Shibuya Sky needs no introduction – because of its perfect view of the iconic Shibuya Scramble and its central location in Tokyo (meaning sweeping views of Tokyo with its most iconic landmarks seen from the top), it has quickly become one of Tokyo’s top “must-do” attractions and with that comes the slew of tourists who also want to have that Shibuya Sky experience, effectively making Shibuya Sky an attraction that you have to plan in advance for because same-day tickets are simply next to impossible.
Is Shibuya Sky even worth it and how does one even get the coveted golden-hour (sunset) ticket timeslot? I got the ticket and went to experience it for myself and find out.
Table of Contents:
- Is Shibuya Sky worth it?
- Shibuya Sky versus Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree
- Best time to visit Shibuya Sky (daytime, sunset, or nighttime?)
- How to get tickets to Shibuya Sky
- How to secure the best timeslots at Shibuya Sky
- What to expect at Shibuya Sky
- Tips to make the most out of your Shibuya Sky visit
- How to get to Shibuya Sky / Location Map
Is Shibuya Sky worth it?
At ¥2,200 for an unlimited time (as long as it’s the same day) up there for adults, the short answer is yes it’s pretty much worth it, especially if you’re this kind of thing where you get amazing skyline views of the city. Shibuya Sky’s location is unbeatable which gives you an amazing vantage point to see Tokyo’s skyline from. You not only get the very close proximity to the famous Shibuya Scramble phenomenon and be able to feel the energy from up above, you also get sweeping 360-degree views of Tokyo and its popular spots, including:
- Shibuya Scramble Crossing including Center-Gai Shopping Street and Miyashita Park – just look down from the corner facing the scramble
- Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu
- Shibuya Skyline including NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building – the clock tower building that looks like New York City’s Empire State Building
- Shinjuku skyline
- Tokyo Imperial Palace
- Tokyo Tower
- Tokyo Skytree
- Mt. Fuji to the southwest (from a distance, when the air is clear)
On top of that, you also get unique photo-op spots such as the glass escalator that takes you up and down the rooftop and the triangular corner called Sky Edge (though do note that professional photo service is required for an additional fee at Sky Edge – more on this below).
Shibuya Sky versus Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree
Shibuya Sky in Shibuya City, Tokyo Tower in Minato City, and Tokyo Skytree in Sumida City all have their own unique offerings. They are in three different cities across Tokyo, so the view from each of these towers will certainly differ in proximity to Tokyo’s landmarks. Tokyo Tower has great sweeping views of the city including Roppongi and Azabudai Hills, Tokyo Skytree has an expansive view of metropolitan Tokyo due to it being the highest of the three (though everything is small from up there), and Shibuya Sky has amazing views of the bustling Shibuya Crossing down below.
At this point in time though (just for now maybe), my personal favorite would go towards Shibuya Sky. Why? Because I like seeing Tokyo Tower from the outside, and also the palpable energy of the iconic Shibuya scramble crossing along with the bright lights, streets, and buildings of Shibuya when viewed from the top is just a one-of-a-kind experience.
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Best time to visit Shibuya Sky (daytime, sunset, or nighttime?)
Probably the best time to go to Shibuya Sky is during sunset when everything’s golden. It’s when the sun isn’t too bright to take that perfect photo like during the day, and it’s not too dark all you can take photos of are the better-lit streets and signages like when you visit in the evening. During sunset it’s just pure golden magic – everything’s already lit up and the buildings are already glowing, plus the energy of people down there gets more intense early into the evening, yet the sun’s still there and you still get to see everything sans the darkness. There’s just this golden glow during the sunset that makes the view of Shibuya even more special. The thing is though, the crowd is also gravitated towards the sunset at Shibuya Sky so be mindful of the additional stress doing it with a throng of tourists entails.
See below daytime, sunset, and evening shots I’ve taken of Shibuya crossing from the 46th floor (indoor observatory) of Shibuya Sky so you can see for yourself and find out which you like best:
If you want to chance upon a perfect photo-op with Mt. Fuji though, for me daytime would be the best time to do this because you’ll be able to see the details of this majestic mountain during the daytime (provided it’s a clear day) – during sunset the view of the mountain is reduced to a shadow, and of course it’s barely seen at nighttime.
If you want to see and experience it all and if you have the time, why not go for daytime, sunset and nighttime at Shibuya Sky all in one day? Maybe enter at around 2, 3, or 4 PM (depending on the sunset time on that day) when the sun is still bright and then stay there ’til sunset and early evening. You only need to buy one ticket for it anyways, since Shibuya Sky tickets are for an unlimited time (within the day of your ticket). This way you get to see it in all perspectives. The only con I can think of when you do this is that it will definitely eat into your precious vacation time.
How to get Shibuya Sky tickets
Shibuya Sky’s official website sells tickets via webket, but this is only limited to those that have Japanese credit cards – this means it’s mostly Japanese locals who can purchase Shibuya Sky tickets via this method.
For foreign tourists who do not have Japan credit cards, you can only purchase Shibuya Sky tickets via their official distributors Klook, KKday, or Trip.com. Not to worry because whichever of these three you choose to get your Shibuya Sky tickets from, the ticket prices in USD and JPY remain the same. After you buy your tickets, you will be emailed a confirmation with the QR code that you can use – at the queue just tap your phone showing the QR code and you’re good to go.
In my case I got my tickets via Klook’s booking site for Shibuya Sky tickets because they have instant confirmation, and the ticketing process was seamless. Right after I selected the date and made the purchase I received my QR code sent to my email almost instantly, and on the day of my visit I just showed my QR code (which I can get through the Klook app or through the confirmation email that they sent me) to the staff who instructed me to scan my QR in their machine and they directed me to the entrance with no hassle and no time wasted.
Shibuya Sky Ticket Prices
Tickets purchased via webket are cheaper by ¥300 for adults (limited only to those who have Japan credit cards[), however I’m guessing most of my readers here are foreign tourists so I’m gonna list down below the official prices when bought via Shibuya Sky’s official distributing partners Klook, KKday, or Trip.com.
- Adults – ¥2,500
- High School and Junior High School Students – ¥2,000
- Elementary Students – ¥1,200
- Young Children (ages 3-5) – ¥700
- Under 3 years old – FREE
For elementary students and younger, you will not be able to get advanced tickets for them online and you can only buy tickets for them at the ticket counters on-site (on the 14th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square just before entering the elevators to Shibuya Sky). Not to worry about scheduling and reservation for them because even though it’s sold-out for that day, you can still purchase tickets for your young ones on the day of your visit. Basically, the online schedule reservation applies to high school students and adults only.
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How to secure tickets to the best time slots at Shibuya Sky
As I’ve said above, if your time is limited and can only spend an hour or two up there at Shibuya Sky, around sunset is the best time to enter Shibuya Sky because you get to experience the golden glow of Shibuya.
The thing is, many people also want the same timeslot so you have to plan ahead to secure your preferred slot. I know, I know, if you’re more on the spontaneous side like me it can get hard to plan ahead, but at Shibuya Sky, being sponty will not get you those tickets.
Just to be clear: it’s almost impossible to get same-day tickets at the ticket counters on-site at Shibuya Sky so you better plan ahead. The only way you’ll be able to get same-day tickets is it someone cancels their reservation on that day, which is next to impossible since same-day cancellation fees apply so one who misses their schedule on that day would probably just leave it alone and forget it.
Shibuya Sky tickets open for sale a month in advance – for example, if you plan to visit on March 1, you gotta get your tickets as early as Feb 1. Do note that tickets for the sunset timeslots sell out really fast that they go sold-out even if you book a month in advance.
To increase your chances of getting your preferred timeslot, get your tickets a little after when the clock strikes midnight. For example if you plan to visit on March 1, get your tickets as early as 12:01 am on Feb 1. This still does not guarantee that you’ll get your preferred timeslot though because there are hundreds of other people waiting to get their hands on that golden timeslot.
If still you don’t get your preferred timeslot, there’s another way you can get your hands on your preferred timeslot (albeit not guaranteed): just book the next available timeslot that’s nearest to your preferred timeslot. This way you have a fall-back ticket, and constantly check every day for cancellations on your preferred timeslot.
Cancellations happen which would mean a great opportunity for you to book your actual preferred timeslot. As for my experience, I initially got the 11:40AM timeslot which I did not prefer at all but that was the closest I got to the afternoon timeslot. A few days later a 2:40PM timeslot became available so I immediately booked that slot. After about a day later a 3:40PM timeslot became available but I wasn’t sure if I was gonna get it – it was almost near sunset but I also wanted to experience Shibuya Sky during the daytime so I can share my experience and photos to this blog. After just an hour or two of mulling, after I checked back and the timeslot was gone, meaning that’s how quick those timeslots get booked even after a cancellation.
Do note that the timeslot you book gives you a 20-minute window to enter Shibuya Sky. This means that when you book a 2:40PM timeslot for example, you have until 3:00PM to enter – not sure about their official take on being late, but they’re pretty lax about people being just a little late.
Whatever time you choose to visit, make sure you reserve up to a month in advance in order to secure your slot, and do be sure to check what the sunset time will be on the day that you plan to visit because sunset hours differ depending on the season.
What to expect (and plan for) at Shibuya Sky
So you’ve finally secured your Shibuya Sky tickets and you’re now on your way to Shibuya Sky – what to expect and what does the process look like? Let me share with you the step-by-step as per what I’ve experienced:
1. The entrance to Shibuya Sky
The Shibuya Sky experience starts at its entrance at the foot of the Shibuya Scramble Square building. The building is directly connected to Shibuya Station (via Exit B6), and also it’s just a 1-minute walk from the Shibuya Scramble Crossing so it’s very easy to find – if you see the now-iconic facade of the Shibuya Scramble Square, just walk towards it and you’ll immediately find the ground floor entrance of Shibuya Sky.
Join the queue to the glass elevator (which is a cool ride on its own with outside views of Shibuya) that will take you to the 14th Floor which is the main lobby of Shibuya Sky (great views of the outside from here as well). This is where you can get same-day tickets for kids or for adults if they happen to still be miraculously available. This is also where your tickets are checked by the staff prior to boarding the final elevator that’ll take you to the 45th floor.
After arriving to the 45th floor, you will be promptly ushered by staff to take the escalator going to 46th floor which is the Shibuya Sky proper.
2. Locker rooms at the 46th Floor
After taking the futuristic escalator ride up to the 46th Floor, the first thing you will want to do is to deposit your things in the locker room. You will need a locker to deposit your bags and stuff because there are several items that you cannot bring into the rooftop of Shibuya Sky (plus having lockers frees you up from having to carry your heavy stuff while exploring the cafe and shops at the 46th floor).
Do keep in mind that the following items are not allowed at the rooftop:
- Any kind of bags (handbags, shoulder bags, backpacks, etc.)
- Selfie sticks, tripods, monopods
- Hats, scarves, and any personal effects that can be blown away by the wind
- Umbrellas and parasols
- Strollers
- Bottles, cans, and other food stuff / beverages
- Cameras and binoculars without neck straps or too large for pockets – this is the most important thing to have during your visit here so better buy a camera strap ahead of time if you don’t already have.
- Anything that can be blown away by the wind
You can bring your smartphone, thankfully.
At the locker room area you just need to pick whichever locker is available. When using the locker, you need to deposit a ¥100 coin to be able to lock it (it will be returned after each use), so make sure you have spare ¥100 coins with you beforehand.
The size of the lockers at Shibuya Sky is 320mm X 375mm X 420mm (12.5in X 14.7in X 16.5in), just big enough to store a large backpack. No it won’t fit even a small luggage, so you’re better off storing your luggage in a coin locker somewhere around Shibuya Station prior to entering the building. The only other thing you can store in the locker room that doesn’t fit the lockers is an umbrella, which they have a dedicated pin-protected umbrella rack for.
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3. Things to do at the indoor observatory (46th Floor)
After you’ve securely stored your belongings at the locker room in the 46th floor, you’re free to explore the rest of 46th (indoor observatory, shops, etc.) and 47th (rooftop) floors. First let me show you all the things you can do at the 46th floor of Shibuya Sky.
First off, the restrooms are in the 46th floor, just past the locker rooms and across the souvenir shop. There are no restrooms available on the rooftop, so be sure to do your business before going up there, especially when there’s a long queue going up.
The 46th floor is where the indoor observatory is, so you can get the sweeping views of the city from all sides of the building. Tip: I feel like the view of the horizon is better at the rooftop (47th floor) than the 46th floor (indoor observatory) since there’s no ceiling to block the view, but the view looking down Shibuya crossing is waaaay better from the 46th floor (indoor observatory) because there’s nothing blocking the view when looking down from this floor, whereas there’s a concrete barrier partially blocking the view of Shibuya crossing when looking down from the rooftop (47th).
As you go round the sweeping views of the city from each side of the indoor observatory, you’ll also see the various art installations everywhere, making the experience more immersive (and makes for a great way to kill time if you plan to experience daytime / sunset / nighttime in one day).
The 46th floor also has a souvenir shop with Shibuya and Hachiko-themed merch and sweets and cookies, so if you’re killing time as you wait for the sunset you can be productive and do some souvenir shopping while you’re at it.
And since food and drinks are not allowed at Shibuya Sky, aptly they have their own cafeteria in this floor called Paradise Lounge so you can chill and have some snacks and drinks while marveling at the panoramic views – the food and drinks are a just a little expensive though but still reasonably priced considering the million-yen view right before you.
When you’re ready to go to the rooftop (47th floor), simply head out to the outdoor view deck and take the glass escalator up to the rooftop.
4. Things to do at the rooftop (47th Floor)
The rooftop at the 47th floor is all about 360-degree views of Shibuya and the rest of Tokyo and just taking it all in and taking that perfect insta-worthy shot. At some vantage points though, especially where there’s the view of Shibuya Crossing and Tokyo Tower there will be queues even if it’s not sunset yet – the queue becomes even longer as the sunset ushers in so be prepared to spend a little more time at Shibuya Sky than anticipated if you wish to queue up to take pics.
Personally my best favorite spot here is taking the glass elevator going down to the 46th floor. The views here are just amazing because the elevator is on the side directly facing Shibuya crossing, and since the escalator takes you down, you’re given a unique vantage point of the Tokyo Skyline with the Shibuya scramble down below.
Right by the helipad there are hammocks for when you want to rest, although let’s be honest here, those hammocks rarely get vacant. 😀
They also have a bar at the rooftop aptly called “The Roof” which was unfortunately closed when I went – drinks are on the expensive side here, good thing there’s the lounge seats you can drink them from and the vantage point that give it one-of-a-kind “rooftop bar” experience in Tokyo.
Perhaps the main selling point of the rooftop is the Sky Edge or the triangular photo spot where it’s nothing but you (and your group or family, perhaps) with the expansive view of Tokyo skyline as your backdrop. The thing is, a lot of people queue up for this spot and the other thing is, you need to pay up to have the staff take professional photos of you on the Sky Edge. The price is reasonably ok and you get to have a few moments to snap a few of your own photos using your own camera or smartphone at the end of the session. You can then get your photos at the 45th floor photo counter when you exit Shibuya Sky.
The price to have your photos professionally taken by the staff at Sky Edge:
- Photo with Paper Frame – ¥1,500 (¥1,800 if with digital copy)
- Photo with Acrylic Frame – ¥4,500 (¥4,800 if with digital copy)
- Only digital copy of photo – ¥1,300 (add ¥1,000 for extra photo with paper frame)
Here’s a quick floor guide:
- Ground floor of Shibuya Scramble Building – Take the elevator to 14th floor lobby of Shibuya Sky.
- 14th Floor – This is where you can buy same-day tickets and enter the elevator taking you atop to 45th floor.
- 45th Floor – This is just the landing area after taking the elevator from 14th floor, where you’re directed to get on an escalator going up to 46th floor which is the actual Shibuya Sky proper. Upon exit, this is where you can find the photo counter if you had your photos professionally taken at Sky Edge.
- 46th Floor (indoor observatory) – This is the indoor part of Shibuya Sky where the locker room and restroom are. This is also where you can buy souvenirs and see the art installations in the gallery, and also see the 360-degree views while indoors. You can also get drinks and snacks at the Paradise Lounge in this floor.
- 47th Floor (rooftop) – The top-most floor (rooftop) where you get to see the 360-degree sweeping views of the city. This is also where the Sky Bar, Sky Edge, hammocks, helipad, and the glass elevators are.
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Tips to make the most out of your Shibuya Sky visit
- Check the sunset time – Before you buy tickets, first check the sunset time on the day of your preferred visit so you know what timeslot to get.
- Check the weather beforehand – A week before your scheduled visit, double check the weather to ensure you’re getting the best weather possible. Checking about a week before (or maybe even days before) gives you a chance to re-plan / re-schedule if the weather’s so-so and there happens to be another vacant timeslot available.
- Check the size of your bag – This is in order to save time, so that you know if the bag will fit in Shibuya Sky’s lockers – if not you’ll need to use a separate coin locker before going up to Shibuya Sky.
- Take note of the things you’re not allowed to bring to the rooftop – Cameras should have straps so make sure you have straps for your gadgets otherwise you wouldn’t be able to bring ’em up there.
- Make sure you bring ¥100 for the locker – There’s nothing more frustrating than going up Shibuya Sky only to find out that you don’t have a ¥100 coin for the locker. If ever this happens, maybe just buy something from the shop or Paradise Lounge.
How to get to Shibuya Sky / Location Map
Shibuya Sky is located atop the Shibuya Scramble Square building, which has direct access to Shibuya Station (via Exit B6). It’s also very near Hachiko’s statue and the Shibuya crossing – from here simply head to the foot of the Shibuya Scramble Square and you’ll easily find the elevator going up to the Shibuya Sky lobby.
