The tower sits on top of two railway stations, which makes this easier than most Tokyo journeys
Getting to Tokyo Skytree
Skytree is one of the simplest major sights in Tokyo to reach because it was built directly above its own stations. This covers the lines that serve it, the route from the main arrival points, and where to go once you are inside the base complex.
Book your Skytree entry ↗The two stations
Tokyo Skytree Station, on the Tobu Skytree Line, sits at the foot of the tower. Oshiage Station — signed as Oshiage (Skytree) — is served by the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, the Toei Asakusa Line and the Keisei lines, and connects underground directly into the base complex. Either works; Oshiage gives you more line choices and Tokyo Skytree Station puts you marginally closer to the lifts.
From Asakusa
The shortest journey of all, and the nicest. It is one stop on the Tobu Skytree Line, or about twenty minutes on foot across the Sumida River. If the weather is reasonable, walk it: the bridge gives you the classic view of the tower rising behind the old temple quarter, which is the photograph most people want and cannot take from the tower itself.
From Tokyo Station
Take the Tokyo Metro or the JR to a connecting point and change onto the Hanzomon Line for Oshiage. Allow about twenty-five to thirty minutes door to door. There is no single direct line, but there is no complicated routing either.
From Shinjuku
About forty minutes, usually with one change. The most straightforward option is the Toei Shinjuku Line east and then a change onto the Hanzomon or Asakusa line for Oshiage. Any journey planner will route this cleanly; the point is simply that it is a real journey across the city rather than a hop, so build the time in.
From Shibuya
The Hanzomon Line runs directly from Shibuya to Oshiage with no change at all, in roughly thirty-five minutes. This is one of the easiest cross-city runs in Tokyo and it is worth knowing if you are staying on that side.
From Narita Airport
The Keisei lines connect Narita to Oshiage, which means you can in principle come more or less straight from the airport to the tower. In practice, do not — you will be carrying luggage and there is no left-luggage arrangement that makes this pleasant. Drop your bags first.
From Haneda Airport
The Keikyu line connects into the Toei Asakusa Line, which runs through to Oshiage, so this is also close to direct. The same advice applies about luggage.
Once you are there
Ticketing and the high-speed lifts are on the 4th floor of the tower base. Follow the signs upward through the complex — the base is a large shopping centre and it is easy to be distracted by it. If you have booked in advance you do not need the ticket counters: go to the 4th floor, find the pre-booked entrance, and scan the code on your phone.
How long the lift takes
About fifty seconds from the 4th floor to the Tembo Deck at 350 metres. If you have also booked the Galleria, you change to a second lift on floor 350 for the last hundred metres.
Getting away afterwards
The same two stations, and both get busy after sunset when a deck-full of people comes down at once. If you would rather not queue for a train, walk back over the river to Asakusa — it takes twenty minutes, the tower is lit behind you the whole way, and it is a far better end to the evening than a crowded platform.