Attention: the Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until 2021.
Having just hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2019, you would have thought Japan needed a break from organizing international sporting events. But no, it seems like the World Cup was just a warm-up because in 2020 Japan, and more specifically Tokyo, will be the host of the Olympics.
The highly coveted honor of hosting the Summer Olympics was previously bestowed upon Japan in 1964 and now, 56 years later, they are doing it all over again from July 24 until August 9, 2020.
If you’re planning to head to Tokyo to check out the games, you might want to throw some venue-related sight-seeing into the mix. The Olympic Village is a good place to start before checking out the numerous Tokyo 2020 Olympic venues.
So, if you’re ready to immerse yourself in a world of Olympics, here are some venues in Tokyo you cannot miss.
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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Venues You Need to See
1. New National Stadium
Sitting where the Old National Stadium once was, the National Stadium will be the main event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. It is located in the Shinjuku neighborhood of the city and will be the host of both the opening and closing ceremonies.
If you want to watch an event in this venue, your options are either athletics or football. While you’re in the neighborhood, there are some snazzy eateries around here where you can have an authentic Tokyo Japanese restaurant experience.
2. Tokyo Stadium
Located in the Heritage Zone in Tokyo is the Tokyo Stadium, which will host rugby, football and modern pentathlon. Within the Heritage Zone there are ten venues and there are another two on the border between the Heritage Zone and the Tokyo Bay Zone.
The Heritage Zone is named as such as it embraces Tokyo’s past and iconic cultural heritage. Many of the venues are on the sites of venues used in the 1964 Olympics.
3. Ariake Arena
Over in the Tokyo Bay zone is the Ariake Arena, where the volleyball event will be held. The arena is notable for its architecture, which includes high straight walls and a curved roof. It sits on the waterfront and is one of just a handful of new builds constructed specifically for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The Tokyo Bay Zone is the second of the two thematic areas of Tokyo. While the Heritage Zone embraces the past, the Tokyo Bay Zone looks forward to Tokyo’s exciting future.
4. Ariake Urban Sports Park
Not far from the Ariake Arena, and also in the Tokyo Bay Zone, is the Ariake Urban Sports Park. This venue’s spectators will have the pleasure of watching the cycling and skateboarding events.
Within the cycling category, there will be BMX racing and freestyling events – whether you’re a cycling fan or not, these will undoubtedly be cool events to witness. The Ariake Urban Sports Park is not far from the Athlete’s Village (or Olympic Village as it is also known).
5. Athlete’s Village
No trip to an Olympic-hosting city would be complete without checking out its new Olympic Village. In Tokyo, the Athlete’s village location is as interesting as the actual venue itself. When you look at the Heritage Zone and Tokyo Bay Zone on a map, you will see they form an infinity symbol.
The Athlete’s Village is then placed at the exact point where these two loops intersect, showing it’s position on the cusp of antiquity and modernity. There are no events at the Athlete’s Village in Tokyo as it is where the athletes live. Nevertheless, it is worth exploring.
6. Nippon Budokan
While in Japan, it only makes sense to try and see one of the traditional Japanese sporting events. For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the judo and karate events will be held in the Nippon Budokan, which is known as the “spiritual home of martial arts” in Tokyo and possibly all of Japan – quite the legacy!
Its name translates literally as Martial Ways Hall. This venue is in the heart of the city, so if you’re looking for hotels in Tokyo Japan, you’ll find plenty of them around here.
7. Ariake Tennis Park
You can probably guess which sport is being held at the Ariake Tennis Park. It is, of course, where the Olympic tennis will be played. This venue is in the Tokyo Bay Zone in the Ariake district along with the Ariake Arena and Urbans Sports Park.
This is likely to be one of the most lively parts of Tokyo throughout the course of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games so be sure to check it out.
8. Tokyo International Forum
Back in the Heritage Zone of Tokyo is the Tokyo International Forum, a big building made from glass and steel that is supposed to vaguely resemble a boat. It is impressive enough from the outside and that’s before you’ve seen the awe-inspiring feats that take place inside.
The Tokyo International Forum will host the weightlifting event.
9. Aomi Urban Sports Park
If you didn’t get your fill of urban sports parks in Ariake, a little further South is the Aomi Urban Sports Park, where basketball and sport climbing will be held. This venue has great views over the Tokyo Bay and is an important part of the Tokyo Olympics’ organizers Action & Legacy plan.
The aim of this plan is to engage the youth of the world with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and in doing so allow the Games to leave its legacy for the future generations.
10. Odaiba Marine Park
Last on this list, but by no means least, is the Odaiba Marine Park, which is another of the city’s venues intended to leave its legacy. This park is in an enviable location and aims to fuse nature and city, which it does extraordinarily well.
The venue will play host to aquatics, including marathon swimming, and the triathlon event.
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This post was brought to you in collaboration with Prince Hotels.
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