Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Tokyo

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, also called Tochō, gives you a free view from its 45th floor, with Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree and—through the haze—Mount Fuji among the landmarks you may spot. It is also the seat of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, making this a rare Tokyo landmark where civic work and skyline viewing occupy the same address.

What is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building?

Tochō is the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which governs Tokyo’s special wards, cities, towns, and villages. Kenzo Tange designed the building, completed in 1991.

Its most distinctive feature is the twin-towered structure, which rises 243 metres and has a futuristic, fortress-like appearance. Tange’s design mirrors a Gothic cathedral, linking a traditional architectural reference with Tokyo’s forward-looking character. The result is not a generic high-rise: the two towers give the civic headquarters a recognisable silhouette of its own.

What can you see from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building?

You can ride an elevator to the 45th floor for free. On a clear day, the view stretches across Tokyo, turning the observation floor into a useful landmark-spotting point rather than just a high vantage point.

Look for Tokyo Tower, the needle-like Tokyo Skytree, Meiji Shrine in its green setting, and the domed roof of Tokyo Dome. Mount Fuji may appear through the haze. The observation deck also includes a café and souvenir shopping.

The view has a particular New Year tradition: people gather before sunrise on New Year’s Day to see the first rays of the year over Mount Fuji. If you are mapping out a Shinjuku day, the Shinjuku’s Kabukicho tour visits Tochō as its first stop and adds a place-specific route around the neighbourhood.

Why is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building worth noticing?

This place brings together an active government headquarters and a public-facing observation experience. From above, you can connect Tokyo’s civic centre with recognisable landmarks spread across the skyline, including the tower, shrine, dome, and—when conditions allow—Mount Fuji.

Save the landmark checklist to share with your travel companion when you plan a Tokyo or Shinjuku route: Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Dome, and Mount Fuji through the haze. The twin towers and Gothic-cathedral reference give the view a setting as distinctive as the skyline it frames.

To explore Tochō as part of a place-based walk, start the Shinjuku’s Kabukicho - Religion, Drinking Culture, and History tour.