What No One Tells You About Visiting Tokyo Skytree on a Foggy Day

Before heading to Japan, we carefully planned out our itinerary—including a highly anticipated visit to Tokyo Skytree. We were excited to take in breathtaking views from the tallest tower in Japan, imagining sweeping panoramas of Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, and beyond.

What we didn’t realize? Just how much the weather can make or break the Skytree experience.

Despite traveling in May—a generally good month for weather—it turned out to be anything but predictable. One day was sunny and hot, the next was cloudy and foggy. And unfortunately, our Skytree reservation landed on the foggy one.

What We Saw… or Didn’t

After taking a train from our hotel and arriving early for one of the first time slots, we made our way up the long elevator ride, excited for what awaited us. But when the doors opened? Fog. Thick, impenetrable, comical fog.

We could barely see anything through the windows. At times, the view was a solid wall of white. Occasionally, a pocket of fog would shift, offering a fleeting glimpse of Tokyo below—and people would rush to the window, cameras ready, trying to catch even a sliver of what we were meant to see.

There were monitors showing what the view was supposed to be: Tokyo Tower, Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Dome. But for us, it was mostly just... imagine and squint.

Even the famous transparent glass floor—usually a dizzying thrill—lost its wow factor when all you could see below was clouds.

Anything Else to Do?

We hoped there might be other attractions to soften the blow. There were a few photo booths and a small anime-themed area, but these were tucked away on the upper level of the observatory—the one that requires an extra ticket. If you only paid for the first level, the fog really left you with not much else to do.

Final Thoughts: Worth It in Bad Weather?

Honestly, no. We wouldn't pay to do this again if the weather looked uncertain. But are we planning to go again on our next Japan trip? Absolutely.

Next time, though, we’ll check the weather and book same-day if the skies are clear. Skytree can be an amazing experience—but only if the weather plays along.