"Club Med Hokkaido Tomamu," an all-inclusive resort in Hokkaido, will add six dedicated pickleball courts to its summer 2026 sports program. Club Med Co., Ltd., which operates it, announced this on June 18, 2026. Guests can play at no additional charge. It is a move by a ski resort to create a reason to stay during the snowless season, and for Japanese players facing an ongoing court shortage, it becomes a place where you can "stay and hit a lot at once." From the standpoint of those operating facilities too, it is worth reading as a concrete example of positioning pickleball as a centerpiece for attracting customers.
The "vacation where sport is the star" that Club Med has put forward
Club Med has set its summer 2026 theme asone of the world's largest sports clubs, putting pickleball front and center alongside soccer, tennis, and padel. Hokkaido Tomamu will develop6dedicated courts and also prepare beginner-oriented programs. Pickleball is included within a pricing scheme that bundles lodging, meals, drinks, various activities, and kids' programs; only private tennis lessons and special sessions with invited guests are excluded.
The company touts over 60 types of activities and has continuously rotated more than 20 at each resort. Pickleball has been added as a court sport to existing menus such as flying trapeze, archery, yoga, sailing, and kayaking. At its other base, Kiroro Grand, it will hold a soccer camp supervised by former Japan national team manager Zico from July 10 to August 30, 2026. Across the two bases of Tomamu and Kiroro, it is selling Hokkaido in summer as a sports destination.
Why resorts are choosing pickleball now
ピックルボールはコートがテニスの約4分の1で済み、初心者がその日のうちに打ち合えるまでの時間が短い。家族連れや幅広い年齢層が同じコートに立てる競技性は、託児やキッズプログラムを強みとするクラブメッドの客層と合致する。スキー場の夏季活用は長年の課題で、雪のないシーズンでも滞在理由を作れる�屋外コンテンツとしてピックルボールが選ばれた。
Worldwide, the trend of hotels and resorts adding courts is ahead of the curve. In America, facilities repurposing tennis courts to capture demand have appeared one after another, becoming a staple of stay-type leisure. In Japan, until now the openings of urban indoor facilities and permanent courts have been the center of attention, and U.S.-based Picklr'sfirst landing in Japan (from Makuhari to Toyosu)is one such example. With Tomamu putting forward the experience of "using multiple courts while you stay," Japan's supply side broadens into two wheels: the urban type and the stay type.
Practical information: overview of Tomamu's pickleball
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Facility | Club Med Hokkaido Tomamu (Shimukappu Village, Yufutsu District, Hokkaido) |
| New courts | 6 dedicated pickleball courts |
| Available from | Summer 2026 season |
| Price | Included in the all-inclusive plan at no additional charge (private tennis lessons and special sessions excluded) |
| What's included | Lodging, meals, drinks, various activities, childcare/kids' programs, entertainment |
| Operator | Club Med Co., Ltd. |
| Announcement Date | June 18, 2026 |
The number of courts and pricing conditions are based on the company's announcement. Since specific time slots, whether equipment rental is available, and reservation methods are commonly finalized just before the season, you'll want to check the latest official information before your stay.
Industry reactions and implications for players and facility operators
Equipment makers welcome the growth in stay-type demand. This is because they anticipate a flow where people who pick up a paddle for the first time on the courts buy their own paddle after returning home.As Mizuno launched five paddle models in America,the entry of major domestic makers is also advancing, and the competitive population and the gear market are growing in tandem. From those involved in local tourism, voices note that even in areas short on same-day-trip facilities, players can be drawn from afar if it's bundled with lodging. An environment where you can play at a resort with English-language support also reaches the active inbound tourist segment.
The biggest wall facing Japanese players is the court shortage. In urban areas, reservations are hard to get, and places where you can play for a solid block of time are limited. A resort with six courts solves this constraint with the idea of "securing courts for the whole trip." Against the conventional way of playing—a few hours on a weekend—the experience of hitting as much as you like morning and night during a stay reaches both improvement-minded players and those who want to enjoy it casually with family.
For facility operators, the Tomamu case shows the following three points.
- Pickleball works not as a standalone revenue business but as a "bundled product" that lifts the value of a stay
- A design that draws in the inexperienced by attaching beginner programs is taking hold
- It is becoming a realistic option as a way to use the off-season and idle space
By repurposing tennis courts or empty space, it can be introduced with low initial investment, and you can build a design that maximizes the number of experiences without charging extra, then later steers people toward gear or membership. It's a structure that lodging facilities and complex leisure facilities considering adding courts domestically can use directly as a template.
Potential as a training-camp and tournament venue
With six courts, it's easy to arrange training camps and friendly matches.As with the international tournament held in Utsunomiya in July,amid an increase in regionally launched tournaments, a lodging-integrated venue collectively lowers the travel and lodging burden for traveling players. There's also anticipated potential for Tomamu's courts to be used going forward as a venue for training camps and qualifiers.
Summer operation of Hokkaido and ripple effects on the market
If facility development by resorts spreads, Japanese pickleball will be supported by three layers: "urban permanent facilities," "public courts," and "stay-type resorts." The more entry points there are, the more beginners flow in, and consumption of paddles, shoes, and apparel grows too. For Tomamu, it becomes a means of leveling out operation—which tends to skew toward winter ski demand—into summer. Pickleball, where a growing competitive population overlaps with lodging demand, is content that regions aiming for regional revitalization or attracting inbound tourism can readily justify investing in.
FAQ
Does Tomamu's pickleball cost extra?
According to Club Med's announcement, pickleball is included in the all-inclusive plan and no additional charge is required. However, private tennis lessons and special sessions are excluded. For detailed operations such as time slots and equipment rental, please check the latest official information before your stay.
How many courts are there?
It has been announced that six dedicated pickleball courts will be newly built at Club Med Hokkaido Tomamu for the summer 2026 season. Beginner-oriented programs are also planned.
Can beginners take part?
Because beginner-oriented programs are provided, it's designed to be easy to join even for those with no experience in racket sports. Since pickleball has a small court and rules that are easy to learn, families and a wide range of ages can enjoy it on the same court.
Recommended Reading
- U.S.-based Picklr's first landing in Japan: from Makuhari to Toyosu
- KINTO-titled international tournament in Utsunomiya in July
- Mizuno launches five paddle models in America
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