ホテル・商業施設にピックルボールコート続々——Picklr Japan開業と施設ラッシュの全容

Hotels and commercial facilities begin positioning pickleball as a “customer magnet”

In a feature dated May 2, 2026, Nikkei Asia reported on the trend of hotels and commercial facilities across Japan installing pickleball courts one after another. Centering on the case of Shinagawa Prince Hotel, which converted part of a banquet hall into a court, it describes how adoption is spreading across lodging facilities, resorts, and urban commercial buildings as “a management decision aimed at synergy with the core business.”

国内のピックルボール競技人口は急拡大を続けており、東京都内でも2026年4月のPicklr Japan開業など施設整備が進むなか、競技人口の増加ペースに対しては依然施設不足が課題だ。こうした商機を捉えた事業者が、既存のスペースを活用して参入する流れが加速している。

The full picture of Shinagawa Prince Hotel’s “SEIBU FAST SPORTS FIELD”

On March 23, 2026, Shinagawa Prince Hotel opened “SEIBU FAST SPORTS FIELD Shinagawa Pickleball” on the 10th floor of its Main Tower. It is a single indoor court (5.2 m wide by 13.4 m long) converted from part of a banquet hall, and can accommodate up to eight people. It is operated by Seibu Media Communications, Inc.

The rate is based on 50-minute slots: 8,000 yen on weekday daytimes and 11,000 yen on weekday evenings and weekends and holidays. Paddle and shoe rentals (500 yen each) are also available, so you can play empty-handed. Thanks to its location within walking distance of Shinagawa Station, it also expects use by business travelers and inbound tourists.

From hotels and resorts to urban facilities—the spread of adoption cases

Shinagawa Prince Hotel is not the only facility to install pickleball courts. Rusutsu Resort in Hokkaido has built eight dedicated courts and began seasonal operation from April 29 to October 25, 2026. As Hokkaido’s first dedicated courts, they offer resort guests a new activity.

In urban areas, courts have been permanently installed on the rooftop of Tokyo Tower Foot Town, where reservations have stayed booked since opening in July 2025. In November 2025, Heiwa Real Estate opened the urban indoor facility “PICKLEBALL ONE GINZA SHIMBASHI” in Shimbashi, integrating lodging and sports experiences through a tie-up with the upper-floor hotel “Mercure Tokyo Hibiya.”

Furthermore, Sansan, Inc. plans to open a large dedicated facility with three indoor courts, four outdoor courts, and an attached gym, “Sansan Pickleball Court Ikebukuro,” in Ikebukuro in July 2026. A business-card-management SaaS company running a sports facility—this cross-industry entry symbolizes the attention the pickleball market is drawing.

List of major pickleball facilities in Japan

Reaction from industry insiders—“Pickleball is real estate’s new customer engine”

Jorge Barragan, CEO of the world’s largest indoor pickleball franchise “The Picklr,” has said of the Japanese market that it is “not merely one market, but a launchpad for expansion across Asia.” The company has signed a master franchise agreement with Japan Pickleball Holdings and plans to open 20 facilities in Japan over five years, starting with Tokyo.

In April 2026, Pickleball One formed a five-company alliance including ASICS, Dentsu, and Mitsui Fudosan. Beyond running courts, it is pursuing an “ecosystem-style” business that combines equipment, media, and real estate. The company has also revealed plans for one of Japan’s largest flagship courts, with more than 20 courts in Tokyo, underscoring how serious the market is.

Sansan, Inc. has also invested in Pickleball One. Leveraging the corporate network of its business-card-management platform, it has signaled its intent to use the courts as venues for corporate training and business networking as well.

What it means for players—will the court shortage ease?

東京都内の常設専用コートは、競技人口の増加ペースに対して依然不足している。Picklr Japan（幕張・豊洲）の開業（2026年4月）など新規施設が相次いでいるが、需要に追いつくまでには至っていない。今回の施設ラッシュが実現すれば、2026年後半には都内だけで10カ所以上の専用施設が稼働する見込みだ。

That said, courts inside hotels and commercial facilities are often priced on the high side, at 8,000 to 11,000 yen per 50 minutes for a single court, compared with the roughly 1,000 to 3,000 yen for one to two hours to rent a public tennis court. How you weigh facility quality and convenient access against that will vary with each player’s purpose and level.

The ripple effects of “sports x real estate”

This trend is not just about pickleball on its own. For hotels, it is a way to make use of idle space as banquet demand declines; for commercial facilities, it is an “experiential tenant” option for extending how long visitors stay.

Notably, the facility types The Picklr targets include “retail, office, and light-industrial spaces.” A pickleball court can be installed as long as sufficient ceiling height and a certain floor area are secured, and the hurdle for changing a space’s use is relatively low. For regional commercial facilities grappling with vacant tenants, it can be a strong candidate for repurposing.

The Picklr’s planned locations include not only Tokyo and Osaka but also Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Okinawa, Hiroshima, and Miyagi, putting a spread into regional cities within view.

Practical information for those looking for a court from here

Summary

The “introduction of pickleball into hotels and commercial facilities” reported by Nikkei Asia is not a passing fad but a structural move in which the real estate and hospitality industries are getting serious. Shinagawa Prince Hotel’s banquet-hall conversion, The Picklr’s 20-facility plan, Sansan’s cross-industry entry—the fact that each operator is investing in pickleball for a different reason speaks to the depth of this market.

コート不足に悩んできたプレーヤーにとっては、Picklr Japan開業など相次ぐ新規施設の展開は朗報だ。ただし施設の増加がそのまま競技人口の底上げにつながるかは、料金設定と立地のバランスにかかっている。2026年後半に相次ぐ新規開業の動向を、引き続き追いかけていきたい。

Recommended Reading

• Pickleball One forms a five-company alliance including ASICS, Dentsu, and Mitsui Fudosan
• Pickleball One plans one of Japan’s largest flagship courts, with more than 20 courts in Tokyo
• A 27,000 sq ft former chocolate factory becomes a 10-court venue—The Picklr opens in parallel with Seattle’s plan to remove 30 courts

FAQ

Which hotels in Japan let you play pickleball?

As of May 2026, Shinagawa Prince Hotel (Tokyo) and Rusutsu Resort (Hokkaido) have dedicated courts. The PICKLEBALL ONE facility in Shimbashi is linked with the upper-floor Mercure Tokyo Hibiya, so it can be used as part of a stay.

How many dedicated pickleball courts are there in Tokyo?

2026年4月にPicklr Japan（幕張・豊洲）が開業し、5月時点で常設専用コートが増えています。さらに、7月にはSansanピックルボールコート池袋の開業も予定されており、年内に急速に増える見込みです。

Can beginners use the courts at Shinagawa Prince Hotel?

Paddle and shoe rentals (500 yen each) are available, so you can play empty-handed. However, there is no attached coaching service, so it goes more smoothly if you go with an experienced player or learn the basic rules beforehand.

Source:

• Nikkei Asia “Pickleball courts pop up in Japan hotels and malls” (May 2, 2026)
• PR TIMES Shinagawa Prince Hotel press release (March 2026)
• Sansan, Inc. press release (January 28, 2026)