“The Garden Which is the Nearest to God” is the title of the temporary platform installed by artist Taturo Atzu on the roof of the Oude Kerk, in the Red Light District of Amsterdam. It is gone now, but the tower of the church provides a similar view every year from April to September.
The Main Tower is a 200m skyscraper in the banking district of Frankfurt, in Germany. Its roof is an outdoor observation deck with a great view on the city.
On my third and last day in Dubai, I went back to Burj Khalifa, this time for the so-called “At the Top, Burj Khalifa SKY” experience. At 555m, it is the highest observation deck in the world (as attested by a plaque from the Guinness World Records). It opened a few months ago and is located on level 148 of the tower. There are 163 floors in total so it is almost at the top.
The Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph ) is one of the most famous landmarks of Paris. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The top of the monument houses an open air observatory with a good view on Paris.
Sunshine City is a commercial complex in the Ikebukuro area: It features a variety of facilities including an office building, an aquarium, a shopping center and the Sunshine 60 Observatory. At 250m, the latter offers the highest point of view in the neighbourhood and a great view on Tokyo.
The Bunkyo Civic Center is the government building for Bunkyo City, in Tokyo. Its 25th floor houses a free observatory.
The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center is a modern building located in front of the Kaminarimon Gate of Senso-ji, in Asakusa. The top floor has a cafe, as well as a freely accessible observatory with a great view on Senso-ji and Tokyo Skytree.
At 131m, Kyoto Tower (京都タワー) is Kyoto’s tallest building. The observatory is at 100m and offers a great view on the city.
Last week, I went back to the city of Futtsu in Chiba Prefecture, but this time in the Sanukimachi area. This is where the Tokyo Wan Kannon, a 56m-high statue of Kannon, the buddhist Goddess of Mercy, is erected. I had a glimpse at it from the ferry when I went to Mount Nokogiri, wondering what that was. After I learnt more, I had to go!
The inside of the statue can be visited and there are stairs to an observatory at the top, which offers a great view on Tokyo Bay and the surrounding area. On a clear day, it is possible to see Mount Fuji. There are a also hiking trails and beaches nearby.
Tokyo has many skyscraper observatories open to the public. On a clear day, it is even possible to see Mount Fuji and a good part of Kanto. Here is a list of the ones I have visited so far. I have also made a map to show locations.