Lace up your skates and glide around the city's frosty selection of indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks
Winter's no excuse to stay inside. In fact, when the cold starts to creep through the wafer-thin walls and shoddy window frames of Tokyo houses and apartments, rather than trying to hide under a mountain of blankets, you might actually be better off engaging in some outdoor activities. Ice skating is obviously something best experienced out in the open, and quality rinks are popping up all around the city.
Here's our quick guide to the best skating spots out there, including both winter-only rinks and year-round, indoor facilities that are also great places for serious figure skating or ice hockey training. First-timer or seasoned veteran – everyone's welcome, and gear rental is available at most of these places as well.
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This sports complex offers facilities for a variety of purposes, including an international standard-sized skating rink, which is open for skating year-round. The centre is also used as a venue for ice hockey and figure skating, and offers spectator seating for up to 2,500 people.
Opening days and times vary. General admission is ¥1,250 (skate rental ¥650), junior high school students and younger children ¥750 (¥450), free entry for children aged 3 and younger (¥450).
This competition-standard rink operates year-round, and is always open to the public. You might even catch a glimpse of aspiring professional skaters during training sessions.
Tickets include skate rental and cost ¥2,200 (weekends and holidays ¥2,400), junior high school students and younger children ¥1,600 (¥1,800). When you bring your own skates, you'll get a ¥600 discount. Note that you'll have to make a reservation in advance.
The rink is open from 1pm-6pm on weekdays and from 10am-6pm on weekends and holidays.
Formerly known as the Higashi-Fushimi Ice Arena, this sizable rink is capable of accommodating 3,500 visitors, and offers figure skating classes, Sunday skating classes and more.
Admission is ¥1,600 (junior high school students and younger children ¥800) and skate rental costs another ¥600 (junior high school students and younger children ¥400). The rink is only open to the public at specified times, so make sure to check the schedule in advance.
This indoor rink is generally open to the public, and is also available for ice hockey (at specified times only). Everyone is welcome to play during the ice hockey hours, provided that you're wearing all the required protective gear.
Admission is ¥1,600 (junior high school students and younger children ¥800) and skate rental costs ¥600 (junior high school students and younger children ¥400).
Opening times vary, so be sure to check the website for the latest schedule.
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