Vol.20: TOKYO - SPORTS CITY

Welcome to TOKYO BEAT – a special series by your trusty Tokyo Tourism Representative (New York Office) that aims to provide you with story ideas and inspiration. In March, the Tokyo Marathon is coming back for its 13th year, and promises a fun-filled day for fans from around the world who want to cheer on the contenders and explore Tokyo along the marathon route at the same time. But there’s plenty of exciting sports activities and events in Tokyo available all year round – here are some of the best.

Discover Family Friendly Challenges Tokyo offers a variety of recreational sports that are a great way to engage with the local culture and lifestyle. Among the popular activities is roller skating and the Tokyo Dome Roller Skate Arena, nestled in the Tokyo Dome City entertainment complex, is the perfect place for people of all ages to roll with the natives. Bowling is also all the rage and venues like Sasazuka Bowl in Shibuya offer state-of-the-art facilities while also serving great food and drinks; a particular standout is the glow-in-the-dark bowling floor at the multi-story EST Shibuya Bowling and Game Center. With the recent establishment of a new professional table tennis league in Japan, ping pong has become increasingly popular, and Shibuya Bowling even dedicates a floor for that. But make no mistake – baseball reigns supreme, and there is a longstanding tradition for locals to test their mettle against automated pitching machines at covered batting cages like Shinjuku Batting Center in Shinjuku. A session of 26 balls costs a mere $3 USD and presents enough chances to hit that ‘Sayonara Home Run’ of one’s dreams.

Set Distinctive Fitness Goals When travelers aren’t willing to put on hold their favorite fitness activities no matter where they go, Tokyo is ready to answer the call. One of the best places to experience a range of sports is the newly opened, state-of-the-art Sporu Shinagawa Oimachi in Shinagawa, which offers activities from archery to tennis, bouldering, and even artificial surfing! For those who enjoy squash, Double Blue, a public court in Shibuya, is a great place to get with those competitive juices flowing along with an intense sweat. Golfers wanting to keep their swing limber at the Meiji Jingu Gaien Golf Range, with its 150-yard long range and impressive skyline view. Passionate runners will find great routes all around the city, but perhaps none is as impressive as running the 5K circuit around the public areas of The Imperial Palace. If the setting’s castle, moat, various gates and bridges aren’t enough, the run also presents memorable vistas that include various landmarks like Tokyo Tower and the National Theater.

Sneak a Peek at Olympic Preparations Speaking of the Olympics, it’s hard to imagine that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are only a year away. To lead up to next summer, the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is holding a few dozen Ready Steady Tokyo Test Events with the aim of working out the kinks with its many venues and the complex operations that surround the execution of the games. Starting in April, these specially planned events will grant a peek into various venues hosting sports ranging from gymnastics to aquatics and many more until next spring. This is a rare chance to preview the incredible hard work and athleticism that lie ahead!For more information about sporting activities in Tokyo, contact press@tokyo-nyc.com or call 917-200-4887.

For general information on traveling in Tokyo, head to TokyoTokyo.jp and Gotokyo.org/en/