Places to play: Asahi Seimei Sports Center (Kugayama)

This large, very nice tennis complex is owned and operated by the Asahi life insurance company ("seimei" is the 'life' part of 'life insurance').  The complex has over 20 courts, of which most are hard and outdoor, but 5 are indoor and some of the outdoor are clay or artificial lawn.  One court ("Center Court", of course) has seating for about 100 spectators.

The Japan national tennis team for the Olympics trains here, an indication that the facilities are first-rate. 

I recommend this facility for a) group use (one-day tournaments or similar) several times a year, or b) individual use if you live near the Inogashira train line or Inogashira Dori. 

To get usage, you need to first register, and to register you have to go to the front desk of the facility.  You can register either as an individual or as representative of a group: Registration is 1000 yen for individuals (bring a 24 mm x 30 mm photo of your face), and you can reserve one court up to two months in advance.  The registration is 2000 yen for groups, and you can reserve up to 4 courts up to two months in advance. Registrations are valid for a year and are renewable at the same fees.  You receive a registration card with a registration number. 

After registration you can call (03 5384 6591)  to check available court times, and if there are time slots you want you give your registration number to hold the slots.   You pay for the courts when you arrive to play.  You can cancel without charge up to 3 days before the day of usage; you must pay 50% of the court fee to cancel 1 or 2 days before usage; and you must pay the whole court fee if you cancel the day of usage.  

Up to 8 persons can play on 1 court. 

Court fees (per hour)

The outdoor courts' usage goes to 9 PM from April through November, and stops at sundown from December through March.

The facility is closed the second Monday of each month.

The one major drawback to this facility is its location - an hour or so from Roppongi or Hiroo by train, and 30 to 40 minutes by car; and you have to be persistent to find the place the first time.  It is 12 minutes' walk from Kugayama station on the Inogashira train line.  This train line goes from Shibuya to Kichijoji, and Kugayama is about 3/4 of the way to Kichijoji.

The address is Kita-karasuyama 7-25-40, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. The general phone is 03 3326 0711 and reservations phone is 03 5384 6591. 

By train:  get off at Kugayama station, cross the tracks and the small river.   Immediately past the river is an intersection.  Continue straight through the intersection (headed south if that is helpful). The street has shops scattered somewhat sparsely along it.  Follow this about 300 meters, cross the Tamagawa Josui (a straight manmade stream with trees and bushes), and continue straight on for another 200 meters with the Iwatsu factory on your right side.  At the intersection where the Iwatsu factory ends, turn right and again walk along the factory with it on your right.   The street will become increasingly narrow but busy with traffic.  The Iwatsu factory ends after 200 meters.  After another 200 meters the street bends left then bends back right - this bend is the narrowest of all.  About 100 meters past the narrow bend is another intersection; the Asahi Seimei facility is on the far left corner.   Turn left keeping the facility on your right, and the clubhouse will be about 100 meters from the intersection, on the right side of the street.

By car:  Come out Route 20, with the Chuo expressway overhead.  Just before Kan-pachi Dori, the Chuo expressway curves away to the right.  Follow it to the right (don't get on the expressway, stay on the access road !).  Go straight through Kan-pachi.  About a kilometer past Kan-pachi, the access road will seem to end in a small awkward intersection.  Turn right under the expressway then follow the curve of the narrow road to your left.  After about 500 meters watch for the Iwatsu factory on the right side.  After the Iwatsu factory, the street will become increasingly narrow and bend left, then bend back right - this bend is the narrowest of all.  About 100 meters past the narrow bend is an intersection; the Asahi Seimei facility is on the far left corner.  Turn left keeping the facility on your right, and the clubhouse will be about 100 meters from the intersection, on the right side of the street.