Seaside Top Observatory: The Best Tokyo Sunset Views

Seaside Top was a popular observatory in Tokyo. The views it offered customers were fantastic. Unfortunately, it was now closed and has been demolished. I have republished the article for the sake of posterity.

Seaside Top Observatory was famous for its spectacular evening and night-time views. They could have been the best in the city. Yes, I’m confident when I say that! If you enjoyed this type of photography, you needed to go there. It was brilliant.

The signature view: Tokyo Tower

When you looked to the west, Tokyo Tower was a stone’s throw away. Toranomon’s skyscrapers were a little further. The view was breathtaking at sunset and early evening when the city lights came on. If you had good weather, you wouldn’t want to leave those big, panoramic windows that faced the northwest. Without a doubt, this was the best view of the tower from anywhere in Tokyo.

Then you turned your head to the north a little and saw Marunouchi and Tokyo Skytree. In a short arc, you could capture some popular places. There was a lot to see in a small area.

A perfect (but incomplete) panorama

You didn’t get the full west view because of two buildings. That was a pity. While a new, even taller skyscraper is rising in its place, it is not yet known if it will include a public observatory to replace the one we lost. One can only hope that the spirit of Seaside Top will live on.

A paradise for train spotters

By the way, if you are a train lover, there was something for you too. On the east side was Hamamatsucho Station. It was a stop for the Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines. Shinkansens (bullet trains) and a monorail were there, too! The only other observatory in Tokyo that has something similar is Hokutopia.

This observatory showed you didn’t need to be miles up in the sky to get a good view. It is only 152 meters high, but that was more than enough. I loved it.

What could you photograph from Seaside Top Observatory?

Tokyo skyline
Hama Rikyu Gardens (a Shogun-era park)
Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens (another Shogun-era park)
Rainbow Bridge
Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Tower
Zojoji (a temple with Shogunate ties)

Photography Tips

No tripods were allowed (but monopods were).
You can’t use the tables or ledges to rest your camera for long-exposure photographs.
There are lots of interior lights, so there will be glare.

Where was Seaside Top Observatory?

Permanently closed.
It was in the World Trade Center next to Hamamatsucho station on the Yamanote Line.

Opening hours

Permanently closed.

Admission costs

Permanently closed.

Conclusion

At Seaside Top observatory, you likely spent most of your time taking pictures of Tokyo Tower. That was okay because the view was outstanding. And entry was cheap, only ¥620!! If you were on a budget, you could enjoy a top-notch nighttime view without putting a massive hole in your wallet.