Mountain views, beautiful sunsets, and aesthetic Japanese castles are not typically associated with tennis courts, but they are in Kansai!
I’ve played my fair share of tennis in Japan, and having lived in both Osaka and Kyoto for nearly two years, I thought I’d reveal my top 3 tennis courts in the Kansai region!
3 – HOS Mukaijima Tennis Court (Mukaijima, Kyoto)
Naturally, being a resident of the humble town of Mukaijima, I have somewhat of a bias for my local tennis courts. The HOS Mukaijima Tennis Court is just a short walk from Mukaijima station and offers a full tennis complex complete with synthetic grass surfaces, umpire chairs, and even audience stands!
2 – ITC Utsubo Tennis Center (Hommachi, Osaka)
Coming in second on my list of Kansai’s best tennis courts is actually a court that deserves the top spot in terms of popularity, and that is the ITC Utsubo Tennis Center in Osaka.
Known for hosting professional-level national tournaments as well as being open to the community, this tennis center has a strong appeal for tennis players of all skill levels.
A short walk from Hommachi station, I’d highly recommend these tennis courts for getting involved in tennis classes. It’s a great way to feel part of the community and meet new people!
Given the elite status of this tennis center, they offer hard courts as well as clay courts, both surfaces that are used at the professional ATP/WTA tour level.
The best part about the clay courts in particular is how ridiculously cheap it is! For just 800 yen (5.60 USD) you can book the court for an hour!
Where I’m from in Australia, clay courts typically cost the equivalent of 20 USD an hour, so talk about a bargain!
1. Mizuno Sports Plaza (Fushimi Momoyama Castle, Kyoto)
Saving the best for last, my absolute favorite tennis court in Japan’s Kansai region will have to go to none other than the Mizuno Sports Plaza tennis courts. Or as I like to call it, the Fushimi Momoyama Castle tennis courts!
Quite literally in front of Kyoto’s iconic Fushimi Momoyama Castle, these tennis courts are located at a high altitude, accessed via a steep ascent from Momoyama station, and are part of the Mizuno Sports Plaza where futsal is also enjoyed.
These tennis courts have magnificent mountain views and, as a result, spectacular sunsets too! You can also see the grand Fushimi Momoyama Castle peaking out from behind the plaza, adding an exotic and downright cool aspect to your tennis session!
While the court surfaces aren’t as elite as the ITC Utsubo courts in Osaka, they more than make up for it with aesthetics.
You’ll find an abundance of vending machines here too, offering sports drinks, soft drinks, juices, and more!
Booking a tennis court here is super easy too, as all you need is sign up for free to be a member of Mizuno Sports Plaza and make your booking online!
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