Observation deck is very inexpensive (¥770) and offers beautiful views of the city, with stationary binoculars that are free to use. Tawawachan, the tower mascot, is omnipresent and beyond adorable.
Really great welcome to Kyoto when you walk out of the station to see this. Note where it is in relation to the rest of the city & it becomes a great waypoint for when you're biking all over.