Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, known as Tocho, is the seat of Tokyo's city government in Nishi-Shinjuku. Its No. 1 Building has two free observation decks on the 45th floor, 202 meters above the ground, in its north and south towers. There is no ticket and no reservation, which makes it one of the easiest high viewpoints in Tokyo to visit.

The twin-towered building was designed by the architect Kenzo Tange and completed in 1991. It also hosts TOKYO Night & Light, a free projection mapping show on its facade every evening.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation decks

Both decks look out over the whole city. On clear days you can pick out Tokyo Skytree to the east and Mount Fuji to the west. The two decks are in separate towers, so you visit one at a time.

South Observation Deck

The South Deck is the one to choose for evening views, since it stays open later than the North Deck on most days. It has the Tocho Omoide Piano, which visitors can play during set daily sessions, and the GIFT SHOP TOKYO Mikke! souvenir shop. It is closed on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

North Observation Deck

The North Deck has CAFE & SHOP SOCOCOCO, a good place to sit with a drink and the view. It usually closes in the late afternoon, but stays open into the evening on days when the South Deck is closed. It is closed on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

If a closing day falls on a public holiday, that deck closes the next weekday instead. Both decks close from December 29 to 31, on January 2 and 3, and on building inspection days. The Bureau of Finance deck page posts closures and event notices, in Japanese.

How to get to the observation decks

• Tochomae Station (Toei Oedo Line): about 1 minute on foot from Exit A4

• Shinjuku Station (JR and other lines): about 10 minutes on foot from the West Exit

The observation deck elevators leave from the 1st floor of the No. 1 Building. On weekends and public holidays the 2nd-floor entrance is closed, so walk round to the main entrance on the 1st floor.

The building is a natural first stop on a Shinjuku day. One 14-day Golden Route journey starts its Shinjuku day at the North Deck before Shinjuku Gyoen.

TOKYO Night & Light projection mapping

After sunset, the facade of the No. 1 Building becomes a screen for TOKYO Night & Light. The projections cover the wall from the 4th to the 32nd floor, about 13,904 square meters, and Guinness World Records recognized it in February 2024 as the largest permanent projection-mapped display on a building. Shows run several times each evening and are free, with no booking needed.

Watch from the Tomin Hiroba (Citizens' Plaza) in front of the building. A good plan is to go up to the South Deck at dusk, then come down for a show.

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest, and the morning air is often the clearest for spotting Mount Fuji, especially from late fall through winter. Sunset and the hour after are the most popular times.

For other places to see the city from above, compare our Tokyo observation decks guide.

For the rest of the district, see what to do around Shinjuku.