News has arrived that could be a big step for Japan's pickleball industry. On April 9, 2026, Pickleball One Inc. (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; representative director Shusaku Kumakura) announced a concept to build, in Tokyo and the metropolitan area,one of Japan's largest flagship facilities with 20-plus courts, revealing that it is broadly soliciting landholders and investment partners.
The full picture of the concept—a complex sports facility over 5,000 sqm
The facility image Pickleball One envisions goes far beyond a mere sports court. The main assumed specifications are as follows.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Site area | 5,000 sqm or more (about 1,500 tsubo or more) |
| Number of courts | 20 or more (one of Japan's largest) |
| Center court | With spectator seating (international-tournament compatible) |
| Ancillary facilities | Pro shop, cafe, community space |
| Target areas | Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama |
By providing a center court with spectator seating, the plan is to also give it the function of a host site for international tournaments and domestic tournaments. By making it a complex facility combining a pro shop and cafe, it aims for a space that not just competitors but spectators and general users can enjoy.
Why a flagship facility now
Pickleball has been chosen as the “fastest-growing sport” in the U.S. for four consecutive years, and about 50 million Americans are said to have played in the past year. Meanwhile, in Japan, although the playing population has surged in recent years, full-scale large facilities specialized for the sport are still short.
Pickleball One is a relatively new company founded in July 2023, but it has a clear business vision of developing the infrastructure of Japan's pickleball market.The company is already advancing partnerships with major partners, and this flagship-facility concept is positioned as a strategic extension of that.
The types of collaboration partners being sought
In this announcement, Pickleball One is calling for collaboration from partners across a wide range of fields.
- Landholders: individuals and corporations holding a 5,000-sqm-plus site in the metropolitan area
- Real-estate developers: companies involved in facility development and construction
- Investors: individuals and institutional investors considering financial participation in the business
- Sponsor companies: companies wishing to support facility operation and tournament hosting
- Local governments: local public bodies wishing to collaborate from the perspective of sports promotion and tourism promotion
- Sports-related companies: equipment, food service, media, and the like
Specific figures for the opening timing and investment amount have not yet been announced, but by soliciting such diverse partners from the concept stage, it shows the facility's social significance and its seriousness as a business.
Impact on Japan's pickleball environment
If this facility is realized, it could become a historic turning point for Japan's pickleball world. Currently, many of Japan's major pickleball courts are operated by borrowing tennis courts and gyms, and dedicated large facilities do not exist.
If a facility with a center court with spectator seating is built, attracting international tournaments also becomes realistic.The development and merger of Japan's pickleball association organizationsCoupled with it, use as a place for strengthening the Japan national team and for international exchange is also anticipated. Also, ancillary facilities like a pro shop and cafe will likely become an occasion for the general public with no competitive experience to touch pickleball.
In the Asia-Pacific region too,the development of pickleball infrastructure is advancing rapidly in each country. Japan having a world-class facility directly connects not only to raising the level of domestic competitors but also to raising the presence of Japanese pickleball in the international community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. When is this facility scheduled to open?
A. As of the April 9, 2026 announcement, the specific opening timing has not been made clear. It is currently at the stage of site search and partner solicitation, and the schedule is seen as being decided by the state of future agreements. We'll let you know as there is progress.
Q2. Will it be a facility that general pickleball players can use?
A. According to the announced concept, as a complex facility with a pro shop and cafe, it assumes use by a wide range of people, not just competitors. It aims to build a facility that can cater to everything from international tournaments to lessons for the general public.
Q3. Where should I inquire if I'm interested in providing land or investing?
A. Please inquire directly via the official site of Pickleball One Inc. or the contact listed in the press release. It reportedly responds broadly to discussions regardless of position—local governments, companies, individual investors, and so on.
Japan's pickleball is finally about to step onto a new stage. We'll want to keep watching how this concept is realized.
