View from the observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Part 4 ๐พ
3The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's observation deck is 202 metres high, located on the 45th floor, and offers a spectacular view of the dense forest of skyscrapers in Shinjuku, looking down on the city from the opposite direction.
There are many observation decks in Tokyo, but a spot with this level of scale and scenery and that is free of charge is quite rare. As expected of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, they have a lot of money! It's like the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has a lot of money.
Here's a report on the site, including how crowded it is and how to get there from Shinjuku Station.
The great thing is that you can enjoy this view for free.
Of course, the night view is also a spectacular sight that does not disappoint. Especially in the night view, the eastern side of the building is particularly scenic.
The observatory is located relatively close to Shinjuku Station and is considered to be one of the most popular free observatory spots in Tokyo. However, even in terms of tourist attractions, there are not many major spots in Shinjuku, which is a delicate position (at least in my opinion as a resident of Tokyo), and the area where the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office is located is even more difficult because there is nothing around it. At best, there is only Shinjuku Central Park.
The Kabukicho, Shinjuku Gyoen and other potential attractions are on the other side of the JR line, and it takes around 20 minutes to walk there.
The observation deck is not open all year round. It is advisable to check in advance whether the observatory is open or not by searching on the 'Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck Opening Calendar'.
Crowding at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observation Deck
As the observatory is free of charge and attracts many tourists from abroad, it is always crowded from weekdays to holidays, from daytime to nighttime. Let's take a look at the specifics.
Congestion at the elevators leading directly to the observation deck on the ground floor
There is a queue in front of the direct lift on the ground floor, and the conditions under which it is likely to be particularly crowded are as follows.
More crowded on weekends than weekdays.
Crowded from dusk to early evening for the night view.
Crowded during GW, summer holidays and year-end and New Year holidays due to the increase in tourists.
However, the above is only a guide.
For example, when I visited on a Saturday (holiday) and at 16:30 (dusk), the lift was only a 20-minute wait.
On the other hand, even at times other than those mentioned above, the wait can be 30 minutes to an hour due to being caught up in groups of overseas tourists, for example. It is not unusual to be caught in a group, regardless of the day or time, and this can only be described as luck.
If you are unlucky and the queue is too long, but you can't give up, you can try again at the Tokyo Tourist Information Centre or the National Tourism PR Corner on the first floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to kill some time. There are more sightseeing pamphlets than you can carry, and it is a good place to kill time.
Crowding inside the observation deck on the 45th floor
The number of people entering the observation deck at one time is adjusted on the ground floor to prevent the observation deck from being overcrowded. Therefore, during busy times, even in places with a good view, if you wait a little, there are moments when the number of people decreases and you have a good chance to get close to a window.
To begin with, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observation Deck is probably one of the most spacious observation decks in the city. After all, it has windows on all four sides, so you can look in all directions. This means that people are spread out that much more.
How to get there from Shinjuku Station [West exit is the right way].
The nearest station is Tochomae Station on the Oedo Line, which is directly in front of the Tocho-cho, but you can also walk to the Tocho-cho from Shinjuku Station in about 10 minutes. However, Shinjuku Station is vast and complex, like an RPG dungeon. There is only one way to get there.
Use the JR West Exit. You can also use the Central West Exit, but the West Exit is best. When you exit the West Exit, you will see a large roundabout, so follow the left side of the roundabout. Overhead you will see a sign saying 'Direction for Tokyo Metropolitan Government', so don't miss it.
Shinjuku West Exit
After passing the roundabout, you will soon come to a long straight underground passageway. There is also a moving walkway on the right-hand side of the passage. Once you reach this point, it is unlikely that you will get lost.
Continuing underground passageway
If you go straight through the underground passageway and go outside, you will see the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building on your left hand side.