Remembering Seaside Top: Tokyo's Best Sunset Views

The Tokyo Tower skyline view at sunset from Seaside Top Observatory. — *Tokyo Tower at sunset*

Seaside Top was a popular observatory in Tokyo. The views it offered customers were fantastic. Unfortunately, it closed in 2021. Furthermore, the building has been demolished. I have republished the article for the sake of posterity.

Tokyo skyline and cityscape viewed from Seaside Top Deck at sunset. — *Tokyo Skytree is visible in the top-right.*

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.

Tokyo's skyscraper skyline and urban cityscape illuminated during a golden sunset.

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 away. The view was breathtaking at sunset and early evening when the city lights came on.

Tokyo skyscrapers and urban cityscape silhouetted against a sunset sky.

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 (though rather small). In a short arc, you could capture some popular places. There was a lot to see in a small area.

Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Gardens at twilight with Tokyo Bay and high-rise cityscape. — *The Edo-period park Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Gardens was under the observatory and Tokyo Bay wasn’t far away.*

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.

Tokyo high-rise skyscrapers and urban cityscape viewed from a Tokyo observatory.

What to 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)

Minato City office buildings starting to light up at dusk.

Photography challenges

No tripods are 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.

Visitor Details

Where was Seaside Top Observatory? It was in the World Trade Center next to Hamamatsucho station on the Yamanote Line.
Opening hours: Permanently closed.
Admission costs: Permanently closed.

Tokyo high-rise residential towers and skyscrapers along rail tracks at sunset. — *The Tokyo Monorail is on the bottom-right.*

Was Seaside Top worth visiting?

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.