Free Tokyo Tower Night View Spots: Walk from Shiba Park

Free Tokyo Tower View Spots: A Night Walk from Shiba Park to Akabanebashi

Tokyo Tower is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, and seeing it lit up at night is an unforgettable experience. While paid observatories like Roppongi Hills Mori Tower or Azabudai Hills offer spectacular views, you don’t always need to spend money to enjoy Tokyo’s night skyline. Some of the best views of Tokyo Tower are completely free—if you know where to go.

In this post, I’ll share our night walk from Shiba Park to Akabanebashi, including ramen stops, hidden photo spots, and tips for capturing the perfect Tokyo Tower shot without paying an entry fee.

Comparison of paid Tokyo Tower observatories and free night view walking spots

On a previous trip, we visited the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower for its panoramic night view. Unfortunately, it was rainy and crowded—we had to line up just to take a photo by the window. It felt rushed, and we couldn’t really savour the moment.

Tokyo Tower Night View from Roppongi Mori Tower. When we visited in 2023, the tower was illuminated in blue instead of its usual red. It was beautiful but very crowded, and since there were no proper seats, we ended up sitting on the floor while waiting for a spot to become available

By contrast, when we stumbled upon Caretta Shiodome, we were pleasantly surprised by how peaceful and quiet it was. The view was stunning—and best of all, free.

The video of the night view from Caretta Shiodome - The observatory was free, and aside from the crowd, it felt relaxing, more like a place for locals. A few people sat quietly, chatting softly in a friendly way. We also sat down and spent a long time enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and the view.

This time, we considered visiting the newly developed Azabudai Hills for its famous nightscape, but since we had already been to a paid observatory, we decided to explore free Tokyo Tower view spots instead.

Before You Go: Check the Tokyo Tower Lighting Schedule

Tokyo Tower isn’t always glowing red. The lighting changes by season and event, so it’s a good idea to check the official lighting schedule here:
Tokyo Tower Light-Up Schedule

The classic red design is called the Landmark Light, but depending on the day, you might see blue, white, or themed illuminations instead.

Our Journey starts

Starting Point: Shiba Park (4th Block)

We began our walk from Onarimon Station (Mita Line), Exit A6, which leads directly to Shiba Park 4th Block. From there, Tokyo Tower appeared to our right, glowing beautifully against the night sky.

Every few steps offered a different angle of the tower, so we stopped often for photos. One must-see stop along the way is Zojoji Temple, where the traditional temple gate frames Tokyo Tower perfectly—a classic Tokyo photo spot.

From Onarimon Station, keep walking straight toward where you can see Tokyo Tower. The tower will be on your right as you walk

A small alleyway next to Zojo-ji Temple

A view of Tokyo Tower from the square of Zojo-ji Temple.

Tokyo Tower view in front of the Prince Park Tower Hotel

Dinner Break: Saba (Mackerel) Ramen at Okurindo

Before continuing, we stopped at Okurindo, a small ramen shop known for its unique fish-based broths. Their menu includes ramen made with mackerel, squid, salmon, and even carangidae. The saba (mackerel) ramen is their signature dish.

At first, the strong smell of fish was intimidating, but there was a line of customers continuously going in, and most of them were locals, which gave us confidence. We ordered the basic Saba Ramen (¥1,100) from the machine, which came with two slices of char siu and chopped onion, plus we added extra chopped onion and two more pieces of char siu. I used the extra onion, while my husband only had a small amount since the ramen already came with plenty—he said it was more than enough and not fishy at all.

The broth was surprisingly rich, creamy, and not overly fishy. The chewy noodles paired perfectly with the sweetness of the onions, which helped balance the flavour. 

👍Pro tip: add a touch of Japanese pepper for a completely different taste.

On the way to Okurindo, we were able to capture a nice sunset view of Tokyo Tower

The restaurant provides an English menu, showing the basic ingredients in Ramen, Ramen Set, and No-Soup Ramen.

Although there is an English menu, the ticket machine is not foreigner-friendly. If you’re not confident, it’s better to use a translator app - 1,000, 2,000 yen notes and coins are acceptable

Mackerel Ramen – basic, ¥1,100

Mackerel Ramen – with extra char siu and extra chopped onion

Best Free Tokyo Tower Night Photo Spots

Here are some of the highlights from our walk:

• Shiba Park – Peace Lantern

Walking along Hibiya-dori Avenue, we reached the Peace Lantern monument in Shiba Park. The park was busy with young people hanging out, but since it’s a spacious area, we had no trouble snapping photos without waiting.

[Google Maps Link]

• Akabanebashi 7-Eleven Spot

Right in front of the 7-Eleven near Akabanebashi Station (Oedo Line) is another popular Tokyo Tower view. Locals love it for its postcard-like angle. However, at night, car headlights made it tricky to capture clean photos. This spot might be better in the daytime. - It looked especially cool to recreate the Beatles’ crosswalk photo with Tokyo Tower in the background. 

When filming a video, try to keep the tower centred in the frame from start to finish, and match your walking pace with the model’s to maintain the composition. It’s not easy to record, and our attempt wasn’t perfect due to a lack of filming skills—but I really enjoyed watching others’ well-shot videos.

[Google Maps Link]

• Tofu Ukai Spot

Located in front of the well-known restaurant Tofu Ukai, this spot is famous online for its picture-perfect Tokyo Tower framing. When we visited on a past trip, even on a rainy night, we had to wait over 30 minutes for our turn. On a clear night, expect longer waits—but the result is worth it.

[Google Maps Link]

A Tokyo Tower view from in front of Tofu Ukai Restaurant.

Once you get close to Ukai Restaurant, you’ll see these stairs, often with a long waiting line of people wanting photos.
*This picture was taken with an app, so the colours look different, and my husband and I were removed from it.*

• Akabanebashi Intersection

Akabanebashi Station is a very convenient spot, offering a close-up view of Tokyo Tower along with the intersection right in front.
[Google Maps Link]

A daytime view of Tokyo Tower near Akabanebashi Station.

A nighttime view of Tokyo Tower from the same spot near Akabanebashi Station

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for free Tokyo Tower night views, the walking route from Shiba Park to Akabanebashi is a perfect choice. It’s relaxing, photogenic, and lets you see the tower from multiple angles without the crowds or the cost of observatories.

Whether you’re into photography, night walks, or simply want to enjoy Tokyo at a slower pace, this stroll offers one of the best ways to experience the city’s most iconic landmark.

Of course, paid observatories are also great for night views since you can see Tokyo Tower glowing among the city’s bright lights. On my husband’s first Japan trip, I took him to Roppongi Tower for that classic view. But on his second trip, I thought it would be more fun to explore free viewpoints while walking. Even if it’s the same spot, the view changes depending on the time of day, making it worth revisiting for a fresh perspective each time.

On my husband’s first trip, he saw Tokyo Tower illuminated in blue, and on his second trip, he saw it in diamond lights — but he still hasn’t seen it in its iconic red. So if you want to see the landmark in red, be sure to check the official website and plan your visit accordingly.

* Some of the photos were taken in 2023 and others in 2025. This review is based on my personal experience, and results may vary for others. Please take it as a friendly reference.