel:
03-3981-1111

Web: