Shinjuku vs Tokyo Tower: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Shinjuku first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 93 against 91 for Tokyo Tower, and it has 346 ranked ways to see it versus 282. Tokyo Tower is the cheaper entry at £21, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Tokyo, pair them: plan Shinjuku in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Shinjuku in Tokyo, Japan

Shinjuku

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower

Side by side

Shinjuku compared with Tokyo Tower in Tokyo
ShinjukuTokyo Tower
Ranked experiences346282
Top Outty Ranking9695
Average ranking (top 10)9391
Cheapest experience¥900£21
Average time needed2.4h4.2h
Free cancellation100% of options100% of options
Free to visitYesNo

Best ways to see Shinjuku

  1. 1. Best of Shinjuku: Izakaya Food Tour (3-4 Stops, 14+ Tastings)

    Outty Ranking 96 · from ¥6,000 · 3.5h

  2. 2. Tokyo Shinjuku Chopsticks Making Class

    Outty Ranking 96 · from ¥900 · 1h

  3. 3. Tokyo: Shinjuku Historical Walking Tour & Secret Backstreets

    Outty Ranking 94 · from ¥1,000 · 1.5h

  4. 4. Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥6,000 · 3h

  5. 5. Tokyo Bar Hopping in Shinjuku: Free-flow, Full Dinner, Golden Gai

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥16,880 · 3h

All 346 Shinjuku experiences

Best ways to see Tokyo Tower

  1. 1. Tokyo Guided Small-Group Biking Tour

    Outty Ranking 95 · from ¥16,500 · 6.5h

  2. 2. Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥6,600 · 4h

  3. 3. Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥6,600 · 4h

  4. 4. Tokyo Customized Private Tour See Top Attractions in 1 Day

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥3,700 · 4h

  5. 5. Flagship 2-Hours Official Street Go-Kart Tour - Tokyo Bay Shop

    Outty Ranking 92 · from ¥13,200 · 2h

All 282 Tokyo Tower experiences

Frequently asked questions

Shinjuku or Tokyo Tower: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Shinjuku first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 93 against 91 for Tokyo Tower, and it has 346 ranked ways to see it versus 282. Tokyo Tower is the cheaper entry at £21, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Tokyo, pair them: plan Shinjuku in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Shinjuku or Tokyo Tower?

Ranked experiences at Shinjuku start from ¥900 and at Tokyo Tower from £21 per person. Shinjuku can also be visited for free; paid options add guides, skip-the-line access or transport.

How long do you need at Shinjuku and Tokyo Tower?

Experiences at Shinjuku run 2.4 hours on average and at Tokyo Tower 4.2 hours, so both fit in one day in Tokyo with a break in between.

Can you do Shinjuku and Tokyo Tower on the same day?

Yes. Book the longer visit for the morning when crowds are lighter, and keep the afternoon for the other. 100% of Shinjuku options and 100% of Tokyo Tower options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Shinjuku: Best of Shinjuku: Izakaya Food Tour (3-4 Stops, 14+ Tastings) (Outty Ranking 96, from ¥6,000). For Tokyo Tower: Tokyo Guided Small-Group Biking Tour (Outty Ranking 95, from ¥16,500).

More Tokyo matchups

Best things to do in TokyoTokyo city guideTokyo tours comparedHow the Outty Ranking works