Tokyo Tower & a Sushi Class in One Day

Tokyo Tower, the red and white tower in the Shiba area, is one of the city's best-known landmarks, and Zojo-ji, one of Tokyo's great temples, stands right beside it. Asakusa, where our studio is, sits in the old eastern part of the city, but one subway line links the two areas directly, so they combine easily in a single day.

This guide explains how to get between Asakusa and Tokyo Tower, what to know about the tower and Zojo-ji, and three plans that fit them around a sushi class.

The direct route: the Toei Asakusa Line

The simplest connection is the Toei Asakusa Line from Asakusa Station to Daimon Station, with no change of train. The ride takes roughly 20 minutes; check a route planner on the day for exact times.

• From Daimon, Zojo-ji is about 5 minutes on foot and Tokyo Tower about 10 minutes. Walking from Daimon through the temple grounds to the tower is the most pleasant way in.
• The nearest station to the tower is Akabanebashi on the Toei Oedo Line, about 5 minutes on foot. Kamiyacho on the Hibiya Line is about 7 minutes away.

In Asakusa, the Toei Asakusa Line station is about 5 minutes on foot from our studio (Exit A5). Our directions from Asakusa Station show the walk from each line. Allow about 35 to 40 minutes door to door between the studio and the tower.

Tokyo Tower: decks, hours and tickets

Tokyo Tower is 333 metres tall and has two observation levels. According to the official fees and hours page, checked on 3 November 2026:

• Main Deck (150 m): open 9:00 to 23:00, last entry 22:30. Adults ¥1,500, online or at the ticket window.
• Top Deck Tour (150 m and 250 m): 9:00 to 22:45, last entry 22:15. Adults ¥3,300 online or ¥3,500 at the window.

Prices and hours can change, so check the official site before you go. On a clear day, the decks give you views over central Tokyo and Tokyo Bay, and sometimes Mount Fuji in winter.

The tower is also worth seeing from the ground at night. According to the light-up page, its regular orange lighting is called the Landmark Light. The multicoloured Infinity Diamond Veil is usually shown on Mondays and Thursdays from 20:00 to 22:00, and the tower sparkles in white for two minutes on the hour from sunset until midnight. The schedule can change for special events.

Zojo-ji Temple next door

Zojo-ji is a large Pure Land Buddhist temple, closely linked with the Tokugawa shoguns of the Edo period. Its main gate, the Sangedatsumon, dates from 1622, and the temple describes it as the only original building remaining. Walking through the gate towards the main hall, with Tokyo Tower rising behind the roofs, is one of the classic views of the city.

Restoration notice: Sangedatsumon is covered during repairs; passage below remains open but narrow.

The temple also has a Treasures Gallery. The temple's English site lists it as open 11:00 to 15:00 on weekdays (last entry 14:45) and 10:00 to 16:00 on weekends and holidays (last entry 15:45), closed on Tuesdays, with adult admission at ¥700. Please be quiet and respectful around the halls, where services take place. The gallery opens on Tuesdays that are national holidays.

Choose your class time

Our signature sushi and matcha class lasts 90 minutes. On the late-December dates we checked, most days had sessions at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00, although start times vary by date. Please arrive 10 minutes early. You eat what you make, so the class counts as a meal.

Plan A: sushi in the morning, the tower in the afternoon

1. 10:00: take the class in Asakusa.
2. About 11:45: take the Toei Asakusa Line to Daimon.
3. Early afternoon: walk through Zojo-ji to Tokyo Tower.
4. Late afternoon: go up to the Main Deck around sunset, then watch the tower light up from the temple or nearby Shiba Park.

This plan works well if you want daylight views and an evening free.

Plan B: the tower first, sushi for lunch or later

1. 9:00: start at Zojo-ji and go up Tokyo Tower when the decks open, before the busier late morning.
2. About 11:00: take the Toei Asakusa Line back to Asakusa.
3. 12:00 or 14:00: join the class.
4. Afternoon: explore Senso-ji and the streets around it.

Keep breakfast light if you choose the 12:00 session. Our guide to planning meals around a sushi class helps with timing.

Plan C: the city at night

1. Afternoon: take a 14:00 or 16:00 class.
2. Evening: ride to Daimon, walk past Zojo-ji in the dark and go up to the Main Deck for the night view. Mondays and Thursdays are the days for the Diamond Veil lighting.

If you have more time on another day, compare the view from Tokyo Skytree with a sushi class. Skytree is a few minutes from Asakusa and much taller, while Tokyo Tower is closer to the centre and is itself part of the skyline you see from many places. The Toei Asakusa Line also stops at Higashi-ginza, so you can add shopping on the way back; see our Ginza and sushi class guide.

Book the fixed point first

Book the class first, then coordinate any timed Top Deck Tour ticket and the temple's opening hours. Main Deck admission and Top Deck Tour reservations have different conditions; check your selected ticket before planning the day.