The viewing platform on the 45th floor of the Metropolitan Government Building is one of Tokyo’s worst kept secrets. In 2012, the Tokyo Sky Tree opened to thunderous applause, but if you don’t fancy trekking all the way to Sumida and you’re on an extremely tight budget like us, you can climb 202 metres above street level here for free. Located in the downtown skyscraper district of Shinjuku each impressive tower of the Government Building, North and South, has a platform that together give you a breath-taking 360 of Tokyo. We spent an hour, as dusk fell to dark, gazing out across a glowing panorama of lights. There were no breaks between them, just densely packed windows and buildings as far as the horizon. It was mesmerising.

Highlights from Tokyo: The view
Advertisements