Tokyo Sky Tree

The tallest tower in Japan is due to open on May 22, 2012, rising to a height of 634m over the Sumida-ku skyline. While its main function is as a broadcasting tower, offering considerably improved television reception, the Tokyo Sky Tree is also angling to become one of the capital's go-to tourist destinations. The area around its base will provide a home to Tokyo Sky Tree Town, a complex boasting 310 shops and restaurants, plus designated school and office space. (Yes, a Sky Tree school...)

Such is the anticipated popularity of the place that they've already released details about how to visit it. For the first month and a half that the Sky Tree is open, its observation decks will be visitable by reservation only, with group bookings being taken six months in advance, and individual bookings two months ahead of opening day. Families looking for a cheap day out might have to content themselves with Tokyo Tower for the foreseeable future: the total cost for an adult to visit the the Sky Tree's 450m observatory is a wallet-worrying ¥3,000, meaning that a family of four could end up paying as much as ¥10,600.