14 best places to go ice skating in Tokyo and Yokohama

This large ice skating rink in Tokyo Midtown’s garden area is surrounded by greenery, but if you go skating in the evening you'll get a great view of the lit-up Tokyo Tower. Wearing gloves is mandatory, so if you want to avoid paying extra for a pair (¥300) sold on site, make sure to bring your own.

Good news for beginners: Midtown Ice Rink provides 30-minute ice skating lessons on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3pm, 4pm and 5pm for ¥700. Note that the lessons won’t take place on holidays.

The admission ticket includes skate rental, plus a coupon that you can redeem at one of Tokyo Midtown’s many restaurants and cafés for a hot drink or snack. The ice rink will close if temperatures are too warm, so make sure to check the website before heading over.

The rink is open daily from 11am to 9pm.

The 390sqm skate rink at Futako-Tamagawa's Rise shopping centre isn't the most spacious and tends to get very crowded at night when the illumination turns it into a romantic playground for couples.

However, the rink is very popular for its variety of lessons. Beginners can opt for a 30-minute private lesson (¥4,000) or a ten-minute crash course (¥1,000). On top of that, children can attend ice and figure skating lessons conducted by Emi Watanabe, a former Japanese competitive figure skater and national champion. The 90-minute ice skating lessons (¥5,000 per child) take place on January 15 and 29; February 12, 19 and 23 and March 5 from 9.15am to 10.45am. 

Those with ice skating experience can participate in figure skating lessons (¥5,000 per person) from 7.15pm to 9pm on January 13 and 27; February 3, 10, 17 and 24 as well as on March 3. Reservations for the lessons have to be made in advance online. 

Make sure to bring a pair of gloves in order to skate here as they’re not available for purchase at the Skate Garden. Advance reservations have to be made online for visits on weekends and holidays. 

Ice skating sessions are limited to 90 minutes. 

The rink is open from 1pm to 7pm on weekdays and from 11am to 7pm on weekends and holidays.

Located at the Red Brick Warehouse’s event plaza, this popular and spacious ice skating rink is back for its 18th edition this year. The theme this season is called ‘Dance with Ghost’, with the area designed by Japanese contemporary artist Yuya Saito, who has created energetic art featuring motifs of ghosts and colourful daily life items.

A ticket to the rink is ¥700 (high school students and children aged three and older ¥500). Note that skate rental is not included in the admission fee, so you’ll need to pay another ¥500 for a pair.

The rink is open from 1pm to 8pm on weekdays and from 11am to 8pm on weekends and holidays.

From this 360sqm ice skating rink at LaLaport Toyosu, you’ll get splendid views of Tokyo’s skyline and Rainbow Bridge, both of which are lit up beautifully come evening.

Skate rental is included in the admission fee and gloves, which are a necessity to use the rink, can be purchased on site (¥200 per pair). If you bring your own skates, you’ll get a ¥300 discount on the regular admission fee of ¥1,600 (primary school students and children aged four and older ¥1,200). Helmets and protective gear for kids can be borrowed for free.

Ice skating sessions are limited to 45 minutes on weekends and holidays.

The rink is open from 2pm to 9pm on weekdays and from 11am to 9pm on weekends and holidays.

Glide around at the foot of Tokyo Skytree on this rink until March 12. Head here after dark, when the surrounding illuminations are switched on, for a particularly atmospheric skating experience.

Skate rental is included in the admission fee (¥1,800, junior high school students and younger children ¥1,000) and if you forget your gloves, which are a necessity to use the rink, you can buy a pair on site for ¥300.

The rink is open from 11am-8pm between Mon-Thu, and until 9pm between Fri-Sun and holidays.

Head over to Minami-Machida for this adorable Snoopy-themed ice skating rink at outlet mall Grandberry Park. There are plenty of illustrations depicting Snoopy and his friends, while the rink is also illuminated in seven different colours in the evening.

Gloves are mandatory when skating here and can be purchased at the venue for ¥300. Beginners can either join a ten-minute ice skating lesson daily for ¥1,000, or a 60-minute lesson from 9.30am on January 15, 20 and 22. It’s ¥3,000 per person (skate rental included) and reservations have to be made in advance via phone (070 2831 6634) or directly at the venue.

Skate rental is included in the admission fee of ¥1,800 (high school, junior high and primary school students ¥1,500, preschoolers ¥1,000). Visitors who drop by from 6pm will get a ¥300 discount and pay only ¥1,500 (high school, junior high and primary school students ¥1,000, preschoolers ¥500).

The rink is open from 1pm to 8pm on weekdays and from 11am to 8pm on weekends and holidays. Note that the rink is closed on Feb 21.

For a more wallet-friendly ice skating experience, visit the Ario Kameari shopping mall in Tokyo’s Katsushika ward. Admission includes skate rental and is only ¥1,300 per person (primary school students and children aged 4 and older ¥1,100). Those who bring their own pair of skates get a ¥300 discount. Gloves have to be worn by all visitors, so be sure to either bring your own or buy a pair at the venue for ¥200.

Ice skating sessions are limited to two hours on weekdays and one hour on weekends and holidays.

The rink is open from 2pm to 8pm on weekdays and from 11am to 8pm on weekends and holidays.