The Japan Pickleball Association (JPA) will hold “JPA TOKYU RESORTS & STAYS TOP TOUR 2026 T7 HAMANAKO” over three days from Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Tokyu Resort Town Hamanako in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. At this venue, used for the third year in a row, the biggest topic is that a singles category will be set up for the first time in TOP TOUR history.
Event overview: the three-day schedule of events
T7 HAMANAKO has a three-day format with events split by day, and matches proceed from morning on each day.
Schedule and list of events
| Schedule | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, May 8 | Men’s singles and women’s singles | Pro / Open / 35+ / 50+ |
| Saturday, May 9 | Men’s doubles and women’s doubles | Pro / Open / 35+ / 50+ |
| Sunday, May 10 | Mixed doubles | Pro / Open / 35+ / 50+ |
The venue is an outdoor 10-court complex, and spectating is free. Another draw of this venue is that you can enjoy the lakeside scenery between matches in a resort setting on the shore of Lake Hamana.
Entry information
- Application period: March 20, 2026, 12:00 to May 1, 23:59 (Japan time)
- Eligibility: JPA player registration required
- How to apply: From the tournament page on the official JPA website
What TOP TOUR’s first singles means
Pickleball has long been considered a doubles-centric sport, but globally the singles playing population is growing rapidly. On the PPA Tour, too, singles is established as an independent category, and Japan’s TOP TOUR officially adopting singles is an important step showing the maturity of the domestic sport.
The strategic nature of singles, different from doubles
In singles, you cover the entire court alone, so fitness and the quality of shot selection are tested even more than in doubles. Drives and passing shots weigh more heavily than dink exchanges, and each player’s individual skill is easier to see.
- Court coverage: Because you defend the whole court alone, lateral movement decides the outcome
- Importance of the serve: Even more than in doubles, developing points from the serve is directly tied to scoring
- Stamina management: Even a single-set match is highly demanding, making age-group categories important
Alignment with the competitive structure after the Pickleball Japan merger
Pickleball Japan (the merged entity of the former JPA and PJF), launched on April 14,has set its sights on strengthening competitiveness with an eye on the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Introducing singles to the TOP TOUR aligns with the move to build, within Japan, a development pathway for individual competition, as required for an Olympic event. Going forward, developing a singles ranking and reflecting it in national-team selection criteria will likely be discussed as well.
Features of the Hamanako venue and access
A track record of three years running
Tokyu Resort Town Hamanako has been established as the venue for the Hamanako TOP TOUR since 2024 (T2), and this is the third time in three consecutive years. The resort-style venue integrated with lodging facilities eases the stress of travel and accommodation for participants coming from far away. Special lodging plans are also expected to be offered during the tournament.
Venue information
- Address: 372 Osaki, Mikkabi-cho, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
- Courts: 10 outdoor courts
- Access: About 10 minutes by taxi from JR Mikkabi Station, about 15 minutes by car from Mikkabi IC on the Tomei Expressway
- Spectating: Free
The rush of JPA tournaments in May 2026
T7 HAMANAKO leads off the May tournament season. Late May also hasthe JPA Kagoshima Open (May 22–24)coming up, letting you watch top-level competition back to back in different areas—Kyushu and Tokai.The establishment of an Akita Prefecture branch, the first in Tohoku,symbolizes how the JPA’s scope of activity is spreading nationwide, and the enrichment of regional tournaments directly boosts the player population.
Players to watch and highlights
The Pro category is expected to draw top-ranked JPA-registered players, and in particular the winner of the first-ever singles event will carve their name into pickleball history as the “first-generation TOP TOUR singles champion.” Age-group categories (35+, 50+) are also set up, so the event is designed to let a wide range of players aim for the top.
Details and the latest information about the tournament are updated on the tournament page of the official JPA website. Spectating is free, so pickleball fans in the Tokai region are encouraged to head to Hamanako.
