Are you looking to rent a badminton or table tennis court in Japan but don’t know where to start? Many newcomers think sports fields rentals in Japan are very expensive. However, in reality, if you utilize public sports facilities (公共スポーツ施設 / 体育館) , you can play sports at a very low cost, ranging from just 100–400 yen per session.
I started looking into this topic when trying to help a friend who loves sports but had difficulty finding and booking sports fields because she was not familiar with Japanese. Thinking that many others might be facing similar challenges, I’ve compiled two ways to rent sports fields cheaply in Japan in this article. I hope this guide helps you enjoy your passion for sports while also keeping your budget in check!
How to rent sports fields cheaply in Japan
Typically, public sports facilities in Japan (公共スポーツ施設 / 体育館) offer two distinct types of activities. Depending on the number of participants and the group’s needs (privacy, playing time, etc.), you can choose the most suitable option.
Free play based on individual slots (Kojin-riyou – 個人利用)
This is a “come and play” format, suitable for solo travelers or small groups of 2-4 people.
- How it works: The sports facilitie sets aside fixed days or times of the week called “Free Sports Days.” You don’t need to book a court in advance; just buy a ticket at the vending machine in the lobby, change your shoes, and join everyone else on the court.
- Cost: Extremely cheap, only about 100-400 yen per session (usually 2 hours).
For example, at Tsurumi Sport Center in Yokohama, the cost for 2 hours of court rental is 90-120 yen for adults and 20-30 yen for children. - Searching keywords: 公共スポーツ施設 (or 体育館) + your city + 個人利用 (or スポーツデー/ 一般開放日)
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
| • Simple procedures • No reservations required • Affordable • Opportunity to interact with locals | • Lack of privacy as you may have to share a court with another group • If there are too many people, you may have to wait your turn or take turns playing with others * |
Renting an entire court for a team (Dantai-riyou – 団体利用)
If you have a group of four or more friends and want a private space to practice or hold an internal tournament, this option would be more suitable.
- How it works: You will register to rent a portion or the entire court for a specific time slot through the city’s online management system.
- Cost: Approximately 1,500-15,000 yen per session (usually 2-3 hours), depending on the size of the court.
For example, at Tsurumi Sport Center in Yokohama, the cost for renting half a court for 2 hours is 1,500-2,500 yen, and for the whole court it’s 3,000-5,000 yen. - How to book: You must register an account and participate in the lottery or book an available slot online.
- Searching keyword: 公共スポーツ施設 (or 体育館) + your city + 団体利用 (or 専用利用)
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
| • Group training is possible • Full access to the space | • Time-consuming registration and lottery process • Difficult to schedule due to low lottery winning odds |
* Practical tips to ensure teams still have regular playing opportunities:
- Last-minute booking (空き施設予約): After the draw results are announced, courses that were not filled or were cancelled will be made available to the public (usually on a first-come, first-served basis). Team leaders must be on the right time for the system to open to book a course.
- Location flexibility: Not fixed to one court near home. This week you get a court in District A, so you play in District A; next week you get a court in District B, so you move to District B.
Things to know when playing sports at public sport facilities in Japan
To ensure a smooth playing session and avoid being denied entry, you must understand the following rules:
Wear indoor shoes
It doesn’t have to be specialized running shoes, just clean ones, and you should only wear them once inside the designated area. You are not allowed to wear running shoes from outside onto the court, no matter how clean they are.
bring your own equipment (racket, ball)
Public sports facilities usually only rent out the courts and nets; they don’t provide rackets and balls/shuttles for free. Some places offer rental services at a low price, but the quantity is very limited. It’s best to bring your own equipment from home.
Note the time
The playing time includes preparation and cleanup time after use. Approximately 10 minutes before the end of the session, you must proactively lower the net, collect the shuttlecock/ball, and use the mop (available on the court) to sweep the area you just played on, handing over a clean court surface for the next session.
Maintain public hygiene
Most public sports facilities do not have public trash cans. You have to bring your own plastic bag to take your trash home for proper disposal.
Conclusion
Renting a public sports facilities in Japan is the perfect solution to help you maintain your passion, improve your health, and save a significant amount of money.
Hopefully, this article will make it easier for you to find affordable sports facilities in Japan. Have fun playing sports in Japan!
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