The hot summer has come to Japan. It feels like a holiday season but it is the era of Covid 19. So many public venues are closed.

If you live in Japan or you are visiting Japan in the summer(July-Sept), you know the heat season here is not bearable with this high humidity. One option is to stay still in the room with strong AC. But this may not be so exciting and fun.

How about swimming in the cold water under the strong sun? You will surely enjoy the dip in the water. 

In this version of the article, we try to put the focus on the great swimming pools in Tokyo area and somewhere near Tokyo, Japan which are open in the corona time.

Many private run swimming pools seem open in 2020. Almost 100% you need to book your space online to enter. 

We can not guarantee the accuracy of the information because these venues open and close spontaneously based on the Covid-19 case going up and down. If you decided to go, please check the official website of the venue to make sure it is open. 

Even though the swimming pool open, we can not enjoy as freely as we could before the corona time.

From our experience so far, several swimming pools are open but with special rules due to the corona. We can not say for all venue but very typical rules are:

0. For the theme park like swimming pools (not swimming pool of your gym), you need to reserve your space online. This is critical. We show you where to book also in each section of this article.

1. You MUST show up wearing a mask (this is also critical!). Then you need to get through a body temperature check before you enter the venue (there is someone with a temperature check tool at the entrance or a machine to check it)

2. You need to leave your personal information such as your name, address and all ( so they can track you if any infection case occurs )

3. You are supposed to wear swim suits before you leave your home (so you do not stay in a changing room for a long) 

4. You can not use the shampoo etc. at the shower room so you do not stay there for a long

5. You can only stay e.g. 45 mins or so in the swim pool (you will be asked to go away)

6. Opening hour is shorter

7. Sauna is closed (many sports gyms are like this now. We love sauna and this is not a great news.)

The rules depend on the venue but basically you can not stay for a long time there.

We have not seen the entrance cost changes in the Covid-19 era.

For the private venue, please be aware that you expect to pay more than 3000JPY (30USD) per person and also the swimming pool may be full of people. Do not dare to get there on weekends. Try at least weekday if you can.

For theme park swimming pools operated by private sectors, we went to many of them in Japan and understand the cost consists of :

1) Entrance ticket to the theme park

2) Entrance ticket to the swimming pool

3) Extra ticket to use some special ride

4 ) Locker fee (up to 500 JPY or so. Annoying hidden cost. This is not refundable usually (e.g. you put 600 JPY and only 100 JPY refundable) !!) 

5) VIP area ( some swimming pools offer you an area with a parasol, a table and set of chairs dedicated for you, usually 1000-2000 JPY per day )

6 ) Inflated price for less-than-average quality foods/drinks

Onegai Kaeru team's advice to lower the cost are :

For 1)-3) above, try to get the ticket in advance for the bargain price ( you can buy it online or from convenience stores )

For 4) above, bring your own bag. There are thieves so better bring your cash/valuable in a water proof bag you can always carry in the water.

For 5) above, you do not really need it unless you are with your grand parents or small kids and the place is super crowded with super hot day.

For 6) above, just bring your own foods/drinks. Bring your cooler box with a lot of ice to keep things nice and cool.

The cost is usually much cheaper for the public swimming pool but rather boring and even more crowded. 

Most of the swimming pools open at 09:00AM or 10:00AM depending on day. Some swimming pools open till late night as 22:00 serving alcohol. 

Do not forget to bring the skin protection and enough drink. The sun in summer is very strong and you may get heat stroke. For kids, do not forget something (student card or so) to show the age.

Tattoo are still prohibited in many venues. No relaxation in the corona time!

And...DO NOT FORGET ABOUT TATTOO RULE IN JAPAN (some swimming pools do not even allow Tattoo concealer)!

These are in Tokyo but not all are that center. 

Click here to find out more corona related special info from the official website

Akiruno city, Tokyo

Open: 13th of July - 30th of Sept? (2020)

The toilet looking slider called " DEKASLA " is fun. But we waited for one hour to get the ride. It is not in the city center. You go into the mountain area of Tokyo. It has also an indoor area thus even if rains you can swim.

It is open in the corona time.

Covid-19 special rules include: 

You must get a ticket beforehand to book your space. You can book at many convenience stores.

Some are of the swimming pool such as Jacuzzi is closed. 

For DEKASLA, you must wear a face/mouth shield.

1800 JPY for 61 years old or older

3500 JPY for adult ( Jr high school students or older)

2500 JPY for primary school student 

1800 JPY for 2 years old or younger

Ticket include the park entrance and swimming pool entrance

If you also want to ride attractions, 4500 JPY inclusive ticket available.

(old info may not be correct as of 2016)

Find the hotel near Summer Land from here!

Toshimaen, one of the major theme parks in Tokyo will be closed in 2020 and will be a Harry Potter land in the future.

Click here to find out more from the official website

Nerima, Tokyo

Open: 13th July, and 16th of July - 31st of Aug (2020)

Just 30 mins from Ikebukuro area. Of course, always many people.

It is open in the corona time.

Covid-19 special rules include: 

You must get a ticket beforehand to book your space. You can book from this Toshimaen official website.

4100 JPY for adult ( Jr high school students or older)

3000 JPY for kid of 110 cm height or taller (before Jr high)

2000 JPY for kid shorter than 110 cm (before Jr high) 

0 JPY for 2 years old or younger

Ticket include the park entrance and swimming pool entrance

Locker costs up to 500 JPY!

(as of 2016)

Find the hotel near Toshimaen from here!

Click here to find out more from the official website

Inagi city, Tokyo

Open: 1st of July-11th of Sept (2016)

30 mins from Shinjuku by Keio Line or Odakyu Line.

It is open in the corona time.

Covid-19 special rules include: 

You must get a ticket beforehand to book your space. You can book only at the Yomiuri land official site.

Some are of the swimming pool such as Anpanman pool is closed. 

2000 JPY for 65 years old or older

3300 JPY for adult between 18 years old and 64 years old

2500 JPY for Jr. high and high school student

2100 JPY for 3 years old and primary school student 

Ticket include the park entrance and swimming pool entrance

With ticket to ride attractions incl., it is up to 6000 JPY.

(as of 2016)

<<Careful when you have tattoo for going to swimming pools, beaches, public bath. Find out the necessary info here!>>

Click here to find out more from the official website

It is located in Tachikawa city and Akisihma city, Tokyo. Because it is sort of operated by the government, the fee level is not high. But, in 2020, the swimming pool is not open. Let us hope it will open in 2021 and after!!

In case you read this article in 2021, we talk about this nice swimming pool a bit.  Inside the big park, there are 9 types of swimming pools. It has a BBQ area so you can enjoy BBQ and swimming!

1 hour from Tokyo by Chuo Line.

Nishi-Tachikawa station is the closest (2 min walk). Operated by a public sector, the price is fair.

500 JPY for 65 years old or older

2300 JPY for 15 years old or older

1200 JPY for primary school and Jr. high student

300 JPY for 4 years old ( before primary school student )

Ticket include the park entrance and swimming pool entrance

If pregnant, 500 JPY ( need to show your mother's note "Boshi Techo/母子手帳 ").

(as of 2016, maybe wrong)

Some are cheaper than the ones in Tokyo. For example, Saitama Suijo Park is not as expensive. But the same rules apply. Try not get there on weekends at least. Inexpensive means much more people than expensive places.

Click here to find out more from the official website

Ageo city, Saitama

It is closed for 2020 because of the corona.

Take bus from Ageo station East Exit and get off at "Sports Sogo Centre (スポーツ総合センター)" ( or 30 mins walk from Ageo station) (Takasaki Line). One of the most reasonably priced swimming pools in Tokyo area for this size.

510 JPY for adult

210 JPY for kid (primary school or Jr. high student (Jr. high student needs to present their student card or so to show the age))

Special deal for a family (2 adults and 2 kids) is  1230 JPY

(as of 2016)

Similar swimming pools are in Kawagoe city , Kazo city and Koshigaya city. Quite cheap but you will be almost 100% sardined!

<<Careful when you have tattoo for going to swimming pools, beaches, public bath. Find out the necessary info here!>>

Click here to find out more from the official website

Miyashiro, Saitama

Open: 1st - 31st of August (2020)

It is open in the corona time.

Covid-19 special rules include: 

You must get a ticket beforehand to book your space. You can book only at the Tobu official site.

It has a Zoo and theme park. If you love animals, you can see some and dive into the swimming pool!

1900 JPY for 60 years old or older

2600 JPY for adult 18 years old or older

2000 JPY 12-17 years old

1300 JPY for 3 years old and primary school student 

Ticket include the park entrance and swimming pool entrance

With ticket to ride attractions incl. , it is up to 4800 JPY.

(as of 2020)

Click here to find out more from the official website

Sanmu city, Chiba

Open: 18th of July  - 22th of  of Sept (2020)

The biggest in Chiba.

It is open in the corona time.

Covid-19 special rules include: 

You must get a ticket beforehand to book your space. You can book only at the official site.

1730 JPY for adult

1010 JPY for high school student

400 JPY for primary and Jr. high student 

200 JPY for 4 years old or older

Ticket include the park entrance and swimming pool entrance

Water slide etc. cost extra e.g. 200 - 400 JPY one time 

(as of 2016)

NOTE: It is right next to the ocean. There is a swimming area with the beach!

Click here to find out more from the official website

Tokorozawa city, Saitama

Open: 18of July - 30th Aug (2020)

1.5 hour from Ikebukuro by Seibu Line.

This year it is open till 21:00.

It is open in the corona time.

Covid-19 special rules include: 

You must get a ticket beforehand to book your space. You can book only at the official site.

1500 JPY for 60 years old or older

2500 JPY for adult ( Jr high school students or older)

1500 JPY for 3 years old or primary school student 

0 JPY for 2 years old or younger

Ticket include the park entrance and swimming pool entrance

If you also want to ride attractions, 3000 JPY inclusive ticket available.

(as of 2016)

Click here to find out more from the official website

Yokohama city, Kanagawa

It is closed in 2020. We hope it will open in 2021 and after.

Around 1 hour from Shibuya/Yokohama, get off at Kodomonokuni station (こどもの国駅)

1100 JPY for adult ( high school students or older)

450 JPY for primary and Jr. high students

350 JPY for 3 years old or older 

0 JPY for 2 years old or younger

Ticket include the park entrance and swimming pool entrance

(as of 2016)

Find the hotel near Kodomonokuni from here!

Did you find a good place? Do you have any favorite?

If you know your neighbor swimming pool is open, please share it in the comment section or with us. 

Except for some government run theme park, here we introduced the theme park style swimming pools (big slides, artificial waves etc.), almost all of which cost some fortune.

If you are on budget, there are many small size public swimming pools in Tokyo area which is cheaper than all of these places in this article.

These swimming pools are like gym pools but great enough to have good dips in this hot summer. Better avoid the summer holiday season, you may be suffocated with so many kids. Try on weekdays, early morning.

The entry price shall be as good as 200JPY (1.5 USD) or so depending on the pool, if you are the local resident, your age. 

But in 2020 many of the public swimming pools are closed due to the corona. It is quite pity.

Here is the list of public swimming pools in Japan. Try this list (all in Japanese and some are only for the residents of the area. Call the place up beforehand to make sure you can get in!).

<<Careful with tattoo rules in public swimming pools, beaches etc.>>

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Want to know more places for the great photos in Japan? For example, Toshima island with so many flowers. Please check this out!

Do you know an island with over 2000 years old tree in Japan? Please check this out!

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Source: Wikipedia, All About, official website of each theme park

Disclaimer: Even though we try to make the info as updated and accurate but the accuracy of the information herein is not guaranteed by us. If you have any uncertainty, please contact the information source.