The Nippon Budokan hosts martial arts tournaments including judo, kendo, karate, and aikido competitions. It also serves as a concert venue and has been used for music performances since 1966. The facility additionally hosts graduation ceremonies and other large-scale events.
No. The building is only accessible during scheduled events such as tournaments, concerts, or ceremonies. There are no general tours or public visiting hours. You can photograph the exterior and walk through Kitanomaru Park without restriction.
Martial arts tournaments typically offer free entry or charge minimal fees. Concert tickets range from approximately 3,000 yen for smaller performances to 10,000 yen or more for major artists. Prices depend entirely on the specific event.
Take the subway to Kudanshita Station (Tozai, Hanzomon, or Toei Shinjuku lines) and walk five minutes through Kitanomaru Park. Alternatively, use Takebashi Station (Tozai Line) for a three-minute walk.
Traveler reviews
I was fortunate enough to see Kyoko Koizumi play two nights at this venue, one of the most historic in the world. Amazing acoustics, plenty of room for Koizumi to have a big stage that let her show off like the legend she is. Westerners will probably find the seating to be a little cramped and if you were sitting in the middle of a row, it would be a pain to get up, but you’re not supposed to get up in the middle of a concert, so….
This is a sports arena with comfortable seating and excellent views. Even from the highest seats, the playing field feels close, and all details are clearly visible.
Inside the building, a corridor surrounds the competition venue, with walls listing the winners of various martial arts competitions over the years.
Iconic music/sports venue. Conveniently located in the center of Tokyo. Arena space is quite small, which is good if you are in it because it's close to the action.
We came at pretty late so it was close. But from the outside, AMAZING. It reminds of Taj Mahal because when I look on top of the building, it is kinda familiar. It’s like a huge stadium where events occur like sumos tournament, the Olympics, etc…
What an incredible place! Hopefully I'll attend a concert here some day
