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Tokyo Tatsumi Ice Arena opened with a dual mission: to promote wider participation in ice sports and to help strengthen competitive performance. On the community side, the facility offers a range of accessible programs that make it easy for people to step onto the ice. These include a one-coin trial session through the Ice Skating School, introductory curling trial sessions, and "Adults-Only Night Skate," held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. for visitors aged 18 and over.
Among these programs, curling has been attracting particular attention. "Large numbers of children and adults have been taking part in our trial sessions. We don't want these to be just a one time experience. We hope to provide opportunities that encourage people to continue enjoying the sport over the long term," Ise says.
By offering regular lessons, the Ice Skating School helps participants get comfortable on the ice and opens the door to the wider world of ice sports.
According to Ise, learning the basics of skating is an enjoyable way to take up the sport as a hobby. For those who become interested in figure skating, speed skating, or hockey, his team plans to establish pathways for developing more advanced skills.
Tokyo Tatsumi Ice Arena was created through the renovation of the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, long known as a "sacred ground for swimming" where leading Japanese athletes such as Kitajima Kosuke and Ikee Rikako once trained and competed. Today, it serves as a hub for ice sports and plays a central role in strengthening athlete development.
A representative of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Office for Sports Promotion comments:
"We hope this facility will carry forward its legacy and become a place where athletes who compete on the world stage in ice sports can continue to grow and excel. We also believe that its ability to support six ice disciplines will play a significant role in promoting and expanding these sports."
The Tatsumi International Swimming Center, the facility's predecessor featured a design inspired by a bird taking flight.
The former facility hosted water polo at Tokyo 2020.
Rental skates available in a range of sizes.
Curling stones are stored just behind the secondary rink.
The illuminated main rink. Photo: courtesy of Central Sports Co., Ltd.
The secondary rink in full view. Photo: courtesy of Central Sports Co., Ltd.
A scene from the opening event. Photo: courtesy of Central Sports Co., Ltd.
A scene from the opening-day ice sports activities. Photo: courtesy of Central Sports Co., Ltd.
The facility accommodates six ice disciplines—figure skating, ice hockey, curling, short track, para ice hockey, and wheelchair curling—and features both a main rink and a secondary rink.
According to a representative from the Office for Sports Promotion, the main rink's boards were designed to be removable so the venue can accommodate both sports. In short track, the boards are taken off for competition, while in ice hockey, they stay in place.
Ise comments, "Maintaining optimal ice conditions requires meticulous attention. The work calls for advanced technical skill, and I find it deeply rewarding."
Wheelchair curling is distinctive in that people with different abilities can compete together, giving the sport a genuinely inclusive appeal. During general public hours, para ice hockey sledges are sometimes used on the same ice as other visitors. Wheelchair curling, however, is available only through group reservations.
According to Ise, all activities are carried out with close attention to safety. He hopes the venue will give visitors a chance to try sports they may never have seen before and help them engage more broadly with ice-based activities. He adds that an ice show has been scheduled for April and that the seating has been praised for its excellent visibility.
The official Tokyo Tatsumi Ice Arena website lists general public hours for both the main rink and the secondary rink. Anyone aged three and up can skate during those times with the purchase of a ticket (children must be accompanied on the ice by a guardian, with up to two children per adult). Tourists can also join trial programs with reservations. Rental skates are available, so with warm clothing and gloves, it is easy to come and experience Tokyo's new home for ice sports.
