Tokyo Sightseeing: Tickets and Tours Worth Booking Before You Arrive

Short answer: book Shibuya Sky and teamLab Planets before you fly, because they use timed entry and the popular slots go first. A Mt. Fuji day tour is also worth booking early. Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower are easier to decide on the day, though buying ahead still saves time in the ticket line.

Below are the sights that come up most often on Klook's Tokyo bestseller list, with what each one is like and how to plan around it. Prices are the "from" prices shown at the time of writing and can change by date, time slot and currency.

Shibuya Sky: book first, especially for sunset

Shibuya Sky is the open-air rooftop on top of Shibuya Scramble Square, about 230 meters above the famous crossing. It's the most-booked Tokyo activity on Klook, with more than 3 million bookings and a 4.7 rating from over 46,000 reviews.

• Why book ahead: entry is by time slot, and the slots around sunset are the first to sell out.
• Price: from about US$18 on Klook at the time of writing.
• Tip: the rooftop closes in bad weather. Check the forecast and keep a backup plan for rainy days.

Book a slot through Shibuya Sky tickets on Klook (affiliate link).

teamLab Planets: the one people regret not booking

teamLab Planets in Toyosu is a walk-through digital art museum where you go barefoot through water and mirrored rooms. It has a 4.7 rating from more than 21,000 reviews on Klook.

• Why book ahead: tickets are dated and timed, and weekends fill up.
• Price: from about US$27 at the time of writing.
• Tip: wear clothes you can roll up above the knee. Some rooms have water at shin height.

Check dates on teamLab Planets tickets on Klook (affiliate link).

Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower: easier to book on the day

Tokyo Skytree has two observation decks, the Tembo Deck at 350 meters and the Tembo Galleria at 450 meters, and it's the tallest structure in Japan. Tokyo Tower is older and lower, with its Main Deck at 150 meters, but it puts you right among the skyscrapers of central Tokyo, and the tower itself is the classic Tokyo photo.

• Skytree: from about US$16.50 on Klook, rated 4.7 from more than 25,000 reviews. Tokyo Skytree tickets on Klook (affiliate link).
• Tokyo Tower: about US$9.50 on Klook, rated 4.7 from more than 10,000 reviews. Tokyo Tower tickets on Klook (affiliate link).

Both are good choices for a cloudy day, since you're indoors behind glass. On a clear winter morning, you have a good chance of seeing Mt. Fuji from either one.

Mt. Fuji day tour from Tokyo

If you want to see Mt. Fuji up close without planning trains and buses yourself, a day tour from Tokyo is the simplest option. The most-booked one on Klook visits several well-known viewpoints around Lake Kawaguchi, including Oshino Hakkai, and departs from Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station. It's rated 4.8 from more than 35,000 reviews, from about US$49 at the time of writing.

• Why book ahead: tours run on fixed dates, and the bus seats sell out.
• Tip: Mt. Fuji is often hidden by cloud, especially in summer. Book for a date with some flexibility around it if you can.

See the itinerary on the Mt. Fuji day tour on Klook (affiliate link). For a family or group who'd rather go at their own pace, a car with a driver for the day can work out well. See our guide to private cars and chauffeur hire.

A simple way to plan your days

• Before you fly: book Shibuya Sky (sunset slot), teamLab Planets, and a Mt. Fuji tour if you want one.
• Keep flexible: Skytree and Tokyo Tower. Go on whichever day has the clearest weather.
• Group nearby sights: Skytree pairs well with Asakusa, Tokyo Tower with Shiba Park, and teamLab Planets with the Toyosu waterfront.
• Getting around: an IC card covers the trains between all of these. See our IC card and train guide.

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