Pickleball One Inc. (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; representative director Shusaku Kumakura), which handles court operations, has put forth a concept for a flagship facility with 20-plus courts. Announced on April 9, 2026, the plan publicly solicits a site of 5,000 sqm (about 1,500 tsubo) or more in the metropolitan area to create a hub consolidating a center court, spectator seating, and tournament-hosting functions. The aim can be glimpsed of placing a core facility that integrates spectating, development, and community, rather than a one-off court addition.
The substance of the 20-plus-court, 1,500-tsubo-plus concept
What the company presented is a large-scale facility consolidating 20-plus courts at one location. The site is assumed to be 5,000 sqm (about 1,500 tsubo) or more, with spectator seating attached to the center court that becomes the heart of matches. In addition to tournament- and event-hosting functions, it incorporates community space, a pro shop, and a cafe/rest space, in a design that operates the place to play, the place to watch, and the place people gather as one. Whereas the existing “Pickleball One Ginza Shinbashi” was a small urban-type base, this time the order of magnitude of the scale changes.
The site is publicly solicited, with the contract conditioned on 10 years or more
For securing the site, rather than searching itself, it took the form of a public solicitation. The solicited areas are within Tokyo and the metropolitan area (Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama). The targets are quasi-industrial zones, industrial zones, commercial zones, and neighborhood commercial zones, and the contract requires long-term use of 10 years or more. Citing as welcome conditions being within walking distance of a station, securing parking, and utilizing idle land, the policy is to gather, on a proposal basis, land that can hold a sizable area for a long time.
Organizing the key points of the concept
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of courts | 20 or more |
| Site area | 5,000 sqm or more (about 1,500 tsubo or more) |
| Main Functions | Center court, spectator seating, tournament functions, community space, pro shop, cafe |
| Solicited areas | Within Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama |
| Target zoning | Quasi-industrial, industrial, commercial, neighborhood commercial |
| Contract term | 10 years or more |
| Announcement Date | April 9, 2026 |
The operating company's footing
Pickleball One Inc. was founded in July 2023, with capital of 21.28 million yen. In addition to court operations, it handles event planning and operation, media operation, and shop operation. The representative is Shusaku Kumakura. Its business composition—having assembled not just courts but tournament operations, media, and merchandise—becomes the foundation for running a large-scale base.
Why a large-scale base now
Behind it is the rapid expansion of the U.S. market. In the U.S., about 50 million people are said to have played in the past year, with roughly 1 in 5 adults having experienced it. It has been chosen as the “fastest-growing sport” for four consecutive years. In Japan too, amid new facility openings coming one after another, if a scale of 20-plus courts can be secured at one location, it could serve as a receptacle for national tournaments and shows. The approach of gathering the site by public solicitation can also be read as a move to advance the plan while involving landholders.
Summary
ピックルボールワンの構想は、コートを増やす段階から拠点を核に据える段階へと、国内の動きが移りつつあることを映している。用地が確保され計画が具体化すれば、観戦と大会を支える首都圏のハブが姿を見せることになる。公募の行方が次の焦点だ。
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andPickleball One Ginza Shinbashi opens
andAn urban court under Tokyo Tower
Source:PR TIMES / Pickleball One Inc. / Nihon Keizai Shimbun / Pickleball One, a large indoor dedicated facility as early as 2027
