Shinjuku
Rooftopping in Tokyo: Shinjuku at Night – Japan
Note - I've gotten a good amount of requests on rooftopping tips in Tokyo from this post. I've put together a few pointers at the end of the post, under the section titled "Tokyo Rooftopping Tips". Good luck out there!
I spent quite a bit of time roaming around Tokyo looking for interesting places to explore and for rooftopping. I always had Shinjuku on my list. In case you didn’t know Shinjuku is a major commercial and business hub, and one of the 23 wards in Tokyo, composed of various areas such as the Skyscraper district as well as Kabukicho, a famous red light district.
Excluding the skyscrapers and some hotels, most if not all the buildings I found here were held to a building code that restricts the number of floors to 10-12. I typically like to go for the tallest buildings available, but after a couple failures in the hotels, I ended up on top of a typical multi-complex building with karaoke and restaurants.
Sometimes you get lucky
Rooftop View; Lots of lights and signs, you can see the NTT Docomo (Clock) Tower in the background
One of many billboards; It says “Mujinkun”, not sure of the meaning….The skyscraper district is visible to the left
Street view; near the station
It’s a nice feeling being above the chaos of the city sometimes, especially at night when Shinjuku fields masses of people migrating from section to section.
Walking near the edges
The buildings here are close together, usually tall, but very compact
Billboards & Signs; The blue sign with orange lettering says “Karaoke & Party”
More buildings; this area leads towards Kabukicho, the “entertainment” district. Later that week I was able to get on the building being constructed on the right, you can find that post here: Tokyo Construction Rooftopping
Midnight in Shinjuku
A washing machine…
Doorway back into the building
Apparently people from the building frequent the roof every now and then, and I confirmed that on the way out when I ran into someone coming up the stairs as I was leaving. Being a foreigner it isn’t hard to act lost in Tokyo, and it didn’t seem liked he minded much anyways.
Shinjuku turned out to be where I found the majority of my success rooftopping in Tokyo. I returned later that week and found a few more places that I’ll post about soon.
Tokyo Rooftopping Tips
If you found this post, and want some easy guidelines to check out roofs in Tokyo, see below.
- The easiest thing to do is usually go to areas like Kabukicho/Shinjuku/Akihabara
- Look for the buildings with many shops They are usually 12 floors high, and have many different businesses there.
- The pictures and roof from this post–> Just go to Kabukicho, and look for multi-complex centers like in this picture: http://goo.gl/gIlFVR
- There are usually elevator and stairs. Take the stairs all the way to the top floor and look for the door to the roof. Sometimes, it is unlocked and you can go and take pictures!
**If you are a foreigner, chances are high that even if you get caught you can talk your way out of it and act lost (i.e. the lost gaijin trying to take photos). As long as you aren’t blatantly breaking and entering, you should be ok.
That’s an easy way to find places, but if you want to go somewhere really high like this: http://www.
You have to take more risks, and try other things. It’s your choice, always be careful and good luck!
JonathoN Smith August 6, 2014 at 03:38
Hey I’m Jonathon,
Im heading to Japab tomorrow and I’m interested in rooftoping. I have been trying to find connects within Japan but no cigar. Do you know anyone I can contact while there? Or any good accesses I can get to while there?
Kaoru March 17, 2015 at 08:52
I love rooftopping <3
I would like to go with you if you don't mind introduce me some places in Tokyo.
Midnight March 20, 2015 at 20:07
Sent you an email
Madara July 5, 2015 at 05:04
HHi, I do Parkour and I’m going to Tokyo soon. I’d love to take some pictures from rooftops. Could you give me some advices?
Scott August 14, 2015 at 19:23
Hey! I’m in tokyo for a week and I think i’ve figured out where this building is, might go try to check it out. I was wondering if you know any cool spots for rooftops that might be worth going to? Thanks!
Scott
Midnight August 16, 2015 at 23:46
Hey I sent you a message to the email you posted with.
Johnny August 18, 2015 at 16:31
this is really a different view. I will go to tokyo in oktober. would you mind sharing some information where i can enter a rooftop.
and in general how do you find these spots?
Midnight August 31, 2015 at 01:12
Thanks, and please check your email I replied there
Max November 22, 2015 at 22:17
Awesome shots! In Tokyo right now myself and trying to find so rooftops to check out myself. Any cool places with easy access?
Phoenix December 28, 2015 at 18:55
I love to go rooftopping! I have never been to Tokyo, but I will get there eventually. Can you tell me some of the cool spots you found? Thanks.
Ali January 8, 2016 at 09:08
Hi, thank you for your post.
I’m currently here for one year, I would love to have some addresses I could go to. Thanks a lot in advance
Ghost January 19, 2016 at 05:28
Yo dude AWESOME pictures.
I’m in Tokyo for a few months already but so far I have not been lucky with rooftops. Can you please share the cool spots.
I’d be forever grateful.
Rexlem March 8, 2016 at 20:48
Hey man, visiting Tokyo in two weeks and i’m definitely down to check out some rooftops there. Any tips, tricks or cool locations would be awesome, looking forward to hearing from you.
Baris July 9, 2016 at 12:28
Hey man. can you please give some more tips about the exact place and how to enter. Really appreciated.
Hoping to hear from you.
Midnight July 12, 2016 at 13:21
I sent you a message to the email you posted with, hope it helps!
KARIN July 12, 2016 at 02:17
hello!
I found this site when googling “rooftop shinjuku”.
all your pictures are AMAZING! I really love them.
I have a plan to visit Tokyo on August. I would like to know places like this if you wouldn’t mind to share it.
Midnight July 12, 2016 at 13:16
I sent you a message to the email you posted with, hope it helps!
Yaseen July 15, 2016 at 02:35
Hey!
Your pictures look amazing!! Came across it when searching for ways to get rooftopping, would love some tips on how you managed to do it, if you don’t mind! Just came into Tokyo so looking for cool things to do.
Hoping to hear from you!
Midnight August 23, 2016 at 15:12
Yaseen, I sent you an email. Luckily, rooftopping in Tokyo is definitely a cool thing to do :p!
OTT August 18, 2016 at 21:45
Hey mate! I’m in Japan from Australia! Would love if you could share some spots with me, have another week left and spending it in Shinjuku. Love the shots
Midnight August 23, 2016 at 14:51
Hope this catches you before you leave, check your email!
Midnight August 23, 2016 at 14:59
Emailed you, sorry for the late reply. Australia is on my list, I may send you a note if I end up there!
nomad August 31, 2016 at 11:48
wow, you take some sick shots. i’ll be going to tokyo soon and i really wanna go rooftopping. i would really appreciate if you could give me some advice and info on some nice spots, especially this one. thanks, and keep up the good work 🙂
Ellen September 1, 2016 at 21:26
Hey the picture is awesome! Im from HK and here has lot of buildings offer amazing views! Going to Tokyo two weeks later, appreciated if you could share some secret spot! Thank you!
Jackson Brown November 3, 2016 at 21:44
I’m in Tokyo right now, until 8th Nov.
You free for a meet up to show me the roofs?
Midnight January 25, 2017 at 20:16
Sorry Jackson, wasn’t in Japan when you sent this, but I’ll probably be there later this year. Did you end up with any good pics?
Rei January 6, 2017 at 13:58
Hey man i’m new to this rooftopping things but i really want to do it. next month i’m visiting tokyo and wanna do rooftopping. Would love if you could share some spots with me. thank you!
Midnight January 25, 2017 at 20:17
That’s awesome, I sent you an email!
Krzysztof Baranowski January 30, 2017 at 17:43
Whoa, very cool location. Would you mind sharing this?
I also know some places in Tokyo, that could be interesting for you. Please have a look at my gallery.
Ale February 6, 2017 at 13:10
Hey im going to tokyo in 2 weeks.. would love to do some rooftopping, any advice.. thank uu
Midnight February 11, 2017 at 14:57
Sure, I sent you an email!
Olaf Anderson February 26, 2017 at 06:58
Awesome photo! I’m impressed. Keep on shooting…
I will spent 6 six nights in Tokyo shortly. Do you have some recommendation/advise for me? Another question: Are the smaller buildings (e.g. residential areas) secured? (I found some lower apartments buildung with staircases which should give a good view even though not so elevated…) Thanks!
Midnight February 28, 2017 at 00:43
Thanks for the compliment, I checked out your portfolio ; those are some great shots as well!
I sent you an email with more info, check it out!
tokyo February 26, 2017 at 13:04
i am visiting tokyo soon and i really want to go rooftopping. do you think you can tell me where in shinjuku to go? thanks!
Midnight February 28, 2017 at 00:40
Check out Kabukicho area, lots of easy multi-level buildings there!
Seya February 27, 2017 at 02:33
Hey! I am going to Japan around June, any good places to rooftop? 🙂 x
Midnight February 28, 2017 at 00:51
Lots of good places :p!
Seya Tam March 3, 2017 at 11:39
Can you send me your list so I can check it out during June :3
kento akiyama March 15, 2017 at 00:58
hey i live in japan but i cant find any rooftops.
can you lmk where is good? it would help me a lot! thanks
Rob April 30, 2017 at 02:58
Hey Man,
Love the photos – thanks for sharing. I have lived in Japan for 18 months before… Now I am heading to Tokyo for 2 weeks in September and I am really keen on rooftopping and getting some awesome photos/ Timelapses etc. New into and have never done it before so any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Krzysztof B May 9, 2017 at 14:29
This spot is just great! Would you mind telling the exact location of the fire escape?
Thank you in advance!
Midnight May 12, 2017 at 21:43
I don’t have the exact address, but it’s in Kabukicho.
Mill May 18, 2017 at 09:04
Do you know any rooftop spots in shibuya?? 🙂
Midnight July 27, 2017 at 00:19
I know a couple, there’s plenty to explore though. Send me a message!
Elizabeth September 6, 2017 at 22:21
Hello! Thank you so much for this awesome post!
I’m heading over to Japan in a December and really want to try my hand at rooftop shots!
Do you have any advice on accessing these rooftops and any tips on finding locations, or any locations that you personally like?
Thanks so much!!
Midnight September 7, 2017 at 18:35
Hey Elizabeth,
No problem, thanks for checking it out!
I sent you a message to the email you posted with, hope it helps and you get some awesome shots!
Don September 13, 2017 at 00:28
Hey!
Great pictures, I’m going to HK and possibly Japan and Korea (APM Tower is a good place) again. Any recommendations or details?
Many thanks 🙂
Gerard November 4, 2017 at 01:30
Thank you so much for your hard work! I’m living in tokyo and i really want to go rooftopping. do you think you can tell me the best places?
Thank you so much.
mirza December 14, 2017 at 03:03
hey, nice shots! Im going to japan next two weeks, Any suggetions or nice locations for rooftopping? Would really appreciate it! Many thanks 😀
Midnight February 14, 2018 at 13:03
Hey Mirza, sorry on the delay; I wasn’t getting notifications to my email on new comments -_-.
If you’re still there, I just sent you an email…
Alex Symonds January 15, 2018 at 11:58
Hey, you’ve got some awesome content on here – Great images! Do you have an instagram? I’m headed to Tokyo in a couple of weeks and was wondering if you could share some of these spots. I’d really appreciated it! Keep up the great work!
Midnight February 14, 2018 at 13:28
Thank you! I’m putting together an Instagram to make it easier to get in touch.
I sent you an email, you’re going to have a great time in Tokyo!
erwin de boer January 31, 2018 at 20:35
HI these locations are amazing, do you have any info regarding the exact location. I’m in tokyo this week for a photo/video shoot we would pay you if you could help us. Also we love to find someone who can do parcour.
Sid February 1, 2018 at 04:03
Great job! Love these pics! I am going to Tokyo in July for two weeks and was hoping to get some cool shots in Shibuya. Do you know any nice rooftop spots there?
Thanks!
Kos February 27, 2018 at 01:38
Hey man your photos are so cool!
I tried rooptopping Shinjuku but I couldn’t find the way to get those cool places.. how did you get there?
Sultan March 9, 2018 at 10:43
Hey man! I Love the photos, they’re awesome!
I was in Tokyo for a couple of weeks last october and tried to rooftopping but had no luck. Any advice on locations or buildings i should look at?
Midnight March 21, 2018 at 22:21
Thanks I enjoyed taking them, cool to hear you liked then. I do have some advice, basically I’m creating a section on this post dedicated to locations since this is a common question, should be up by this weekend to help!
Alex March 13, 2018 at 17:40
Hey man, looks great! I will be in Tokyo in April for a week. Would be great to meet you! And maybe check out some roofs!
Midnight March 21, 2018 at 22:20
Hey Alex thanks, happy to meet but I won’t be in Tokyo until May; if you’re still around then let me know, if not love to see some pics!
Ashley Love March 18, 2018 at 13:08
These are really great photos, I will be going to Japan next month, do you have any locations for rooftopping?
Midnight March 21, 2018 at 22:20
Hey Ashley thanks, glad you like them. I’m creating a section on this post dedicated to locations since this is a common question, should be up by this weekend to help!
Layna April 9, 2018 at 17:13
hey!
I am going to Japan in June and would love to visit some of the rooftops you have pictured, in staying in Shinjuku so if you could give me some addresses that would be cool 🙂
Midnight April 10, 2018 at 16:54
Hey Layna, check out the tips at the end of this page — Kabukichō is exactly where these photos were taken.
Layna June 28, 2018 at 05:44
Hey! I’m in tokyo currently, would love to meet up and go roofing
Chris July 30, 2018 at 15:42
Lovely Pictures! Really love the feeling of entering a rooftop at night! I am visiting Tokyo in October. Would love to get your Information about cool Rooftops you can recommend 🙂
Midnight August 16, 2018 at 13:08
Yeah that feeling never gets old. Give a look at the bottom of the post, there’s a basic guideline. That said, it depends how high you are trying to go. It’s fairly easy to get on most 12 level multi-complex buildings, but if you want to scrape the sky then you have to take more risks…
Yacine October 3, 2018 at 02:04
Hi,
Amazing pictures. I love the ambiance.
I used to live in Tokyo for three years and I’m very familiar with the areas and sceneries you’ve shot. I’m heading back there in two weeks for a whole month and I’m planning on filming some stuff including some rooftop scenes for inspirations and perhaps further use in a movie. I’d love to have a chat with you for some location info.
I left a comment here quite a while ago but I don’t seem to find the answer you gave me.
Looking forward to speaking with you.
Yacine
Midnight October 8, 2018 at 12:14
Hi Yacine, thanks I’m happy to help if I can. I sent you an email to the address you commented with.
Rooftop Finn October 25, 2018 at 02:40
Wow, you’re found just the thing I’m looking for in Tokyo! I am totally crazy about rooftops and I’m actually posting this on top of one in Shinjuku. If you would want to show me around to some great find, I’d greatly appreciate it. I’ll be hanging around for at least a year.
Midnight October 25, 2018 at 02:43
Nice!! For sure, I may end up in Tokyo again this year hopefully. I sent you an email, would love to see some pics of your roof topping in Japan.
Adam November 2, 2018 at 08:02
Hey man, these shots are really great, I’m visiting myself from England tomorrow morning, should arrive early Sunday and I plan on having a look around for some places to do some rooftop photography! I know you’ve been asked a fair few times haha but would you be willing to share where this building is and a few good ones you’d recommend to get me going please?
Thanks, man!
Midnight November 3, 2018 at 15:14
No worries, sent you an email!
AJ November 23, 2018 at 11:42
Hey man, I’m going on a little world tour early next year and hopefully grab some of these kind of shots in different countries. If you could let me know about this building or others too, that would be great!
Midnight December 19, 2018 at 11:58
Sure thing, sent you an email. Have fun on the world tour!
Chavrou November 29, 2018 at 06:35
Hi ! Your pictures are so inspiring !
I’m going back to Tokyo in January, and I’d love to see that glowing city from above.
Would you mind sending me some of your secret locations.
I’ll happily share with you my pictures if I successfully access to the rooftops.
Thank you !
Midnight December 19, 2018 at 13:37
Hey thanks so much!
I sent you an email, and yeah I would love to see your photos if you grab any.
David Ang December 7, 2018 at 22:12
Hey bro, I’m really impressed by your photos. I am heading to Tokyo in a week, is it possible to share with me the locations where you access the rooftops? Would really appreciate it man, thanks a lot!!
Midnight December 19, 2018 at 00:56
Sure thing man, hope you’re still there — just sent you a note!
Azu December 18, 2018 at 09:31
Hey ! I love your work ! I’m heading to Tokyo in less than a week and I’m curious to know any tips or addresses for nice rooftops ? Would you be willing to email them to me ? 🙂
Keep up the good work !
Midnight December 19, 2018 at 11:57
No problem, I emailed you. Also, I just got back from Tokyo, and found a decent spot in Akihabara which I’ll post.
hoopty003 January 1, 2019 at 08:13
Great stuff! I tried a couple rooftops in Osaka but they’re usually in quieter neighbourhoods. I’d love to know about some locations like the one in your post in Tokyo that I could check out if you don’t mind me asking. Keep up the good work and thanks!
Midnight January 23, 2019 at 01:57
Love to hear about your Osaka experiences, I stopped by a few places there also and really enjoyed it. I sent you an email!
Wendy January 21, 2019 at 00:07
Hey man, thanks for sharing tips. We are heading to tokyo for holiday soon and came across your website while search for rooftops for taking photos.
Do you mind sharing some of location for us to check out? Thank you in advance.
Midnight January 23, 2019 at 01:56
For sure, sent you an email.
Rooftop Finn February 14, 2019 at 03:42
Heya, I missed your email earlier, must’ve gone to trash and didn’t notice it. Please hit me up again.
Carlos February 17, 2019 at 09:08
Ey man, I’m heading to Japan soon and after a previous visit where i saw the country I’d love to change the perspective and do some rooftopping. Could you recommend some places to go? I’ll be making a travel all around Japan so it would be great if you knew any place away from Tokyo as well. Thanks!
Sean March 16, 2019 at 22:36
Awesome stuff man! I would love to get some shots at any open and cool locations you may have if you don’t mind me asking. Keep up the good work and dope shots man! Thanks