Whether you’re showing around some friends or relatives from home, or trying to impress a date with a stellar view of the city, knowing your way around Tokyo’s high-flying observation decks is a good piece of info to have in your back pocket.

Néstor Silvosa / Wikimedia Commons

Tokyo Tower
Location: central Tokyo
Nearest station/line:Akabanebashi/Oedo line, Kamiyacho/Hibiya line, Onarimon/Mita line, Daimon/Asakusa line, Hamamatsucho/JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku/Tokyo Monorail
Hours: Main Observatory 9am-10pm, last entrance 9:45pm; Special Observatory 9am-9:30pm, last entrance 9pm
Entry: Main Observatory ¥820; Main Observatory and Special Observatory ¥1,420
Observation deck height: Main Observatory 145/150m; Special Observatory 250m
Glass floor: Yes
Entertainment: Yes.
Food/drink: Yes.
Special notes: Special Observatory elevator closed during inclement weather.

そらみみ / Wikimedia Commons

Tokyo Skytree
Location: Sumida
Nearest station/line: Tokyo Skytree/Tobu Skytree line, Oshiage (Skytree)/Asakusa line, Tobu Skytree line, Hanzomon line, Narita SKY ACCESS Keisei line
Hours: 8am-10pm
Entry: Tembo Deck day ticket (no assigned time) ¥2,060, day and time assigned, advanced purchase ¥2,570; Tembo Galleria tickets purchased on the day ¥1,030
Observation deck height: Tembo Deck 350m (340F, 345F and 350F); Tembo Galleria 450m (445F and 450F)
Glass floor: Yes (Tembo Deck, 340F)
Entertainment: Not in the tower itself, but Tokyo Skytree is part of a shopping and entertainment area
Food/drink: Yes (Skytree Cafe, the Sky Restaurant 634, The Skytree Shop)

Sebastien Batardy / Wikimedia Commons

Mori Tower Tokyo City View and Sky Deck
Location: Roppongi Hills Mori Tower
Nearest station/line:Roppongi/Oedo, Hibiya line; Nogizaka/Chiyoda line
Hours: Tokyo City View Fri, Sat, the day before holidays 10am-1am, last entrance 12am (midnight); Mon-Thur and Sun 10am-11pm, last entrance 10:30pm. Sky Deck 10am-8pm, last entrance 7:30pm. Subject to seasonal changes.
Entry: ¥1500 for Tokyo City View, plus ¥300 for Sky Deck; advance tickets ¥1200, plus ¥300 for Sky Deck Tickets available at conbini and Ticket Pia counters (Japanese link).
Observation deck height: “Tokyo City View” 250m; “Sky Deck” 270m
Entertainment/events: Yes. Occasional events, plus Mori Art Museum
Food/drink: Yes. “Tokyo City View” Sunset Cafe and Museum Cafe/Mado Lounge
Special notes: January 2015-April 25, 2015, Tokyo City View and Sky Deck will be closed for renovations; Sky Deck: personal belongings not recommended due to strong winds, subject to closure during inclement weather. Special deals available.

Bunkyo Civic Center Tembo Lounge
Location: Bunkyo-ku
Nearest station/line: Korakuen/Namboku, Marunouchi; Kasuga/Oedo, Mita line
Hours: 9am-8:30pm
Entry: Free
Observation deck height: 105m
Entertainment: No, but located near Tokyo Dome.
Food/drink: Yes. Civic Sky Restaurant Chinzanso (25F, 11:30am-9:30pm)

Carrot Tower
Location: Sangenjaya, Setagaya-ku
Nearest station/line: Sangenjaya/Tokyu Setagaya line, Denentoshi line
Hours: 9:30am-11pm
Entry: Free
Observation deck height: ~124m
Entertainment: On lower floors.
Food/drink: Yes. Restaurant Skycarrot, 26F
Special notes: Named by children…

Zara Seemann / Wikimedia Commons

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck
Location: Nishi-Shinjuku
Nearest station/line:Tochomae/Oedo line; Shinjuku/JR lines, Keio, Odakyu, various subway lines
Hours: South Observation Deck 9:30am-5:30pm, last entrance 5pm (until 11pm, last entrance 10:30pm, on the 2nd and 4th Mon of each month); North Observation Deck 9:30am-11pm, last entrance 10:30pm
Entry: Free
Observation deck height: 202m
Food/drink: Yes. South Observatory – cafe; North Observatory – cafe and bar
Special notes: Designed to look like a computer chip. Really. Regular closures – 1st and 3rd Tue of the month (South Observation Deck); 2nd and 4th Mon of the month (North Observation Deck).

Kakidai / Wikimedia Commons

World Trade Center Building/Sekai Boeki Center Building
Location: Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku
Nearest station/line:Hamamatsucho/JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku line, Tokyo Monorail; Daimon/Asakusa line, Oedo line
Hours: 10am-8:30pm, last entrance 8pm
Entry: ¥620
Observation deck height: 152m
Entertainment: Art gallery on 14F
Food/drink: On lower floors.
Special notes: Hours are shortened on certain event dates.

Tarourashima / Wikimedia Commons

Bonus! Yokohama Landmark Tower Sky Garden
Location: Minato-Mirai, Yokohama
Nearest station/line: Minato-Mirai/Minato-Mirai line
Hours: 10am-9pm; till 10pm on Sat and summer holidays, last entrance is 30min before closing
Entry: ¥1,000
Observation deck height: 273m/69F
Entertainment: On lower floors.
Food/drink: On lower floors. Cafe Flora (B1, BYO wine ok) is in cahoots with Sky Garden with the 360 View Pack.

Sourced from Yakei Navi, personal experience and Facebook opinion poll of friends