Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office (TMG)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office, more commonly known as Tokyo City Hall or Tochō, is one of the most distinctive and famous buildings in the Tokyo skyline. Tokyo is a huge city and their governmental offices are huge too, taking up three city blocks with three immense buildings.

The tallest is Tokyo Metropolitan Main Building No. 1, built to resemble both a computer chip and a gothic cathedral. It splits at level 33 into two twin towers which stretch to a height 48 stories, making it the tallest building in the city for many years.

Both towers have observation decks free to the public on level 45, 202 meters high. On really clear days, you might even spot Mt Fuji to the west. The view from the southern tower is considered slightly better but the northern tower remains open later, making it more suitable for night viewing.

Practical Info

Observatory hours: 9:30am - 11:00 pm, entry ends 30 minutes before closing. The South Observatory closes at 5:30 pm. However, it closes at 11:00 pm on days that the North Observatory is closed. South Observatory is closed the first and third Tuesday of every month. North Observatory is closed the second and fourth Monday of every month. When one of the days falls on a holiday, the observatory will be open on the holiday but closed the following day. The observatories will be closed during the New Year's holiday season (29-31 December and 2-3 January). Observatories are open on January 1. Admission is free. Accessible by train, via Tochomae Station, Shinjuku Station, Nishishinjuku Station and Shinjuku Nishiguchi Station.