I think this is for real, here's another link that discusses the same thing:

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content...17&display=all

I've never had the urge to do this, but many people regarded this as the #1 tourist attraction in Tokyo so it seems like a bad thing -- I am sure they easily could have come up with a viewing area for visitors.

Kind of shows you that Japan isn't really used to tourism, doesn't it?