Your First Visit to Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan is an octagonal arena in Kitanomaru Park, Tokyo. It hosts martial arts tournaments such as judo, kendo, karate, kyudo, aikido and sumo, as well as concerts and other events. Maximum capacity is 14,501.
This guide covers how to get to Nippon Budokan, major tournaments and when they are held, how tickets work, last trains and getting home, nearby hotels and restaurants, and tips for your visit.
Access Guide to Nippon Budokan
The nearest station is Kudanshita. From the airports, head for Kudanshita Station.
From the Nearest Stations
- Kudanshita Station (Tokyo Metro Tozai & Hanzomon Lines, Toei Shinjuku Line), Exit 2: 5 min. walk. When it is crowded, Exit 4 is used for walking down the slope to the venue, and Exits 1 and 3 are used on the way back (official guidance).
- Takebashi Station (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line), Exit 1: 12 min. walk.
From Narita Airport
- Narita Express + Tokyo Metro Tozai Line: Narita Airport → Tokyo Station → change to the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line at Otemachi Station → Kudanshita Station → walk.
- Keisei Access Express (through service to the Toei Asakusa Line) + Toei Shinjuku Line: Narita Airport → change to the Toei Shinjuku Line at Bakuro-yokoyama Station → Kudanshita Station → walk.
From Haneda Airport
- Keikyu Line (through service to the Toei Asakusa Line) + Toei Shinjuku Line: Haneda Airport → change to the Toei Shinjuku Line at Bakuro-yokoyama Station → Kudanshita Station → walk.
Major Tournaments and When They Are Held
These are some of the martial arts events listed in the official “FY2026 Nippon Budokan Main Hall Schedule.” Events change from year to year. The latest dates are posted on the official schedule page (Japanese). Concert dates are not listed on the official site.
- Nov. 15, 2026: 70th All Japan University Karate-do Championships
- Dec. 13, 2026: 54th All Japan Karate-do Championships (individual events) and others
- Jan. 5, 2027: 63rd All Japan First Calligraphy of the Year Exhibition (live calligraphy event)
- Jan. 11, 2027: Kagami-biraki ceremony and Budo Hajime (new-year martial arts opening)
- Feb. 7, 2027: 50th Japan Classical Martial Arts Demonstration
- Mar. 27–28, 2027: 49th National High School Judo Championships
How to Buy Tickets
Nippon Budokan itself does not sell tickets. The official Q&A says seats and doors-open times are handled by each event’s organizer. The official site does not explain how to watch martial arts tournaments. Official ways to buy in English and whether same-day tickets are sold differ by organizer (event by event).
Seating includes temporary arena seats, first-floor seats, second- and third-floor seats, and standing room. The layout and wheelchair seating differ by event (official Q&A).
Rules on Bringing Items and Baggage
The official site has no common rules on prohibited items, re-entry or bringing food and drink. These are set by each event’s organizer. Official guidance includes:
- There is no parking or bicycle parking for visitors.
- Outside the venue grounds (such as on the street), setting up equipment to take photos, playing instruments, shouting, trading goods and loitering are prohibited (a request to concert visitors). Photography rules inside differ by event.
- Kitanomaru Park is entirely non-smoking, and the surrounding streets are no-smoking zones.
Getting Home and Last Trains
Last weekday departures from Kudanshita (as of November 2026, weekday timetable; source: the official timetables of Tokyo Metro and the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation).
| Line | Direction | Last train from Kudanshita |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Metro Tozai Line | Toward Nakano | 00:18 (for Nakano) |
| Tokyo Metro Tozai Line | Toward Nishi-Funabashi | 00:09 (for Myoden) |
| Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line | Toward Shibuya | 00:27 (for Shibuya) |
| Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line | Toward Oshiage | 00:24 (for Kiyosumi-Shirakawa) |
| Toei Shinjuku Line | Toward Shinjuku / Keio Line | 00:20 (for Shinjuku) |
| Toei Shinjuku Line | Toward Motoyawata | 00:19 (for Iwamotocho) |
The revision date shown on the official Toei Shinjuku Line timetable is March 17, 2025 (Reiwa 7).
Check the latest times with a route planner (NAVITIME).
Trains generally do not run from about 12:30 a.m. to about 5:00 a.m. If you miss the last train, take a taxi. The ride-hailing apps GO and Uber are available. From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., a late-night surcharge adds 20% to the fare.
Hotels Near Nippon Budokan
Listed from nearest to farthest. Distances are straight-line distances calculated from the coordinates of the venue and each hotel, so they are approximate.
Sakura Hotel Jimbocho
A budget-oriented hotel in Jimbocho. About 636 m in a straight line from the venue.
Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo Kudanshita
A hotel in the Kudanshita area. About 660 m in a straight line from the venue.
Keio Presso Inn Kudanshita
A budget-oriented hotel near Kudanshita Station. About 660 m in a straight line from the venue.
Book Hotel Jimbocho
A concept hotel in Jimbocho. About 665 m in a straight line from the venue.
Hotel Metropolitan Edmont
A hotel in Iidabashi. About 833 m in a straight line from the venue.
Hotel Niwa Tokyo
A hotel in the Iidabashi / Suidobashi area. About 1.0 km in a straight line from the venue.
Tokyo Dome Hotel
A hotel in the Korakuen area. About 1.2 km in a straight line from the venue.
▶ See 10 hotels near Nippon Budokan with photos
Restaurants Near Nippon Budokan
Listed from nearest to farthest. Distances are straight-line distances calculated from the coordinates of the venue and each restaurant, so they are approximate.
Cafe
Cafe Miel
A cafe on the way from Kudanshita Station toward Nippon Budokan. About 234 m in a straight line from the venue.
Bar
UNDER NINE
A bar near Kudanshita Station. About 384 m in a straight line from the venue.
Asian
Senpinshan
A Cantonese and dim sum place with a Chinese-izakaya style. About 524 m in a straight line from the venue.
Fine Japanese
Byakou
A Japanese restaurant in Kudanminami. About 526 m in a straight line from the venue.
Casual Japanese
Sanchi Chokusan Taishu Shokudo
A casual Japanese diner-style restaurant in Kudanminami. About 620 m in a straight line from the venue.
Western
URANO
A French restaurant in Kudanminami. About 647 m in a straight line from the venue.
Tips Before You Visit
Arriving by car is close to impossible
There is no parking or bicycle parking for visitors. The adjacent Kitanomaru Park parking lot gets very crowded depending on the season (official guidance).
Few roads are open to vehicles
Vehicles can enter only via Uchibori-dori (from the Chidorigafuchi side) or from the Takebashi side. Entry from Yasukuni-dori is not possible (official guidance).
Kudanshita Station is crowded before and after events
With up to about 14,000 people inside, the area around Kudanshita Station gets very crowded around events. Exits 1 and 3 are used for the return trip. Takebashi Station (12 min. walk) is another option.
Where the restrooms are
Restrooms are in the Chu-Dojo building, inside Kitanomaru Park’s No. 3 parking lot, and behind the Kitanomaru Rest House. Please avoid using restrooms in nearby shops and offices (official request).
Keep the sidewalks clear
Do not stop on the sidewalk, and avoid loitering, trading goods or setting up equipment to take photos outside the grounds (official request).
Nippon Budokan Venue Information
- Name: Nippon Budokan
- Address: 2-3 Kitanomaru-koen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8321
- Official website: https://www.nipponbudokan.or.jp/
- Maximum capacity: 14,501 (seats: 13,781 to 14,021 depending on layout, plus 480 standing)
| Section | Seats |
|---|---|
| Temporary arena seats | 2,946 |
| First floor | 2,959 (3,199 if the 60 wheelchair spaces are not used) |
| Second and third floors | 7,876 |
| Standing | 480 |
The seating layout differs by event (official Q&A).