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Although the stadiums hosting the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were mostly empty due to the Covid-19 pandemic, athletes from around the world still amazed audiences with their dramatic and captivating performances, set against the stunning backdrop of Japan. In the future, when travel becomes safer, visitors to Japan can visit the places where athletes competed for gold medals in this most extraordinary Olympic Games on the planet.
Japan National Stadium
Located in Tokyo's famous Shinjuku district, the stadium hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as the athletics events of the Olympic Games. Rebuilt on the foundations of an old stadium, construction began in 2016, and with a capacity of 68,000, it was constructed using wood sourced from 46 of Japan's 47 prefectures.
At this year's Olympics, there was no shortage of historic moments at this venue, including the emotional and dramatic high jump final where best friends Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar decided to share the gold medal. You can visit the Shibuya Sky Observatory at Shibuya Scramble Square for a panoramic view of the stadium.
Ariake Arena
Located southwest of Tokyo, this building was the venue for all Olympic volleyball matches. The US volleyball team made history here when they defeated Brazil in the final on the last day of the Games. Following this event, the arena will function as a local community center and a venue for events with a capacity of 12,000 people.
Musashino Forest Sports Square
Located in Chofu, a western suburb of Tokyo, this is the first facility built specifically for the 2020 Summer Olympics. It covers an area of 30,000 square meters.2Musashino Forest Sports Square is the venue for badminton and modern pentathlon events at the Olympics. The Chinese team dominated the badminton courts there, winning six medals, including two gold medals. After the Olympics, Tokyo officials said it would be a multi-purpose venue for major sporting competitions and entertainment events.
Tokyo Aquatics Center
Built specifically for the 2020 Olympic Games, the Tokyo Aquatics Center is located within Tatsumi-no-mori Park, where visitors can play mini-golf or enjoy the cool weather. This location also witnessed swimmers setting consecutive new world records throughout the Games.
The US swimming team made a strong impression by winning the gold medal and breaking the world record in the men's 4x100m mixed relay final. American swimmer Katie Ledecky further solidified her position by winning gold medals in the 1500m and 800m freestyle events, and silver medals in the 400m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relays. Following the Games, the Tokyo Aquatic Sports Center will continue to host events and activities as a public swimming pool for the people of Tokyo.
Sea Forest Waterway sailing venue
The Sea Forest Waterway, a sailing event site built between two artificial islands in Tokyo Bay, will continue to host sailing competitions after the Olympics and will be open to the public as a tourist attraction. Visitors will know they are approaching the Sea Forest Waterway when they see the Tokyo Gate Bridge – a landmark frequently featured on television during this year's Olympics.
Nippon Budokan Arena
The judo venue in Chiyoda was built specifically for the inaugural Olympic Games hosted by Tokyo in 1964. Besides being a dojo (budokan), the site has also become a popular venue for musical performances. At the 2020 Olympics, it was the venue for the debut of karate. Ryo Kiyuna of Japan made history by becoming the first Vietnamese athlete to win a gold medal in the men's kata event.
Olympic and Paralympic Athletes' Village
Built on 33 acres in Tokyo's Harumi district, the Athletes' Village will have a 'new life' after the sporting events conclude. According to an Olympic spokesperson, approximately 5,650 apartment units in the Village will be offered for sale to Japanese citizens. The cardboard beds will be removed, and the entire complex will be converted into apartments, serving the essential needs of a densely populated city like Tokyo.
Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach
Surfing made its debut at the 2020 Olympics, hosted by Tsurigasaki in Chiba Prefecture due to its natural wave conditions. There, American athlete Carissa Moore made history by becoming the first Olympic surfing champion for women.
Tsurigasaki is very popular with surfers in Japan and around the world. There are many hotels, restaurants, and shops selling surf apparel and accessories for tourists planning a beach vacation in Japan after the border reopening.
Makuhari Messe Convention Center
Taekwondo, wrestling, and fencing are among the sports being held at Makuhari Messe during this year's Summer Olympics. In the freestyle wrestling final, Gable Steveson of the United States defeated Geno Petriashvili of Georgia to win the gold medal in the men's 125 kg weight class.
Spanning 8 hectares, Makuhari Messe is the ideal venue for hosting some of Japan's biggest events, from trade shows and exhibitions to games. Many global cultural and entertainment events have been held here, including Japan's largest rock music festival, Lady Gaga's concert (2009), Blackpink's Japan Arena Tour (2018), and the Pokémon Japan Festival.
Sapporo Odori Park
Located on Hokkaido Island, in the far north of Japan, Sapporo Odori Park is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with the Sapporo Snow Festival. The festival usually begins in February each year and typically lasts a week. Here, visitors can admire vast, elaborately sculpted ice and snow sculptures, experience ice skating, participate in events, concerts, and more.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Sapporo Odori hosted the race walking and marathon events. On the final day of the Games, Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge won the gold medal in the men's marathon, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:08:38 to claim his fourth Olympic medal.
