Landmark & Tower · Kudan / Kitanomaru

Nippon Budokan 日本武道館

The octagonal hall built for judo at the 1964 Olympics, its roof modelled on the Yumedono of Horyu-ji, and later the stage where the Beatles played in 1966 and Cheap Trick recorded 'At Budokan'.

About

Designed by Yamada Mamoru and completed in 1964, the Nippon Budokan was built to host judo's Olympic debut, and its form deliberately echoes Japanese temple architecture: an octagonal plan and a sweeping roof inspired by the Hall of Dreams at Horyu-ji, topped by a golden giboshi finial like those on traditional bridges. It remains the home of Japan's martial arts, hosting kendo, karate and judo championships, but it is just as famous as a concert hall: the Beatles' three nights in 1966 made it the dream venue for rock bands, and 'Live at Budokan' albums followed for decades. The interior is only accessible for events, but the exterior and its plaza, reached through the 17th-century Tayasumon gate of Edo Castle, are open, and it hosted judo and karate again at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Highlights

• Octagonal hall with a Horyu-ji-inspired sweeping roof
• Golden giboshi finial on top of the roof
• Approach through Edo Castle's Tayasumon gate
• Legendary concert venue since the Beatles in 1966
• National martial arts championships

Tips

• To see inside, buy a ticket for an event; martial-arts tournaments are often cheaper than concerts and give a real taste of budo.
• Check the Budokan's event calendar: on concert days the area is packed in the hour before doors open.
• Combine with Chidorigafuchi and Kitanomaru Park; cherry blossom season is spectacular.

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Tayasumon and Shimizumon GatesCastle & Palace · 100 m away
• Kudan Kaikan TerraceLandmark & Tower · 190 m away
• Kitanomaru ParkPark · 200 m away
• Showakan (National Showa Memorial Museum)Museum · 220 m away
• Coin Lockers · Kudanshita StationLuggage Storage · 280 m away
• Science Museum (Kagaku Gijutsukan)Museum · 350 m away
• ChidorigafuchiPark · 490 m away
• The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT)Museum · 540 m away