Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a multi-purpose indoor stadium located in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, with a seating capacity of approximately 55,000. Officially opened on March 18, 1988 (Showa 63), it is Japan’s first domed stadium and is affectionately nicknamed “BIG EGG.” The venue is operated and managed by Tokyo Dome Corporation and serves as the core facility of the Tokyo Dome City complex.
Tokyo Dome is the home stadium of the professional baseball team Yomiuri Giants. In addition to baseball games, it has hosted a wide variety of events such as basketball, American football, professional wrestling, mixed martial arts, and K-1 matches. It is also a popular venue for large-scale music concerts, and in 2023, it hosted an ice show for the first time. The dome’s unique egg-shaped roof features a flexible membrane structure, maintained by keeping the internal air pressure 0.3% higher than the outside to preserve its shape and support.
The site where Tokyo Dome now stands was originally Korakuen Velodrome, which opened in 1949 and ceased operations in 1972. It was used for track cycling races. In the past, baseball games were held at Korakuen Stadium nearby. However, due to the aging facilities of Korakuen Stadium and its inability to meet modern demands, the velodrome was demolished in 1985 to make way for the construction of Tokyo Dome, which was completed and opened on March 18, 1988. Korakuen Stadium was officially retired after the end of the 1987 baseball season and was demolished in February 1988. The site was later developed into the Tokyo Dome Hotel.
The nighttime view of Tokyo Dome is also well-known. As one of Japan’s “Five Major Domes,” the others being Fukuoka Dome, Sapporo Dome, Nagoya Dome, and Osaka Dome, Tokyo Dome is a prominent venue. Other large dome stadiums in Japan, such as Seibu Dome, are also frequently used for sports and concerts.
Due to its large seating capacity, Tokyo Dome is one of the top choices for international artists holding large-scale tours or full-house concerts in Japan, making it a key location in the Japanese live performance market.
