Best places to go ice-skating in Tokyo and Yokohama
Lace up your skates and glide around the capital's frosty selection of indoor and outdoor ice 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, one might actually be better off engaging in some healthy outdoor activities. Ice skating's obviously something best experienced out in the open, and quality rinks have been popping up all around the city in recent years.
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, family with kids or couple looking for a date spot – everyone's welcome, and gear rentals are available at most of these places as well.
Also recommended for winter: the city's best illuminations
Year-round rinks
Citizen Plaza Ice Skating Rink
At 60m by 30m, this is a full-scale, international competition-sized rink that can accommodate ice hockey and other sports. Situated inside the Citizen Plaza entertainment complex in Takadanobaba, the rink is open to the public except for early morning and evening hours...
Meiji Jingu Ice Skating Rink
This competition-standard rink operates year-round, and is always open to the public. Catch a glimpse of aspiring professional skaters during training sessions.
DyDo Drinco Ice Arena
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. The rink is only open to the public at specified times...
Big Box Higashiyamato Skate Centre
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 protective gear required...
Kosé Shin-Yokohama Skate Centre
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...
More Tokyo winter specials
Tokyo illuminations
Christmas markets in Tokyo
Get your gifts and ornaments here – and reward yourself with a pint while you're at it