Nippon Budokan | TravelDojo

Nippon Budokan is an indoor arena in Tokyo originally built to host judo competition at the 1964 Olympic Games and later developed into a premier venue for martial arts and popular music events. The octagonal hall is closely associated with major national and international performances.

The building is used for karate, kendo and other martial arts championships as well as for concerts and ceremonies; many famous live music recordings have been made there. Its central location near Kitanomaru Park and the Imperial Palace makes it accessible from central Tokyo.

The venue opened in 1964 and has since undergone maintenance and updates to accommodate modern event production while retaining its status as a landmark performance space.

It stands in the Chiyoda ward, adjacent to parkland north of the Imperial Palace, and is easily reached from central Tokyo transport links.

Built for 1964 Olympics: Constructed for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games to host judo, the arena has since been a major venue for martial arts, national events and international music concerts.
Capacity: Seating capacity is around 14,000, making it suitable for large indoor sporting events and concerts; acoustics and layout have made it a popular recording venue for live albums.

How to Get to Nippon Budokan #

Take the JR Chūō Line to Kanda or Tokyo stations and walk (20-25 minutes), or use the Tokyo Metro-take Tozai Line to Takebashi Station (about a 3-5 minute walk) or Hanzomon Line to Kudanshita Station (5-7 minute walk). Taxis from central Tokyo take around 10-15 minutes depending on traffic.

Tips for Visiting Nippon Budokan #

Check event schedules well in advance-major concerts sell out quickly.
For quieter visits, go early when the building and surrounding park are calm.
If visiting for martial arts/sports, sit higher in the arena for the best view of choreography and technical detail.

Best Time to Visit Nippon Budokan #

Best to time visits around events: spring and autumn are busiest with cultural programming.

Spring

March-May · 8-20°C

Sakura season brings crowds to nearby parks; the Budokan hosts many spring concerts and tournaments.

Autumn

September-November · 15-23°C

Comfortable weather and a busy schedule of cultural events.

Weather & Climate near Nippon Budokan #

Climate

Nippon Budokan's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 30°C. Abundant rainfall (1462 mm/year), wettest in September.

Best Time to Visit

MayAugustNovember

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

37°

Warmest Month

-3°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm).

66 Good

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

1° – 10°

75%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

46 mm

Rainfall

4.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

9.9h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

64 Good

Comfort

6°

Feels Like Cold

6°C

Temperature

2° – 10°

76%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

59 mm

Rainfall

4.1 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.6

UV Index

Moderate

10.8h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

58 Acceptable

Comfort

9°

Feels Like Cold

9°C

Temperature

5° – 13°

76%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

106 mm

Rainfall

4.2 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.9

UV Index

Moderate

11.8h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (124 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

64 Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

10° – 19°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

124 mm

Rainfall

4.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.2

UV Index

High

13.0h daylight

May

May is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (132 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

19°

Feels Like Mild

19°C

Temperature

15° – 23°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

132 mm

Rainfall

4.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.4

UV Index

High

13.9h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 18°C. Significant rainfall (176 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

22°

Feels Like Mild

22°C

Temperature

19° – 25°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

176 mm

Rainfall

3.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.4

UV Index

High

14.4h daylight

July

July is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 22°C). Significant rainfall (159 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

68 Good

Comfort

25°

Feels Like Warm

25°C

Temperature

22° – 29°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

159 mm

Rainfall

3.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.6

UV Index

Very High

14.1h daylight

August

August is the hottest month, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (156 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

30°

Feels Like Hot

27°C

Temperature

24° – 30°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

156 mm

Rainfall

3.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.7

UV Index

Very High

13.3h daylight

September

September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 20°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (203 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

23°

Feels Like Mild

23°C

Temperature

20° – 27°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

203 mm

Rainfall

3.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.2

UV Index

High

12.3h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 14°C. Significant rainfall (169 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

62 Good

Comfort

18°

Feels Like Cool

18°C

Temperature

14° – 21°

82%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

169 mm

Rainfall

4.6 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.8

UV Index

Moderate

11.2h daylight

November

November is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

9° – 17°

80%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

89 mm

Rainfall

4.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.5

UV Index

Low

10.2h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm).

68 Good

Comfort

8°

Feels Like Cold

8°C

Temperature

4° – 12°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

43 mm

Rainfall

3.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.3

UV Index

Low

9.7h daylight

Nearby Attractions to Nippon Budokan

Yamatane Museum

Tokyo museum specialising in modern Japanese paintings

Museum 483 m

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Japan's national modern art museum in Tokyo

Museum 541 m

Kitanomaru Park

Urban park adjacent to Tokyo Imperial Palace

Park 546 m

Yasukuni Shrine

Shinto shrine commemorating Japan's war dead, politically contentious

Shrine 614 m

Edo Castle

Former shogunate palace at Tokyo Imperial Palace site

Monument 703 m

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Imperial residence in central Tokyo surrounded by gardens

Palace 954 m

Tokyo Dome

Indoor stadium in Tokyo hosting baseball and concerts

Stadium 1.4 km

National Theatre of Japan

Tokyo national theatre for Noh, bunraku, and kabuki

Theater 1.5 km