The night view of Tokyo is fascinating with its landmarks such as Tokyo Tower and Skytree and the dazzling lights of skyscrapers.
There are many observation decks in Tokyo where you can view such beautiful scenery, but for a higher grade of enjoyment, a helicopter cruise is recommended.
This time, I have experienced AIROS Skyview’s “25-minute Tokyo Night Helicopter Cruise,” and would like to introduce you to the experience!
If you are looking for a date course that offers an extraordinary experience or if you are a photographer who would like to capture the Tokyo night view from the sky, please check it out.
What is AIROS Skyview?
AIROS Skyview is a helicopter cruising service with over 15 locations nationwide.
You can enjoy sightseeing spots and spectacular views of Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, and other locations throughout Japan from the sky.
AIROS Skyview offers a variety of scenic courses ranging from a minimum of 22 minutes to a maximum of 55 minutes to enjoy the night view of Tokyo, and is especially popular for the following occasions.
- Proposals
- Anniversaries, birthdays
- Aerial photography
List of helicopter tours with night views of Tokyo
I have experienced AIROS Skyview helicopter excursion!
Here is a report on the actual experience of AIROS Skyview’s “25-minute Tokyo Night Helicopter Cruise.
This time, I experienced a helicopter cruise on a holiday in mid-February. I headed for Funabashi Airfield in Chiba Prefecture from my home.
The nearest station to Funabashi Airfield by public transportation is JR Funabashi Station.
There is a cab stand at the south exit of Funabashi Station, and cabs are always waiting for you.
After a 15-minute cab ride, I arrived at Funabashi Airfield.
At the airfield, a helicopter with a capacity of four passengers was already on standby. Helicopters are cool to see up close!
It is said to be the smallest helicopter in its class, but it can fly with an engine the same size as a car.
Start flight & enjoy the cityscape over Chiba
The flight will start at 17:30.
After completing the formalities, when the scheduled time arrives, the 25-minute helicopter ride will begin!
After taking off with a floating sensation like an attraction, the helicopter was in the air in no time.
The staff members who saw us off became smaller and smaller, and we proceeded in the direction of the west, where Tokyo is located.
The first thing you see when you start your flight is the Edogawa River on the border of Chiba and Tokyo prefectures.
The view from the sky, like that of a bird, reminds us of the grandeur of nature.
After crossing the Edogawa River, the Arakawa River, which flows along the border between Edogawa and Sumida wards, came into view immediately.
Large bridges over the Arakawa River, such as the Komatsugawa and Shin-Komatsugawa bridges and the Kiyosuna Bridge, can also be viewed clearly.
A view of the Tokyo Skytree and surrounding area with great power
About 5 minutes into the flight, one of the major attractions, the Tokyo Sky Tree, was finally in front of us…!
The world’s tallest radio tower, viewed from the sky, radiated an overwhelming presence.
There are 12 bridges on the Sumida River that are illuminated after sunset.
You can view these unique bridges from the sky.
After passing the Sky Tree, the helicopter continues downstream on the Sumida River.
Below is the night view of Koto and Chuo wards, which are very well lit.
A view of the waterfront with a forest of skyscrapers
After passing through the Asakusa area, I will move on to the Wangan area, the second highlight of the tour.
The sight of the skyscrapers lining the streets is breathtaking. The Tokyo Gate Bridge, lit up with lights, is also clearly visible.
The Shinonome area and its vicinity is impressive with its rows of high-rise buildings spaced at equal intervals.
In the foreground are the Toyosu Market, Ten Thousand Visitors, and Toyosu Gururi Park. In the background is the cityscape of Odaiba.
Views of Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Station, and other central city areas
After passing through the Wangan area, I will move on to the third highlight, the central Tokyo area.
The first thing that comes into view is the night view of the Minato Ward area where Tokyo Tower is located. The gradation of the twilight sky adds to the night view.
The day of the helicopter cruise was a holiday, so there was not much light from the skyscrapers, but I still enjoyed the wonderful view that only Tokyo can offer.
As soon as I passed the Tokyo Tower area, the night view of the Tokyo Station area came into view.
The beautifully maintained Tokyo Station Marunouchi Station Square, the Imperial Palace visible beyond Gyoko-dori Avenue, and the skyscrapers of the Marunouchi area.
It is a night view worth seeing.
Helicopter to return
After passing through the central Tokyo area, the helicopter will make a return trip to return to Funabashi Airfield.
Tokyo Skytree area again. Tasting the Tokyo Skytree view from a different angle from the outward journey.
I went around the famous areas in Tokyo, but I felt that the Sky Tree was the most powerful.
The cityscape around Edogawa. On the return trip, the sky darkened and we were able to enjoy a very beautiful night view.
The term “ocean of light” fits perfectly.
The last one is the Metropolitan Expressway seen from the sky over Funabashi City. The orange lighting on the highway at night is very beautiful.
The time for the exciting helicopter ride passed quickly, and we arrived at Funabashi Airfield at around 17:55.
I left the airfield with the sincere thought that I would like to experience the night view from a helicopter again someday….
Tips for enjoying the night view of Tokyo on a helicopter cruise
Here are three tips for enjoying the night view from a helicopter that I learned after experiencing AIROS Skyview’s “25-minute Tokyo Night Helicopter Cruise.
Choose a scenic flight of 25 minutes or more
AIROS Skyview’s Tokyo excursions are available in flight courses of as little as 22 minutes.
Unfortunately, this course will take you back to the airfield before you can see the cityscape of the Wangan area and the central Tokyo area introduced in this article.
If you are going to take the trouble to board a helicopter, you will be more satisfied if you also enjoy the view of the bay area and the city center area, so choose a course that takes 25 minutes or longer!
Aim for the twilight hours.
If you want to enjoy the beautiful night view, it is recommended to book a helicopter cruise not when the sky is pitch black, but during the magic hour, which comes 20~30 minutes after sunset.
Please check out the article below for a guide to the twilight hours at different times of the year.
Be careful of your camera’s shutter speed when taking beautiful night photos.
A helicopter travels at a speed of about 200 km/h, so a slow shutter speed will result in blurred pictures.
When taking pictures with a single-lens reflex camera, keep the shutter speed at about 1/320 second.
Also, if you try to maintain a shutter speed of 1/320 second when shooting a night scene, you will have to raise the ISO value to nearly 10,000 even if you use a bright lens.
Noise should be removed after shooting by using a developing software such as Lightroom.
My impressions of the helicopter cruise experience
I introduced how we enjoyed the night view of Tokyo on a helicopter cruise by AIROS Skyview.
I have been to almost all of the observation decks in Tokyo, but the night view from the sky was exceptionally powerful…!
I felt that this is a wonderful service that allows you to enjoy an extraordinary time, and I hope that everyone reading this article will experience it as well.
