Hello, my name is Nocchi.
Since I live in Tokyo, I often photograph the Tokyo cityscape from observatories and building observation terraces. From observatory terraces, you can use a variety of techniques, such as telephoto cropping and wide-angle shooting for a bird’s-eye view.
In this article, I will introduce some of my favorite observation deck photo spots and tips for taking photos.
What you need to shoot from the observatory
Before introducing the observatory shooting spots, we will first summarize below what is needed for shooting from the observatory.
Camera and Lense
Of course, to take pictures, you need a camera and a lens.
A wide-angle lens is good if you want to take wide shots of the city, and a telephoto lens is necessary if you want to crop out buildings.
By the way, the camera I use is FUJIFILM X-E4
I often use the XF10-24mmF4 R OIS lens for wide angle and the XF70-300mmF4-5.6 R LM OIS WR for telephoto.
Ninja Ref.
When photographing from an indoor observatory, the indoor lights often appear in the picture because the picture is taken through the glass.
To prevent such reflections, you can take clear photos by using a ninja reflector and holding it close to the window glass.
The ninja reflector may not be available at all observatories, so it is advisable to check with the observatory facility in advance.
Other times it is desirable to have a tripod, but be aware that many indoor observatories in Tokyo do not allow the use of tripods.
Tokyo Observation Deck Photography Spots and Photography Tips
Let us introduce one by one the recommended spots for taking pictures of the observatory.
Tokyo Sky Tree TEMBO DECK
The first is the observation deck of the Tokyo Sky Tree, which is also the tallest building in Japan.
The Sky Tree observation deck is 350 meters above the ground and the observation corridor is 450 meters above the ground.
Although it may seem a bit expensive, the view of the Tokyo cityscape from the Sky Tree is breathtaking. The observation deck is also high enough, so if you go there for photography, the observation deck will be sufficient.
Tokyo Tower Main Deck
Unlike the Tokyo Skytree, the Tokyo Tower offers a bird’s-eye view of the office district and the intricate streets and intersections of Tokyo, rather than downtown Tokyo.
Because the main deck is 150 meters high, telephoto lenses can be used to capture fleeting moments of people walking or cars running.
Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center Viewing Terrace
There are not many observation decks around Asakusa, but there is an observation terrace on the 8th floor of Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center.
From this observation terrace, you can look down on Nakamise-dori and Sensoji Temple. Sensoji Temple is extremely beautiful when illuminated at night, as well as during the day and evening.
It is also a place where you can see not only Sensoji Temple but also the Sky Tree from top to bottom, making it twice as good a place to visit once.
And to our delight, admission to the Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center is free.
Please refer to the following article for other places to take pictures of Sky Tree.
Hello, my name is Nocchi.Along with the Tokyo Tower, the Tokyo Sky Tree is one of Tokyo's most iconic structures.The[…]
Sky Tree East Tower Observation Deck
There are also observation floors in the restaurant area on the 30th and 31st floors of Tokyo Solamachi.
From here, you can see the Sky Tree up close, but it is also a great spot to overlook the Sumida River and downtown Asakusa.
Incidentally, admission to the Skytree East Tower Observation Deck is also free.
KITTE Rooftop Garden
KITTE, built on the site of the former Tokyo Central Post Office, also has an observation terrace.
From the 6th floor of KITE, one can enjoy the Taisho Romanticism of Tokyo Station. It feels as if the building was designed exactly for viewing Tokyo Station.
Incidentally, the rooftop garden of KITTE also offers free admission.
The second half of this article continues on the next page.
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