- What to expect
- The experience
- Tips for making the most of your visit
- Is Shibuya Scramble Square worth your time?
What to expect
Completed on November 1, 2019, Shibuya Scramble Square is a mixed-use skyscraper over five years in the making. Floors 1 to 13 consist of your typical collection of high-end shops and restaurants and most of the remaining floors are filled out with office space. Check out the floor guide to see if there’s anything that might pique your interests while you’re in the neighborhood.
The real fun begins on the14th floor, directly accessible via an express elevator just outside of the East Exit of JR Shibuya Station. This transition floor marks the beginning of your adventure, where you can purchase a ticket or use your pre-purchased ticket to gain access to the express elevators going to the 45th and 46th floors as well as the rooftop.
The experience
Unlike Shinjuku, Marunouchi, and Roppongi, Shibuya isn’t known for having an instantly recognizable skyline. However, this fact, along with its central location, actually makes Shibuya a prime place for a 230-meter-high rooftop observation deck.
On a clear day you can stand in the center of a panoramic view that includes highlights such as Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Tower, the Nishi-Shinjuku skyscraper district, Tokyo Skytree, and more. Additionally, from this height, you can gaze all the way to the mountainous western edge of Tokyo Prefecture and beyond, including the majestic Mt. Fuji. This is also one of the few observation decks with an unobstructed view of the iconic saddle-shaped peaks of Mt. Tsukuba, located northeast of Tokyo in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Tips for making the most of your visit
- Consider purchasing your ticket online. Not only can you get a 200-yen discount, but you can also select a timeslot for your visit. The number of daily visitors is limited, and you don’t want to show up on a crowded day just to be turned away. However you buy your tickets, be sure to arrive about 20 minutes early. The staff will process your tickets and get you lined up well before the scheduled time for your rooftop session.
- Read the rules beforehand. As an open-air observation deck, security and safety is taken extremely seriously. Shutterbugs and Instagrammers should pay close attention to the rules regarding cameras and camera equipment. Prepare accordingly.
- Business hours can change due to external circumstances. In fact, if weather conditions are poor, the rooftop may be closed entirely. If you are planning to visit Shibuya Scramble Square without a reservation, it might be a good idea to call ahead to make sure the observation deck is open.
Is Shibuya Scramble Square worth your time?
With so many things to do in Tokyo, including plenty of observation decks, is Shibuya Scramble Square worth the trouble? If you’re into urban vistas and don’t mind parting with up to 2,000 yen, then Shibuya Scramble Square will impress.
First of all, it’s one of only two observation decks that offer unrestricted rooftop access. Its closest rival, the Roppongi Hill’s Sky Deck costs up to 500 yen more for an arguably inferior view. The rest of the city’s observation decks are enclosed with views partially obstructed by other buildings.
Of course, nothing rivals the sheer height of Tokyo Skytree, however, to reach that 450-meter-high observatory, you’ll have to pay much more. So, if you are looking for the perfect place in Tokyo to get a lay of the land, look no further than Shibuya Scramble Square.
