Tokyo’s Top Sites – How to Buy Shibuya Sky Tickets [2025]
LAST UPDATED: JANUARY 11, 2025 | EST. READING TIME: 5 MIN
Shibuya Sky promises breathtaking views of the twinkling Tokyo skyline. Standing at 751 feet above the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, this observation deck atop the Shibuya Scramble Square building is one of Tokyo’s top tourist destinations.
However, visiting this iconic attraction has changed significantly over the last year, particularly for travelers to Japan. Learn the ins and outs of this panoramic point with instructions for visitors detailed below including the new purchase restrictions in 2025.
What is Shibuya Sky?
Shibuya Sky is an observation deck spanning the 46th and 47th floors of Shibuya Scramble Square, which is attached to the Shibuya train station via the B6 subway exit.
The Sky Gate entryway is located on the 14th floor within this complex and crowded multi-level mall filled with hundreds of other shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
Finding the Shibuya Sky elevator within this commercial castle is like finding a needle in a haystack if you’ve never stepped inside before. Arrive early in case you have any hiccups navigating around. If you’re tardy to your designated ticket timeslot, you may be denied entry altogether or face a significant wait.
Join the end of a winding line before filing into the glass, high-speed Transition Pod elevator which represents your first ascent in the journey up to the observation deck offering stunning 360° panoramic views of Tokyo.
Like Disney World lines that just keep on going, exit the first elevator before waiting in more lines to enter a second, and then a third elevator before finally reaching the rooftop of the Shibuya Scramble Square building. The latter trips are themed with intergalactic sounds and imagery, which adds to the feeling that you’re propelling through the air on your way up!
Upon finally reaching the main exhibit, find a covered floor with interactive art installations detailing information on the surrounding skyline and a technological time river marked with the specific moment of your visit.
What to do at Shibuya Sky?
The rooftop "Sky Stage" provides an open-air experience with unobstructed 360° views of iconic landmarks in the distance like Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, and on clear days, Mount Fuji.
To step outside, secure any bags on your person in a locker for ¥100 - 300. This is a small price to pay for the unparalleled vantage point you’re soon granted of the sprawling cityscape.
Look down at the mesmerizing chaos of thousands of people walking through Shibuya Scramble Crossing from the sleek and modern observation deck. Feel the breeze as you ride the escalator up to the open-air Sky Stage and enjoy an unobstructed view of the sky and city beyond.
A rooftop bar requiring reservations for couch seating offers cocktails if you’d like to start the festivities early and pre-game an upcoming dinner. Á la carte drinks can be ordered from the bar counter, however you have to enjoy them at a standing table
Occasional light shows project dancing beams to further illuminate Tokyo at night.
How to Buy Shibuya Sky Tickets?
Previously, Shibuya Sky tickets could be purchased for only ¥2,500 from the official website powered by Webket and third-party providers like Klook, Trip.com, and KKday.
However, recent restrictions were imposed which only allow credit cards issued in Japan to be used for Shibuya Sky ticket purchases on the official website. Implemented as a fraud protection mechanism, this prevents tourists visiting from other countries from making a purchase on this particular site. Many foreign credit cards allow lax chargebacks while Japanese issued cards do not, so this may be the underlying issue which led to this restriction.
The downside is that tourists have no choice but to leverage third-party Shibuya Sky ticket retailers. As such, don’t get your hopes up when it comes to securing coveted sunset time slots.
These tickets already sell out in seconds on the official website, long before a downstream partner would have time to list them. When I visited Shibuya Sky in May 2024, I couldn’t even secure a sunset ticket while waiting on the official website the moment they dropped—the battle for primetime tickets is real.
In practice, this means visitors to Japan without a Japanese credit card cannot visit Shibuya Sky at sunset. For a similar golden hour experience, consider visiting Tokyo Skytree for ¥3,100 or Sunshine 60's Tenbou-Park Observatory for ¥1,200 as two other panoramic viewpoint options. At the time of writing, both attractions continue to accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express credit cards among other providers issued outside of Japan.
If you’re truly determined to see the sunset from Shibuya Sky, consider booking an early afternoon ticket and hanging out until sunset. There’s no time limit, so with determination and a portable charger you can stay as long as you like.
Shibuya Sky is open from 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM with the last admission at 9:20 PM. Tokyo Skytree is open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM with the last admission at 9:00 PM. Sunshine 60's Tenbou-Park Observatory is open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM with the last admission at 8:00 PM.
Already planning a trip to Tokyo? Check out my ultimate 3 days in Tokyo travel guide detailing everything you need to know when visiting the Japanese capital.
When do Shibuya Sky Tickets go on Sale?
Shibuya Sky tickets become available exactly at midnight Japan Standard Time (JST), 28 days out from your intended activity date.
For example, if you intend to visit on February 15th, the tickets you’re seeking will become available on January 17th if purchasing from the United States. Specifically, the tickets will become available at 10 PM EST on the East Coast or 7 PM PST on the West Coast.
Plan to be on the site at midnight local time sharp to try and secure the most coveted timeslots. Sunset tickets sell out the fastest, although any convenient times can be difficult to acquire during peak tourist seasons.
Even with this tight ticket control, a lengthy queue forms full of visitors getting into and out of the venue. Arrive early and build in buffer time during your departure if you have a timed activity following this experience.
When is the Best Time to Visit Shibuya Sky?
Traditionally, sunset is viewed as the best time to visit Shibuya Sky, which is why these golden hour time slots sell out so quickly. The fading rays of sunshine cast a warm glow over the city with a soft photogenic light perfect for capturing aesthetic travel flicks.
Assuming this option is out of the picture—at least for Shibuya Sky—the next best time to visit Shibuya Sky is during the evening. Tokyo comes alive under the darkness of night, with an abundance of twinkling lights across the light creating a spectacular display.
Seeing the skyline lit up is one of the most compelling reasons to visit any of these observation towers, and at Shibuya Sky there’s the added attraction of seeing the many spherical rooftop projectors produce beams that dance among the stars.
I would not recommend visiting Shibuya Sky during the day, since the city smog can make this obscured view quite lackluster. If you can’t secure a sunset slot, a sparkling evening outing is the next best way to go.
Is Shibuya Sky Worth it?
I’d say so! I’m not a huge proponent of visiting skyline attractions in other cities across the globe, but if you’re only going to do an observation experience once, Tokyo makes a compelling case as the best city to see from above.
The largest city in the world, the Greater Tokyo Area including Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures has a population of over 37 million people, making it the most populous metropolitan area globally.
This cosmopolitan sea is truly a sight to behold, blending seamlessly with neighboring cities and suburbs to create a megacity with unmatched connectivity.
With urban development as far as the eye can see, this sprawling metropolis uniquely makes Tokyo the only place in the world where such a dense population can be visualized.
The city to end all cities, experience the sprawling scale of Tokyo firsthand by viewing it from above at Shibuya Sky!
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