Strap on Your Skates in Kansai This Winter

Jan 21, 2023

Strap on Your Skates in Kansai This Winter

Ice skating has a long history as skates made of animal bones dating back 5,000 years were found at the bottom of a lake in Switzerland. It’s unknown when the Japanese first strapped on their ice skates, but modern skating did not come organically to the country. According to Joseph Savage, former U.S. Ice Dance Champion, “Japan learned skating from the written word.” Skating may not have been a natural recreation in Japan, but the people were eager students.

Japanese figure skaters began competing internationally in the 1932 Olympics, after which they saw a relentless climb up the world rankings. The country had no artificial ice rinks until 1950, but more than 250 indoor and outdoor rinks nationwide. In 1959, Kazuo Ohashi (a Japanese national figure skating champion four years earlier) built a famous ice slide in Osaka for the Mainichi Broadcasting System Sportland Rink. Skaters would climb the stairs to the top and barrel down the course, hoping they’d be able to grab a bit of the wall in an attempt at self-preservation.

In 1967, the Fuji Kyuko Express Railway Company constructed the largest manufactured outdoor skating complex in the world in the shadow of Mount Fuji. This consisted of five rinks and more than 26,000 square meters of ice – about the size of 17 hockey rinks. A typical weekend at Fuji-Q Highland would see about 40,000 people gliding around the vast expanses of ice.

Ice or No Ice, Osaka and Kobe Are Ready for Skaters

The passion for ice skating in Japan has not diminished since the sport’s introduction to the country. Even though the temperatures in Kobe and Osaka do not drop as low as in other places in Japan, there are plenty of places to find your wintry fix.

Grand Front Osaka

Who needs ice to go ice skating? You can skate to your heart’s content in downtown Osaka at Umekita Plaza on the special resin plates called “Xtraice.” Don’t forget your gloves, as it’s still cold out on the rink. In 2023, the rink at Grand Front Osaka will be in operation until February 24. The last admission is 8:00 p.m.; skates are available to rent.

Naniwa Sports Center

There’s no need to wait until the temperatures plunge to hit the ice as Naniwa Sports Center’s ice skating rink is open year round. The rink is 60 meters by 30 meters, which meets international competition standards. It’s available from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday.

Umie Ice Marina

Take to the ice on the Takahama wharf at Harborland to enjoy impressive views of Kobe while you skate. Umie Ice Marina uses natural ice and is illuminated at night to enhance the magic of the moment. The admission fee includes skates, helmets, and knee and elbow protectors. The Umie Ice Marina will be open every day until February 14, 2023.

Maruyamagawa Park

Another outdoor option is Maruyamagawa Park in Hyogo. If you’ve never skated before, this is a top choice because there are often instructors on-site who can give you tips. You can even sign up for classes if you’re serious about learning to skate. Plus, you can combine your trip to the ice rink with many other activities, including canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and inline skating.

Tennoji Sports Center

At Tennoji Sports Center in Osaka, you do much more than just ice skating — there’s a gym, studio, gymnasium, and indoor pool in addition to the ice rink. The ice rink is only available in winter, as it becomes an outdoor pool in the summer!

Amagasaki Sports Forest

Another pool that becomes an ice rink in the winter is at Amagasaki Sports Forest in Hyogo Prefecture. The pool has a movable floor system, which can create a flat surface for skating. You can come to skate or choose from various classes, including ice dance, figure skating, and ice hockey (for kids only).

Maruzen Intec Osaka Pool

If you love skating but are struggling to find the time to go, or if you want to practice without needing to share the rink with the crowds, you may like to head to Maruzen Intec Osaka Pool. You can book the rink for exclusive use in the mornings from as early as 6:00 a.m. and at night until as late as 12:30 a.m. (the exact time the rink is available depends on the day of the week).

Osaka Rinkai Sports Center

Many of the skating rinks in Kansai are only available in the winter. However, the 1,593-square-metre rink at Osaka Rinkai Sports Center is open all year round. As well as general skating, the rink offers 1:30-hour sessions for figure skating. There are also figure skating, ice hockey, and speed skating competitions.

By Mc681 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons