Family Travel Guide: Tokyo Skytree, Japan – Views, Shopping & Easy Itinerary With Kids
Tokyo Skytree is the tower your kids will spot from half the city away. For families, it is a mix of huge city views, easy shopping, indoor play and nearby sights that work across a full day, even if the weather is moody.
This guide walks you through Tokyo Skytree as a parent: how to time your visit for clear views, which tickets to buy, how to get there with strollers, what else is inside Skytree Town and how to combine it with nearby Sumida Aquarium and Asakusa for a low stress family day.
Quick snapshot
- Location: Sumida Ward, on the east side of Tokyo, along the Sumida River.
- Best for: School age kids, tweens, teens and adults who like big views and easy shopping.
- Time needed: 2–4 hours for towers and shops, a full day if you add Sumida Aquarium and Asakusa.
- Weather backup: Works in drizzle or heat since most of the day can be indoors.
Plan & book in a few clicks
Open these in tabs as you read so you can check prices, tickets and rooms without losing your place.
Check Tokyo Skytree tickets & tours Family hotels in Tokyo Compare flights into Tokyo (HND / NRT) Reserve a rental car for side trips Travel insurance for your Japan trip
Quick links
- What Tokyo Skytree actually is
- Tickets, combos & best time to book
- When to go – day, night & weather
- How to get to Tokyo Skytree with kids
- What is inside: decks, shops & extras
- Tokyo Skytree with kids by age
- Where to stay for an easy Skytree day
- Sample family-friendly Skytree day
- More Tokyo family guides
- How this guide stays free
What Tokyo Skytree actually is
Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting tower and observation landmark on the east side of Tokyo. It rises above a complex called Tokyo Skytree Town, which includes the Solamachi shopping mall, Sumida Aquarium and plenty of places to sit, snack and regroup.
For families, it is less “just a tower” and more a full mini district where you can:
- Ride elevators up to glass walled observation decks.
- Grab kid friendly meals and snacks without leaving the building.
- Visit an aquarium that works well for little legs.
- Shop for souvenirs and practical things like snacks, layers and extra socks.
If you are pairing Skytree with classic Tokyo, it sits nicely with central neighborhoods, Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, teamLab Planets and Ghibli Museum as one more “big moment” on the trip.
Tickets, combos & the best way to book
There are usually two main observation levels to choose from:
- Tembo Deck: Lower main deck with broad city views and easier access.
- Tembo Galleria: Higher, with a sloping “skywalk” feel and more dramatic views.
Ticket structures can change, so always check the official Tokyo Skytree site for the latest prices and decks included on your dates.
Ways to book
- Direct tickets: Buy timed tickets from the official site or on-site machines, depending on how far ahead you are booking.
- Combo tickets: Look for options that pair Skytree entry with Sumida Aquarium or simple Tokyo tours if you like having everything in one place.
- Last minute: For flexible trips, third party platforms can be helpful when official time slots look tight.
With kids, it often works best to pick a time window that overlaps with their usual “best mood” hours, then build meals and breaks around that.
When to go – day, night & weather calls
There is no single “perfect” time. It depends on your family and season.
- Clear daytime visit: Best if you want to see Mount Fuji on the horizon in colder months, or just let kids spot familiar Tokyo places from above.
- Golden hour into evening: Arrive late afternoon, watch the city change from blue to neon and wrap up with night views.
- Cloudy or rainy days: Views may be softer or shorter range, but Skytree Town itself still works well as an indoor day with malls and the aquarium.
If skies are completely fogged in and you are flexible, swap your Skytree day with another Tokyo plan and slide it to a clearer time in the week.
How to get to Tokyo Skytree with kids
Tokyo Skytree has two main stations:
- Tokyo Skytree Station: On the Tobu Skytree Line, connected with Asakusa and other parts of Tokyo.
- Oshiage (Skytree): Served by multiple subway lines, including the Hanzōmon Line, Asakusa Line and others, making it convenient from many neighborhoods.
From either station, the walk into Skytree Town is short, stroller friendly and clearly signed.
If you are still in the planning stage, it helps to lock in flights first via Tokyo flight searches, then choose a base with easy train connections and map Skytree as one dedicated outing.
What is inside: decks, shops & extras
Think of Tokyo Skytree Town as stacked layers:
Observation decks
High speed elevators take you up to panoramic floors with 360 degree windows. Look for:
- City spotting: Give kids a simple game like “find Tokyo Tower” or “count bridges” to keep them engaged.
- Glass floors: Some areas have glass underfoot. Great for thrill seekers, optional for anyone who hates heights.
- Photo spots: Staff sometimes offer photo services; you can also capture your own near windows away from the main clusters.
Tokyo Solamachi (shopping mall)
The mall levels under Skytree include:
- Casual restaurants with kid friendly menus.
- Character shops and Japanese stationery stores.
- Everyday basics if you suddenly need socks, layers or snacks.
Sumida Aquarium & family attractions
Inside the same complex, Sumida Aquarium offers a compact, nicely designed space that works as:
- A quiet break from crowds on deck levels.
- An easy win for younger kids who need movement and animals more than city views.
You can often find combo tickets or simple aquarium entries to slot into your day.
Tokyo Skytree with kids by age
Toddlers & preschoolers (0–5)
- Use strollers in the mall and lower levels; check current guidance for elevators and observatory access.
- Keep deck visits short and sweet. One full loop may be enough.
- Shift more time to Solamachi and the aquarium for movement and familiar routines.
Primary school kids (6–11)
- Give them a simple “view mission” like finding specific landmarks or tracking trains and boats below.
- Let them help choose where to eat from the mall options.
- Layer in one extra activity, like the aquarium or a short walk along the nearby river after the tower visit.
Tweens & teens (12+)
- Lean into photography, city planning and map reading. Let them compare Skytree views with those from Shibuya, Shinjuku or Roppongi later in the trip.
- Give them a small souvenir budget inside the mall and clear meet up points.
- Combine Skytree with Asakusa and a river cruise to build a “Tokyo east side” day they will remember.
Good to know: Japanese facilities are usually thoughtful about nursing rooms, changing tables and accessible bathrooms. Check the latest floor guides for locations before you start your loop so you are not searching with a tired child.
Where to stay for an easy Tokyo Skytree day
You do not need to sleep right under Skytree to enjoy it, but choosing the right base can make your whole Tokyo plan smoother.
Stay near Asakusa or Skytree
This works well if you love older Tokyo streets and want to walk or ride one short train stop to the tower.
- Look for family rooms near Asakusa Station or Oshiage (Skytree) with quick access to subway lines.
- Check for laundry, breakfast options and easy evening food nearby.
Stay central & day trip to Skytree
Many families prefer a central base in:
- Tokyo Station / Marunouchi: Good for shinkansen days and airport trains.
- Ginza: Walkable, food rich and easy for adults in the evenings.
- Ueno: Handy for park days, museums and quick hops to the east side.
Use the map view when searching Tokyo hotels to check train and subway proximity, then layer Skytree in as one of your “out and back” days.
Sample family-friendly Tokyo Skytree day
Option 1 – Half day Skytree focus
- Morning: Easy breakfast at your hotel, then train to Oshiage / Tokyo Skytree Station.
- Explore lower shopping levels first, grab early snacks and orient yourselves.
- Take your timed elevator up to the observation deck, do one full slow loop and choose a calm window for a family photo.
- Optional: add the higher deck if everyone is still happy and views are good.
- Lunch: Eat on one of the mall levels, then head back to your base for naps or a new neighborhood.
Option 2 – Full Skytree + Sumida Aquarium day
- Morning: Arrive close to opening. Go straight to the observation decks while everyone is fresh.
- Late morning and early afternoon: slow loop through shops, then visit Sumida Aquarium.
- Afternoon: Coffee or snack break for adults while kids decompress with fish, penguins or jellyfish.
- Evening: If energy allows, enjoy twilight lights outside before heading back.
Option 3 – Skytree + Asakusa combo
- Morning: Start in Asakusa with Sensoji Temple and Nakamise shopping street.
- Lunch in Asakusa, then short train hop to Tokyo Skytree for afternoon views.
- End with simple dinner in Solamachi or back near your hotel.
More Tokyo & Japan family travel guides
Use these to build out your full itinerary around your Skytree day.
- Ultimate Tokyo Family Travel Guide: Central Neighborhoods
- Family Travel Guide: Tokyo Disneyland, Japan – Tips & Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: Tokyo DisneySea, Japan – Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: teamLab Planets Tokyo – Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: Ghibli Museum, Mitaka – Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: Tokyo Skytree – Itinerary With Kids
How this guide stays free
Some of the links in this guide are embedded booking links for hotels, flights, car rentals, tours and travel insurance. When you reserve a stay, ticket or policy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
That commission helps keep stayheredothat.blogspot.com online and lets me keep building detailed, family first guides like this Tokyo Skytree guide instead of filling the site with pop up ads. I only highlight platforms and experiences I would feel comfortable recommending to real parents planning once in a while trips.
Work with Stay Here, Do That (Tokyo east side edition)
If you are a Tokyo Skytree area hotel, Sumida cafe, Asakusa tour company or kid friendly experience and you would like to:
- Be featured as a recommended stay near Tokyo Skytree,
- Showcase your family friendly amenities and services, or
- Commission a custom guide for your property or neighborhood,
email stayheredothat@gmail.com with:
- Your business name and exact location (including nearest station)
- Your official website or direct booking link
- 2–5 photos plus a short note about why families love staying with you
I prioritize partners with clear family amenities, transparent policies and consistently strong recent reviews.
If you use this guide to plan your visit, come back and drop a comment with what worked (and what you would tweak) for your family. Your real world notes help the next parents feel more prepared.
© 2025 Stay Here, Do That. All rights reserved.
