One of the best activities to do in winter in Tokyo is visit an ice-skating rink. For both beginners and professionals alike, winter is the season to get in to the festive spirit and improve your ice-skating skills.
We went to five of the most popular and easy-to-reach ice skating rinks in Tokyo:
Meiji Jingu (Gaien) Ice Skating Rink
Meiji Jingu Gaien Ice Skating Rink is a popular and convenient ice-skating rink in central Tokyo.
Advantages:
- Indoor, open all year round
- Great for professionals
- Hot drinks and warm seating area available
- English language version of the guidelines available
Disadvantages:
- Can get quite crowded
- Not always open to public (check their web-site calendar for special events before going)
Entrance fee: 1,340 yen (1,030 yen after 3pm) for adults (930 yen (720 yen) for children); 310 yen for observer
Rental shoes: 510 yen
Opening hours: weekdays 12:00-18:00, weekends 10:00-18:00
Access: 1 minute walk from Kokuritsu-Kyogijyo station (Toei Subway Oedo line); 5 min walk from Sendagaya and Shinanomachi Stations (JR Chuo/Sobu line)
Web-site: http://www.meijijingugaien.jp/english/ice-skating.html
Dydo Drinco Ice Arena
Dydo Drinco Ice Arena is a spacious rink with a great area for observers, due to its large arena.
Advantages:
- The largest out of the five we visited
- Great for professionals
- Very convenient for observers as well, has a great arena for 3,500 people
- Indoor, doesn’t get particularly crowded
Disadvantages:
- Limited English language support provided
- Not always open to public (check their web-site calendar for special events before going)
Entrance fee: 1,300 yen for adults (700 yen for kids), 300 yen for observers
Rental shoes: 500 yen for adults (300 yen for children). Also a push chair for small children can be rented for 500 yen for 30 mins
Opening hours: from 10:00, 12:00 or 14:00 to 16:00, 17:30 or 18:00 depending on the day (check calendar on their website)
Access: 1 minute walk from Higashi-Fushimi station of Seibu-Shinjuku line (look out for Dydo signs for directions)
Web-site: http://www.seibu-group.co.jp/railways/enjoy/rec/fushimi/index.html (Japanese only)
Citizen Plaza Ice Skating rink
Citizen Plaza Ice Skating rink is one of the most popular among beginners and is located in a lively area close to the universities.
Advantages:
- Very convenient location
- Benches for visitors in the warm seating area
- Good for both professionals and beginners
Disadvantages:
- Limited English support provided
- Can get crowded
Entrance fee: 1,340 yen (1,030 yen after 17:00) for adults, 820 yen (620 yen) for children, 400 yen for observers
Rental shoes: 520 yen
Opening hours: 12:00-19:45 on weekdays and Saturdays; 12:00 – 18:30 on Sundays and holidays
Access: 7 min walk from Takadanobaba station
Web-site: http://www.citizen-plaza.co.jp/service/skate/ (Japanese only)
Akasaka Sakas and Tokyo Midtown Ice-skating rinks
Both of these venues are outdoor skating rinks and open only during certain seasons.
Advantages:
- Outdoors, so it is decorated with pretty illuminations
- Good dating spot for couples
- Good for beginners
- Open until late evening
Disadvantages:
- Opening hours are often subject to weather conditions
Akasaka Sakas entrance fee: 1,200 yen (adults), 600 yen (children); rental shoes 500 yen
Midtown Entrance fee including rental shoes: 1,500 yen (adults), 1,000 yen (children), 200 yen for observers
Akasaka Sakas web-site: http://sacas.net/
Tokyo Midtown web-site: http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/jp/event/feature2016/icerink/
There are also two other ice rinks that are relatively popular, but not as easy to book tickets for, as they are very popular:
- Toshimaen Outdoor Ice Rink (outdoor) http://www.toshimaen.co.jp/event_iceskate/index.html
- Edogawa Sportsland (indoor) http://www.edogawa-sportsland.com/skate/skate1.html
