How much does Kyoto Tower cost?

From October 1, 2026, the observation deck costs ¥1,000 for adults, ¥800 for high school students, ¥700 for elementary and junior high students and ¥300 for children aged 3 and over; under 3s are free. Until September 30, 2026 the prices are ¥900, ¥700, ¥600 and ¥200.

What are Kyoto Tower's opening hours?

10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day, with last entry at 8:30 p.m. On August 16 the deck closes early before a separate Daimonji bonfire viewing, and on January 1 it opens at 6:30 a.m. for the first sunrise.

How long do you need at Kyoto Tower?

The operator says most visitors spend 15 to 30 minutes. There is no time limit once you are up, but you cannot re-enter after leaving.

Is Kyoto Tower worth visiting?

It is worth it if you want to see how Kyoto is laid out, or have half an hour near the station on a clear evening. In low cloud the view shrinks, and it is not worth crossing the city for; treat it as a stop on an arrival or departure day.

Can you leave luggage at Kyoto Tower?

No. The deck does not hold bags or strollers. Use the coin lockers at Kyoto Station before you go up.

Is Kyoto Tower wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Lifts run from the ground floor to the 11th floor, a wheelchair lift (up to 180 kg) links to the deck lift, and a lift connects the two deck levels. There is no wheelchair-accessible toilet on the deck; staff will direct you to one in the building.

Kyoto Tower

ExploreJapanDaily Editorial Team · Last updated: September 28, 2026

Kyoto Tower is the 131-meter white tower across the road from Kyoto Station, the tallest tower in Kyoto. Its observation deck, 100 meters up and the highest viewpoint in the city center, costs ¥1,000 for adults from October 1, 2026 (¥900 until then) and is open 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with last entry at 8:30 p.m. Most visitors spend 15 to 30 minutes at the top.

Quick Answer

Hours

10:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily; last entry 8:30 PM

Admission

¥1,000 adults from Oct 1, 2026 (¥900 before)

Nearest Station

Kyoto Station Central Exit, 2 min walk

Best Time

Around sunset or after dark on a clear day

Visit Duration

15 to 30 minutes on the deck

Kyoto Tower above the Kyoto Tower Hotel building, with the city and mountains behind on an overcast day

Area: Kyoto Station / Central Kyoto
Best For: Views, City Orientation, Night Views, Arrival or Departure Day
Nearby: Kyoto Railway Museum · Toji Temple

Book Tickets

Visiting Kyoto Tower

Kyoto Tower stands on the roof of a nine-story building across Shiokoji-dori from Kyoto Station's Central Exit. It opened on December 28, 1964, the year the Tokaido Shinkansen began running, and at 131 meters it is still the tallest tower in Kyoto. Its architect, Yamada Mamoru, drew it as a lighthouse for a city without a sea, with the tiled roofs below standing in for waves. Since April 2024 its official name has been Nidec Kyoto Tower.

The observation deck, 100 meters up, is a ring of windows on two levels. Because Kyoto limits building heights, little blocks the view: the operator points out Toji's pagoda, Nishi Hongan-ji, the stage of Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjusangen-do and the gates of Tofuku-ji and Chion-in, and on a clear day Osaka. The telescopes are free, and there is no time limit.

Kyoto Tower seen from a distance, standing above the low city with cloud on the mountains behind

It is a short visit. The operator says most people stay 15 to 30 minutes, and the view is at its best in clear weather, around sunset or after dark. In rain or low cloud it shrinks to the nearest districts, so look at the sky before buying a ticket.

Kyoto Tower lit blue at night above the Kyoto Station bus terminal, with a red open-top sightseeing bus at the stop

The building below holds Kyoto Tower Sando: a food hall in the basement, souvenir shops on the ground floor and hands-on workshops, such as Japanese sweet-making and kimono rental, on the second floor. A public bath, Yuu, is three floors underground.

When to go up

Short answer

Go on a clear day around sunset or after dark; in low cloud, pick another time.

Clear evening: Sunset and the first hour of darkness show the city and the hills around it.
Daytime: Best for picking out temples and the mountains; haze can hide Osaka.
Rain or low cloud: The view shrinks to the nearest districts.
August 16 and January 1: Special hours: the deck closes early on August 16 before the bonfire viewing, and opens at 6:30 a.m. on January 1.

Fitting Kyoto Tower into a day

Short answer

The tower is a 15 to 30 minute stop that fits around a train or an evening near Kyoto Station.

One stop west

Kyoto Railway Museum

Kyoto Railway Museum, one stop on the JR Sagano Line; closed on most Wednesdays.

South of the station

Toji

Toji and its pagoda, which you can pick out from the deck, 15 minutes on foot from the Hachijo exit.

Two stops south

Fushimi Inari

Fushimi Inari Taisha on the JR Nara Line; go in the morning and save the tower for the evening.

On an arrival or departure day, leave your bags in Kyoto Station's lockers first: the deck will not hold luggage or strollers.

What's at Kyoto Tower

How to Get to Kyoto Tower

Kyoto Tower is directly north of Kyoto Station, across Shiokoji-dori. The deck ticket counter is on the ground floor of the tower building.

💡Good to Know

•Kyoto Station Central Exit, then 2 minutes on foot across the bus terminal.
•The deck does not hold luggage or strollers: use the coin lockers at Kyoto Station first.

Map

Best Time to Visit Kyoto Tower

Best time to visit Kyoto Tower: around sunset or after dark on a clear day. Weekday mornings are generally quieter than weekends and public holidays.

💡Good to Know

•The deck is open 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day; last entry is 8:30 p.m.
•A clear evening shows the most; in rain or low cloud the view shrinks to the nearest districts.
•On August 16 the deck closes at 6:30 p.m. (last entry 6:00 p.m.) before a separate bonfire viewing; on January 1 it opens at 6:30 a.m.

Entry Fee & Hours

🎟️

Admission

¥1,000 for adults from October 1, 2026 (¥900 before); other prices in the table

⏰

Hours

10:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily; last entry 8:30 PM

Observation deck

Observation deck admission prices in JPY and approximate USD
Category	Price (JPY)	Approx. (USD)
Adult	¥1,000	~$6.7
High school student	¥800	~$5.3
Elementary and junior high school student	¥700	~$4.7
Child (3 and over)	¥300	~$2

From October 1, 2026. Until September 30, 2026: ¥900, ¥700, ¥600 and ¥200. Under 3 free.

💡Good to Know

•Disability certificate holders and one companion pay ¥500 from October 1, 2026 (¥450 before). Tickets are sold on the ground floor of the tower building; cash, cards and mobile payments are accepted.
•There is no luggage storage or stroller parking at the deck and no re-entry. Photography is fine on the deck but not in the lifts.

Book Tickets

Nearby Attractions

Places to pair with Kyoto Tower

Umekoji / Kyoto Station

📍Nearby

•Kyoto Railway Museum (One stop on the JR Sagano Line, or 20 minutes on foot): The Kyoto Railway Museum displays 54 trains, from steam locomotives to the 500-series Shinkansen, in a main hall, an outdoor promenade and Japan's oldest surviving reinforced-concrete roundhouse, where steam engines still run.
•Toji Temple (15 minutes on foot from the station's Hachijo exit): Toji (Kyo-o-gokoku-ji) was founded in 796 as one of two great temples guarding the southern gate of the new capital, and was given to the monk Kukai in 823. It is the head temple of Shingon Buddhism, part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage site, and its pagoda, rebuilt in 1644, is the tallest five-story pagoda in Japan.
•Fushimi Inari Taisha (Two stops on the JR Nara Line): Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of Japan's Inari shrines, with about 10,000 vermilion torii along the paths up Mount Inari in southern Kyoto. Entry is free, the grounds are always open, and you choose how far to climb.