During a limited time each year, you can apparently climb the stairs up Tokyo Tower. I thought you could take the stairs all year round, but it seems you can only do this during a 2-week window each year (I have my suspicions that you can take the stairs all year round though). I managed to sneak in a trip to Tokyo Tower just for the sole purpose of climbing about 1300 steps. I needed the distraction. I’ve been to Tokyo Tower before but took the elevator up.
Decided this time to go up to the observatory by taking the 600 or so steps up and then back down again. And still had to pay the regular entry price for the privelege.

Tokyo Tower:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gFKiO6biqmF_IQQXO5L1rEyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tCK-98LAadM/UtVNTf9OWMI/AAAAAAACeWE/sPyiroJHJZE/s640/IMG_6434.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/k3QvKQ4Tut0ziWlv_8ZBoEyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5FGmEg6Weg0/UtVNTbwVhDI/AAAAAAACeWQ/q02kR4mc5TE/s640/IMG_6436.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

Here we go:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3FbDZd_1BuwwE7oxmdHpUEyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jgisW1fseE4/UtVNTeKuRsI/AAAAAAACeWI/mNq9G6X7wfE/s640/IMG_6437.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Xxfp6P5UWwg9HkwJzfKsXUyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lU44y-ke7CQ/UtVNYy5SBiI/AAAAAAACeXo/W0FjfnUsc8Y/s640/IMG_6448.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cyGGCADKFs3qKKoHJdV0lkyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4_8rP2Tlx-I/UtVNaWfsuFI/AAAAAAACeX8/Py83zij1Ke4/s640/IMG_6450.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

At the 333rd step:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RJvU8Pm8nwKGyEK6LjFg1kyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LV-JiPeCFrY/UtVNUSkai7I/AAAAAAACeWc/uVEP6IeepYM/s640/IMG_6438.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCIv73p-fzLnWZQ&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AqzlTE0Eg4qpFUosaD-2zkyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IQJYr8lt4dE/UtVNa88itOI/AAAAAAACeYI/RDvMFwgdyr8/s640/IMG_6452.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCIv73p-fzLnWZQ&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pQ0BzaVaNOVQu4tuputbyUyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-votKzGa8SXk/UtVNdI_1LrI/AAAAAAACeYs/mD5ilVn1yDM/s640/IMG_6455.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCIv73p-fzLnWZQ&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

At the 500th step:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9VwNYDeDzOj8QRN4sK2-VkyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FBYqtk4ZefY/UtVNVFkJqKI/AAAAAAACeWk/JUPS7zlB-8Y/s640/IMG_6440.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCIv73p-fzLnWZQ&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hSdtSn5t8kQynV-eKsX3ukyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UKQKwDiDheM/UtVNiCKl-lI/AAAAAAACeZ0/tiyZsAgCJOA/s640/IMG_6468.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

The view on a cold winter’s day:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dPoDNh9g5eh9Cl8bPshmckyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bkTGOSgBXGc/UtVNWrfVv2I/AAAAAAACeW4/qs-W1BMm1Vg/s640/IMG_6443.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCIv73p-fzLnWZQ&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2npBjBqE-tUOG5C8jiWm9kyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k95ROIwS_wo/UtVNXYlUhbI/AAAAAAACeXI/ANjJfh1SDMM/s640/IMG_6444.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCIv73p-fzLnWZQ&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RENZqDFGrh-43gQUcsMePEyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qi7zEigGWcM/UtVNXbolMJI/AAAAAAACeXQ/2pnPgltiNtg/s640/IMG_6445.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCIv73p-fzLnWZQ&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yx-iuSfWhKNSCnMMnl6RO0yfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y-s0jSUqcgQ/UtVNX_TeeQI/AAAAAAACeXc/Fd6QT73_zfU/s640/IMG_6446.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCIv73p-fzLnWZQ&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

And now to walk the 600-plus steps back down again. I do believe you can ride the elevator down if you so wish.

View from the ground, looking up:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xIpZixZxBMoNi0qy8yRBr0yfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xZuWNmPuMFc/UtVNdB8JdCI/AAAAAAACeYk/vGPA_ypaf60/s640/IMG_6456.jpg&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7psYr8yB9ScFWI_ACzFR0UyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GHemtoaLRlE/UtVNdS98cRI/AAAAAAACeYw/EPwFE4TJhKk/s640/IMG_6457.jpg&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xyIm-CqhaLWryO4iHHDfJ0yfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_mD-G0LpDIM/UtVNeD8iiBI/AAAAAAACelE/uyZgrVN4cw8/s640/IMG_6459.jpg&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E_nsPRDD8XdNLSwE_aafpkyfHhUe1gNt21gz4-UIDf4?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ez9ip9c-oWo/UtVNfG6p11I/AAAAAAACeZQ/GkhKB5_KvnI/s640/IMG_6462.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/TokyoTower?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Tokyo Tower</a></td></tr></table>

For less than 10buks you can get in a good stair workout, and entry to Tokyo Tower and views over Tokyo.