The Complete Guide to Tokyo Dome City: One of Tokyo’s Biggest Entertainment Hubs With JR, Tokyo Metro, and Toei Subway Access!

* This article is sponsored by Tokyo Dome City.

What Is Tokyo Dome City?

Tokyo Dome City is located in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward on the site of the former Korakuen Stadium, which was dismantled and rebuilt in the 1980s. Since then, many new leisure and entertainment facilities have been added, turning it into one of the largest and most unique entertainment hubs in Tokyo.

The 13.3-hectare site is made up of Tokyo Dome, the Tokyo Dome City Attractions amusement park, the LaQua shopping facility and hot spring, and the Tokyo Dome Hotel, which is famous for its gorgeous guestrooms and buffet restaurant. Put together, Tokyo Dome City is a one-stop destination for everything from concerts to baseball games, amusement parks, shopping, dining, accommodation, and relaxing hot springs. It’s no surprise that it attracts around 40 million visitors a year!

Large-scale renovations at Tokyo Dome City started in 2023 to further improve the facilities, and will continue until 2024. For example, the LaQua shopping center is undergoing its largest remodel to date, and the new IMM THEATER opened in January 2024, which is an interactive performance space in collaboration with the Yoshimoto Creative Agency, one of Japan's largest production companies. In addition, efforts are underway to upgrade the seats and more at Tokyo Dome.

Tokyo Dome City Is Easily Reached From Tokyo’s Major Stations!

Tokyo Dome City is conveniently located in the heart of Tokyo, and is surrounded by four stations served by five lines. This makes it very accessible, even with crowds after a game or concert. Here are the closest stations:

・Suidobashi Station (JR)
・Suidobashi Station (Toei Subway)
・Korakuen Station, Exit 2 (Tokyo Metro)
・Kasuga Station, Exit 6 (Toei Subway)

For example, if you take the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line from Tokyo Station or Ikebukuro Station, you can reach Korakuen Station in less than 10 minutes. Shinjuku Station is also connected to Suidobashi Station in about 15 minutes on the JR Sobu Line.

For more details on how to reach Tokyo Dome City, click here.

Tokyo Dome: Japan’s Baseball and Concert Mecca

Tokyo Dome was Japan's first dome-shaped stadium, and is home to the Yomiuri Giants, a pro Japanese baseball team. Tokyo Dome also hosts many international events in addition to sports and concerts.

Tokyo Dome City Attractions: An Amusement Park With Free Admission

Tokyo Dome City Attractions is an amusement park in Tokyo Dome City with no admission fee, allowing visitors to pick and pay for attractions they like after entering. You can buy single-ride tickets, the Ride 5 pass, the One Day Passport for unlimited rides on the day, or the Night Discount Passport sold after 5:00 pm. If you plan to spend the entire day here, we recommend the One Day Passport.

Highlights include the Big O, a centerless Ferris wheel with karaoke; and the Thunder Dolphin rollercoaster. The beautiful night view and seasonal events are also not to be missed.

Thundering Thrills on the Thunder Dolphin

While rollercoasters are an amusement park staple, riding one in the heart of Tokyo is truly something special! The Thunder Dolphin reaches speeds of up to 130 km/h while plunging down inclines up to 80 degrees through the center of LaQua and the Big O, making your adrenaline soar.

Big O: The World’s First Karaoke Ferris Wheel

The Big O is the world's first centerless Ferris wheel. It boasts a 60-meter diameter, and its gondolas slowly rise up to 80 meters above ground, presenting unparalleled Tokyo views. The gondolas are air-conditioned, and one in five are fitted with karaokeーanother world first! It takes about 15 minutes to make a full circle, during which visitors can sing their hearts out. Hovering over the glittering cityscape, a ride on the Big O after dark is also a must!

Visitors to Tokyo Dome City can also enjoy dining and shopping. Favorites include a baseball-themed version of American burger chain Shake Shack, the JUMP SHOP specializing in manga merch, and the GiGO game center packed with crane games. Lovers of Japanese subculture will have a blast!

Spa LaQua: The Largest Natural Hot Spring in Tokyo

Spa LaQua is a natural hot spring spa located on floors 5-9 of the LaQua shopping complex. It is one of Tokyo’s largest spas, and uses natural hot spring waters sourced from 1,700 meters underground, and with stunning Tokyo panoramas to boot. The amber-colored strong chloride spring is heralded as the "hot spring of beauty" and the "slimming hot spring" owing to its effectiveness in relieving fatigue and stiff shoulders, all while moisturizing the skin.

The facility includes an outdoor bath with natural hot spring water, a cypress wood bathtub with carbonated and oxygenated spring water, a sauna, and a spacious rest lounge. In addition, the Healing Baden, Spa LaQua's most popular attraction, features a healing bedrock bath, a tropical resort-themed rest space, and a foot pool with a view of Tokyo Dome.

Those unaccustomed to bathing in public can instead opt for the Sauna Lounge Rentola, a private sauna on the 9th floor of LaQua. These private rooms, ranging from 20 to 25 m², are equipped with a sauna, cold-water bath, and space to relax. Each can be used by 1-4 people, making it ideal for both solo visitors, families, or groups of friends who want to steam away worries in a private setting. Please note that there are no hot springs at Rentola.

LaQua: Over 90 Stores and Restaurants

LaQua, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023, underwent a major renovation that same year, upgrading its garden, entrance, 2-4 floor rest areas, and restrooms, as well as adding more benches for resting and eating. The brand-new food court DELI&DISH is packed with renowned restaurants from all over Japan serving delicious takeout, including:

Kaneko Hannosuke: From Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Kaneko Hannosuke specializes in “tendon” (tempura rice bowl), and is loved around the world. They have three types of tendon to enjoy at home, plus “tenmusu” (shrimp tempura rice balls) and the limited “ebi-ten oshizushi” (pressed sushi with shrimp tempura). Be sure to try their tendon lunch box!

Tsukiji Gindaco: One of Japan’s most popular “takoyaki” (fried octopus batter balls) specialists. Their takoyaki strikes the perfect balance between crispy skin, creamy batter, and juicy octopus. They are served freshly fried and piping hot, and are made from top-quality ingredients.

Atsushi Hatae: This is the sweets store of esteemed pâtissier Atsushi Hatae. With experience as a pastry chef at the world-renowned restaurant Alain Ducasse, Hatae’s accumulated talents and creativity are on full display in his cakes and confections crafted from premium ingredients. Hatae has several popular outlets in Tokyo, and his reach has finally expanded to Tokyo Dome City with this new takeout store.

Meijuan: A specialist in red-bean bread made in the tradition of “wagashi” (Japanese-style confectionery) born through the masterful baking, fermentation, and bean jam-making techniques honed at three long-established bakeries. Pure attention to detail can be felt in every bite.

108 Matcha Saro: A tea store serving matcha-based drinks and sweets with an emphasis on quality and organic, small-batch tea leaves. In addition to matcha, other tea varieties such as “gyokuro hojicha” (top-tier roasted green tea) are also great for sipping while shopping at LaQua.

LaQua also has a bunch of other restaurants outside of DELI&DISH, so you’ll never have to worry about finding food before or after a concert, baseball game, or visit to the spa. Its collection of over 90 stores include Japanese restaurants serving classics like sushi and soba noodles, restaurants specializing in Western, Chinese, and other international cuisines, along with cafes, bars, and general stores.

Unparalleled Shopping at LaQua

Besides excellent grub, LaQua also contains many esteemed Japanese and international brands, including Muji, Loft, Akomeya Tokyo, Uniqlo, the Matsumotokiyoshi drugstore, Kaldi Coffee Farm, and more. We particularly recommend the following:

3COINS+plus: 3COINS is a lifestyle shop that specializes in items that sell for 300 yen, covering household goods, interior design, phone and PC gear, and children's toys. This upgraded iteration in LaQua also has ready-to-eat foods, snacks, and more.

USAGI ONLINE STORE: Browse the trendiest clothes at this brick-and-mortar outlet of USAGI ONLINE, an online retailer stocking popular Japanese women’s fashion brands like Snidel, Mila Owen, Fray I.D, and Gelato Pique.

Seijo Ishii: Seijo Ishii curates items from all over Japan and the world, including delicious foods, that won’t break your wallet.

Handy Services for International Visitors

Tax-Free Shopping

International visitors are able to shop tax-free at LaQua. However, instead of a dedicated duty-free counter, each store has its own individual service. If you purchase an item at a store, you’ll need to go through the tax-free procedure at their location, and you cannot combine it with products from other stores. It usually takes between 10-20 minutes, but can change depending on conditions, so be sure to keep this in mind when planning your shopping at LaQua.

Click here for a list of stores offering tax-free services at Tokyo Dome City.

Multilingual Support and Free Wi-Fi

Language barriers are one of the biggest concerns for travelers in Japan, which is why Tokyo Dome City has lots of multilingual menus and information signs. Multi-language services are also available at the Tokyo Tourist Information Counter on the first floor of the Korakuen Hall Building. International visitors can communicate with staff via a translator or grab a tourist pamphlet, so please drop in if you have any problems. Free Wi-Fi is also available at Tokyo Dome City.

Places to Visit Around Tokyo Dome City

Here are two must-visit spots just a 10-minute walk from Tokyo Dome City.

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is one of the oldest gardens in Tokyo. It’s known for its Japanese and Chinese landscapes, and features artificial mountains, natural ponds, rocks, and trees flaunting captivating scenery with each season. Early spring plum blossoms are followed by weeping cherry blossoms near the main gate, adding vibrant pink hues to the grounds. Summer has lotus and iris flowers, while autumn is dominated by fiery fall foliage. You can also enjoy a matcha tea set or seasonal meal at Biidoro Saryo in the Kantoku-tei Teahouse.

A Full Day of Fun at Tokyo Dome City

We hope that this guide has inspired you to get out and explore Tokyo Dome City! With a staggering collection of facilities and services, Tokyo Dome City is an urban oasis where you can experience the daily life of a Tokyoite!