10 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 also get the added scenery of pretty illuminations and a 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.

The admission ticket includes skate rental, plus a free helmet rental this year. The ice rink will close if temperatures are too warm, so make sure to check the website before heading over.

The ice rink is open daily from 11am-9pm, and the last entry is 8pm (closed on Jan 1).

Located at the Red Brick Warehouse’s event plaza, this popular and spacious ice skating rink is back for its 20th edition this year. The theme this season is called ‘Born from Conversations’, with the area designed by graphic designer Ikki Kobayashi, who has created minimalistic yet colourful art made by rhythmically arranging paper cut-outs of various colours and shapes.

A ticket to the rink including skates is ¥1,500 (high school students and children aged 3 and older ¥1,000). Make sure to drop by the adjoining Christmas market for some mulled wine and typical German winter food.

Ginza Six has reinstalled its popular ice rink up at the shopping mall’s spacious rooftop garden. Visitors can glide on an artificial rink made from resin while admiring the 'Winter Angel' cat sculpture by Kenji Yanobe placed at its centre, an installation from Yanobe's 'Ship's Cat' series. The rink is also lined by a number of Christmas trees, which add to the festive atmosphere.

Gloves are required when skating here – bring your own or purchase a pair at the venue for ¥400 (children ¥300). Note that children under 10 years old need to wear a helmet, which can be borrowed for free. A ticket is ¥2,000 per person (junior high school students and younger children ¥1,500) and includes skate rental.

The rink is open from 2pm to 9pm on weekdays, 11am to 9pm on weekends, holidays and between Dec 23 and Jan 3; 11am-6pm on Dec 31 and closed on Jan 1.

Head over to Minami-Machida for this adorable Snoopy-themed ice skating rink at outlet mall Grandberry Park. The rink is part of the shopping centre’s Christmas event and can be found at the Oasis Plaza. 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 December 22, 27, 29, 31 and January 3, 5, 11, 13, 19 and 26. It’s ¥3,500 per person (skate rental included) and reservations have to be made in advance online (form opens December 7) or by phone.

Skate rental is included in the admission fee of ¥2,000 (high school, junior high and primary school students ¥1,700, preschoolers ¥1,200). Visitors who drop by from 6pm will get a discount and pay only ¥1,500 (high school, junior high and primary school students ¥1,200, preschoolers ¥700).

The rink is open from 1pm to 8pm on weekdays and from 11am to 8pm on weekends and holidays; until 6pm on Dec 31. Note that the rink is closed on Jan 1 and Feb 18.

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 60-minute ice skating lessons (¥4,000 per child) take place on December 15; January 12, 19; and February 2, 9 from 9.15am to 10.45am. 

Watanabe also provides intensive three-day programmes. You can choose from December 22 to 24, December 25 to 27 or January 2 to 4. It’s ¥15,000 for three days. Those with ice skating experience can participate in figure skating lessons from 7.15pm to 9pm on December 13, 20, 21, 27 and 28; January 10, 11, 17, 18 and 31; February 1, 7, 21 and 28. It’s ¥6,000 per person. Reservations for Watanabe’s lessons have to be made in advance online. 

Gloves are required when skating here - bring your own or purchase a pair at the venue for ¥300.

The rink is open from 1pm to 7pm on weekdays and from 11am to 7pm on weekends,  holidays and between December 23 and January 3. Note that the rink is closed on January 1.