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Hokutopia – a great Tokyo observatory for trainspotters
Hokutopia near Oji Station offers a fresh perspective on Tokyo. It comes from its unique vantage point. Of course, the top-floor observatory has sweeping skyline views. It’s a thrilling chance to photograph Japan’s famous Shinkansens zipping by below. While not the tallest spot in the city, it is perfect for trainspotters and photographers. It’s for people seeking shots of fast-approaching trains and classic urban scenery. Yes, it’s free too!
That is why many photographers go there. You can get a good view of trains, particularly the Shinkansens. They pass the building practically right under you! It makes for an interesting tourist attraction.
If you have a zoom or telephoto lens, it is one of Tokyo’s best spots to photograph them. You can see them approach from a reasonable distance away, so you won’t feel the need to rush your shots. There are also viewfinders to enjoy the view as well. The lines you’ll see are:
- Keihin-Tohoku line
- Toden-Arakawa line
- Tohoku line (Shinkansen)
- Joetsu line (Shinkansen)
Hokutopia is only seventeen floors high, but it is the tallest building near Oji station. So, you get great views across the city to Tokyo Skytree.
The area around the observatory is not highly developed. It is medium-density commercial and residential. And it is older too. Oji doesn’t resemble Shinjuku or Shibuya at all. It’s not your typical Tokyo photo spot.
Hokutopia does have one problem. It suffers from the same design flaw as the Bunkyo Civic Center – the view is only about 270˚. You don’t get a full 360˚.
What can you photograph from Hokutopia?
- Suburban city areas
- Tokyo city skyline
- Tokyo Skytree
- Trains
Problems photographing from this location
- You can use tripods, but you can’t place them on the ledges. That means your lens will be a considerable distance from the windows.
- Some of the windows are filthy. You’ll need to deal with that.
- Getting to suburban Oji might be too far for some.
Other photo spots near Hokutopia
- Asukayama Park (under Hokutopia and known for its hydrangeas)
- Inari Shrine (famous for foxes)
- Kyu-Furukawa Gardens
Where is Hokutopia?
Address: 1-11-1 Oji, Kita City, Tokyo
Here it is on Google Maps:
Closest train station:
Oji on the:
- JR – Tōhoku Main Line (Keihin-Tōhoku Line)
- Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
- Tokyo Sakura Tram
Opening hours:
8:30 AM to 10 PM
Admission costs:
None
Conclusion
The observation deck of Hokutopia is a great place to visit if you are into trains. But if you prefer a full 360˚ experience, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building might be better. Anyway, you can still get some good cityscape photos there!
To see places mentioned in this article, look at: