Shibuya Sky: Tickets & Tips for the Perfect Experience Above Tokyo

“Once you have tasted the taste of the sky, you will forever look up” ~ Leonardo da Vinci.

Stepping onto an ascending escalator 230 metres above Tokyo, my jaw voluntarily dropped when I noticed the setting sun created the most vibrant hues of orange, pink and purple, splashing them across the miniature buildings below. My goodness, Shibuya Sky, you’re already taking my breath away!

Towering above the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing and boasting unbeatable views over Japan’s capital, it’s an understatement to say Shibuya Sky is a must visit when planning your Tokyo itinerary. 

Located on the rooftop of the shiny new Shibuya Scramble Square tower building right beside Shibuya Station, Shibuya Sky is Japan’s highest rooftop observatory deck and offers a sweeping 360-degree panoramic view over Tokyo as far as the eye can see.

From this staggering height above Shibuya, it’s easy to see your favourite landmarks of Japan such as the Tokyo Tower, Tokyo SkyTree and even Mount Fuji on a clear day!

While this relatively new Tokyo attraction opened in November 2019, it didn’t leave much time for tourists to visit before Japan’s borders closed in March 2020. Fortunately, I’ve been visited twice and learnt from some mistakes. I’m about to share my best tips so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.

If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit Shibuya Sky, where to buy discounted tickets and what to expect on your visit, read on for more!

What to expect when visiting the Shibuya Sky observatory

14th Floor: Sky Gate 

Sky Gate is the gateway to the observatory. There is a separate queue for people with pre-purchased tickets. You can either print them on paper or show the QR code on your phone to staff. 

After showing your tickets on the 14th floor, you’ll be ushered by staff to line up and take a lift known as the Transition Pod, in small groups. 

This area is called the Sensing Hall. Don’t forget to look up at the mesmerising animations on the ceiling whilst you’re waiting and in the lift itself!

This lift goes up to the 45th floor, before visitors take a narrow escalator to the 46th floor.

46th Floor: Shibuya Sky Observatory

Lockers 

You cannot bring anything up to the observation deck except your wallet and phone/camera. Anything else needs to be placed in a locker at the observation deck.

The lockers are quite big, I was able to fit my handbag and two decent-sized shopping bags inside. These can be locked for 100 yen, and you receive your coin back when you leave.

If you’re carrying a large umbrella like I was, you can leave it in one of the umbrella lockers beside the regular ones. They can be locked with a combination.

TIP: There is a rooftop bar, known as The Roof, operating until January 2023. Comfy couches can be reserved in 50-minute time slots for 4,000 JPY. Take your wallet with you if you’d like to buy a drink, take a seat and watch the world go by. I wanted to do this but made the rookie mistake of leaving my purse in the locker, oops.

Sky Stage Rooftop 

Once you’ve secured your bags, head straight outside up the escalator to the Sky Stage, the outdoor viewing platform complete with helipad.

There is a professional photographer in an “Instagrammable” spot on the Sky Edge to take souvenir photos. People patiently line up for this spot so each person has a photo without other people in it. There is a fee to do this.

TIP: Hang out and gaze up at the sky on a Cloud Hammock (if you’re able to find an empty one!) and spot the Geo Compass. 

I noticed in early spring, the tall glass walls help shield from icy winds for the most part. During summer, I didn’t bring a cardigan and regretted it after the sun went down because the temperature up there is a few degrees cooler than at ground level. 

But my goodness, the views during “golden hour” simply took my breath away! It was beyond magical to watch the sun descend over Tokyo from here, words just can’t describe it so I’ll let the images below speak for themselves.

Sky Gallery 

Coming back down to the 46th floor from the rooftop, the Sky Gallery is ideal if your visit happens to coincide with a rainy day. You’ll still be able to see right across Tokyo from the comfort of indoors. 

The Sky Gallery features an array of light projections onto the gallery walls that are quite interesting, as their reflections dance in the windows.  

Also on this floor is the Paradise Lounge. Take a seat and enjoy snacks, drinks or cocktails whilst enjoying some of the best views in Tokyo. I was surprised the snack options weren’t Japanese cuisine as they included hot chips, spicy fried chicken, hotdogs, churros and ice cream.

Gift shop 

I always manage to pick up some interesting souvenirs in the Shibuya Sky gift shop. I definitely recommend stopping by to take a look before you leave.

Think Hachiko-themed gifts, all kinds of omiyage (edible souvenirs to bring home to colleagues or loved ones), stationery, printed reusable cloth bags, clothing, snow globes, the works. 

Tips for visiting Shibuya Sky for the perfect experience

After two visits at different times of the year, here are my best tips to help you make the most of your visit to Shibuya Sky.

Check the Shibuya weather forecast

Check the weather forecast for Shibuya each day before your trip and try to be flexible. I only had one shot at this clear day during my rainy season trip so made sure I shuffled my plans around this time.

It’s not the end of the world if you can’t, the views will still blow you away, but it’s something to keep in mind for the best experience.

Buy advance tickets

There is a quota on how many people can enter during a certain time slot. As mentioned earlier, buy your tickets online in advance. This will also save you time queuing up to get in. Pre-order discounted Shibuya Sky tickets here.

Know the sunset time

During my first visit in early spring, the days were shorter and I arrived after dusk. While this visit was still absolutely worthwhile, I highly recommend checking the time of the sunset during your trip and head there 1.5 hours earlier. Then you’ll see the best of both worlds – day and night!

Be mindful when taking photos and videos

Take plenty of photos and remember to not capture faces that can be identified where possible. If you’re planning to post photos online, this means blurring out faces or cropping out people who didn’t consent to being in your photo. This is the law in Japan.

How to get to Shibuya Sky

Shibuya Sky, part of the Shibuya Scramble Square building, is right next to Shibuya Station and can be reached on the JR Yamanote line (covered by the Japan Rail Pass), or the Hanzomon, Fukutoshin or Ginza Metro lines (covered by the Tokyo Subway Pass). The Inokashira line operated by Keio also stops at Shibuya Station.

From Shibuya Station, follow the signs for East Exit or Shibuya Scramble Square Exit. Walk for around 2 minutes and once there, take the lifts to the 14th floor of Shibuya Sky. I can suggest buying the Tokyo Subway Pass to save a lot of money on Metro trips during your visit!

NOTE: The lifts from Shibuya Scramble Square can take a long time so remember to allow for this with your timed ticket.

Opening hours: 10:00am – 10:30pm daily (the last entry is at 9:20pm).

Concluding where to buy Shibuya Sky tickets and tips to know before visiting

Based on my experiences at Shibuya Sky, now you know where to buy online tickets, best time to visit, how much you can fit in a locker, the different areas and more tips to plan an unforgettable visit to this incredible Tokyo attraction. It’s easily one of my favourite experiences in Japan’s capital!

I hope you found these tips helpful and have the best possible experience when you’re there!

Is visiting Shibuya Sky on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments below and feel free to ask if you have any other questions I haven’t addressed.

While you’re here, why not take a look at my itineraries for 2 weeks or 3 weeks in Japan to help plan your trip, do’s and don’ts of Japanese etiquette, learn some basic Japanese phrases for tourists with my free cheat sheet, find out what to pack for Japan, and even the best Japanese souvenirs to bring home – I have every step of your Japan planning journey covered from my multiple visits!

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Until next time,

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