There were actually two observation decks, the north (No. 1 ) and south (No. 2) towers, but we only ended up going to the northern one. We tried to go the previous night to see Tokyo lit up at night but they had changed their hours compared to what was posted since they were cutting back on electricity after the earthquake a few months before. There was something magical about Tokyo’s buildings and its bright lights so not seeing it from high above was a bit disappointing.
Looking up from the ground, this building was astonishing and it should be since it was built at a cost of one billion dollars. It was supposed to look like a computer chip. It was a prominent fixture in the Shinjuku area skyline and was very symbolic of urban Tokyo.
There was a Tokyo tourist information center on the ground level by the elevators with plenty of free English maps and guides. Too bad we stumbled on this visitor center halfway through our trip. The Tocho-mae subway station was also by the building.
Going there on a Wednesday morning yielded no lines to go up to the observation deck. There were only 3 buttons on the elevator panel (1, 2 and 45) so it was a very quick ride to the 45th floor where we felt our ears popping. A glass elevator would have made this elevator ride totally unforgettable.
The whole floor was enclosed with glass windows with landmark designators signage from particular windows. There was also a gift shop with plenty of toys and souvenirs. Obviously, it was a magnet for children to explore and we had to drag our kids out of the area a few times. We also found plenty of little toy dispensing machines much to the delight of our kids here. Luckily, we walked out empty-handed. There was a restaurant area but it looked like it wasn’t open yet during our visit.
It was hazy but we still had some great views of Tokyo. I can only imagine the scenery it offers during a clear winter day here with Mt. Fuji looming in the background. The kids, of course, had fun this high up above all the skyscrapers and seeing the all the miniature things below.
If you’re staying in the Shinjuku area or want to do a 10-15 minute walk from Shinjuku station, then we’d recommend a visit to Tokyo City Hall on a non-hazy/non-smoggy day. Kids will definitely enjoy a different perspective of skyscraper district and urban Tokyo.