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Nighttime Scenery As dusk falls, the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo transforms into a city of bright lights. Many observation decks in towers and tall buildings open until around 22:00, providing great vantage points for lovely night views. Recommended observation decks are those at the Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and Sunshine 60 in the Ikebukuro district. In addition, several skyscrapers house restaurants on their top floors from where diners can simultaneously enjoy good food and good views of the city. Although usually on the high-end side, top floor restaurants are an especially good way of seeing the city views at night, after other observation decks close. Some notable districts where top floor restaurants are common include Marunouchi, Shiodome and Shinjuku. Another unique and spectacular way to enjoy the night scenery is to take a helicopter ride over the city. A 15 minute ride costs about 25,000 yen. A further alternative would be to take a boat cruise and enjoy the waterfront scenery. Several operators offer 2-3 hour cruises along Tokyo Bay, charging about 8,000 yen with dinner or 4,000 to 5,000 yen without. Food Dining is probably the most heavily indulged in night activity. All over the city, various types of dining establishments can be found, from humble family restaurants to traditional Japanese style izakaya and posh three-star Michelin restaurants. It is impossible to categorize dining locations because they are ubiquitous, but here are some suggested destinations: Asakusa offers many old-fashioned izakaya with an authentic, down-to-earth, traditional Japanese feel. Shinjuku, Shiodome and the Tokyo Station area have many high-rise buildings with top floor restaurants which make for great places to enjoy a meal and indulge in the night scenery at the same time. Yurakucho has a lively restaurant district built up under the brick arches beneath the elevated train tracks of the JR Yamanote Line. To experience something unique, visit one of the plethora of themed restaurants in Tokyo, such as a prison themed restaurant in Shibuya, a gothic church themed one in Shinjuku, a ninja themed one in Akasaka, a vampire themed cafe in Ginza and maid cafes in Akihabara. Museums and Theme Parks Museums in Tokyo usually close around 17:00 to 18:00 and are thus not suitable night destinations in general. There are however some museums and aquariums that typically close later, like the Mori Museum, Sumida Aquarium, Epson Aqua Stadium and Sunshine International Aquarium. Disneyland and DisneySea are open until 22:00 on most nights (shorter hours on weekdays during winter). The theme parks offer night passports with discounted fees on most evenings. Visit the official Tokyo Disney Resort page to check for park operation times and night pass validity. Tokyo Dome City also offers a night pass for its attractions after 17:00. The attractions operate until 21:00 and a discounted night pass is available. Another destination to consider is Tokyo Joypolis at Odaiba, an indoor amusement park that is open daily until 23:00. Nightlife Districts Tokyo's best known nightlife districts are Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza and Roppongi: Northeast of Shinjuku Station lies Kabukicho, Japan's largest red light district, with hundreds of hostess clubs, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and massage parlors. Large bill boards and neon signs brightly light the streets. The district is generally safe but adult shops and posters of scantily clad women are not uncommon. Most establishments in Kabukicho target a Japanese clientele, and some charge expensive cover fees. Located in one corner of Kabukicho, Golden Gai is an old-fashioned district of narrow alleys with many small bars. Shibuya commands a younger local audience, who patronize the numerous nightclubs, bars, dance lounges and restaurants that it has to offer. Shibuya is also home to the Love Hotel Hill with a high concentration of love hotels. Shibuya is somewhat less seedy and more easily accessible to foreign tourists without Japanese language knowledge than Shinjuku's Kabukicho district. Ginza is the premium upmarket district, featuring fine dining restaurants, chic bars and night clubs, as well as upscale host and hostess bars. Expect hefty bills. Note that some establishments are rather exclusive and not easily accessible to foreign visitors without Japanese language skills. Roppongi is the most accessible nightlife district for foreign tourists. A large concentration of foreign-friendly nightclubs, bars and restaurants can be found in the area. Although generally safe, there have been increasing reports of vice and bad practices at Roppongi, such as exorbitant hidden fees charged by bars and clubs, aggressive touting, spiked drinks and fights.