Places to play:   Tokyo Lawn Tennis Club

This club is among the most prestigious clubs in Tokyo (others are the Meiji Jingu Tennis Club in Aoyama, and the Tamagawa-en Racquet Club on the Toyoko line). 

The good news is that if you are non-Japanese, there's no waiting list.  You just have to be willing to pay the entrance fee (see below).   The application procedures take 3 to 6 weeks.   You can get the forms and details at the counter on the right side of the lobby as you go in the club's main entrance.  (There's a sign that says Members Only outside, but don't be shy about going in to get the forms.)

The club has 9 doubles courts and 1 singles court, all clay surface, and a practice wall.  You can start play from 6:30 AM so you can get in an hour of play before going off to work on weekdays.  Lights on 5 courts for evening play, to 9 PM.  Members can have up to 3 guests in the evenings (4000 yen per guest) and 1 guest on weekends (6000 yen).  Lockers, changing room, showers, and a large o-furo (Japanese hot bath) on the men's side.  A snack bar for light meals and beer, and a pleasant clubhouse.

If you want to play singles on the weekends, come early - 8 AM.  Starts to get crowded from 9:30 AM and doubles takes priority.   If others are waiting, you get two sets of doubles then rotate off to wait your turn.

Membership can be permanent or 5 year term.   The permanent entrance fee is 1,200,000 yen and monthly dues are 13,000 yen.   The 5 year term entrance fee is a few hundred thousand yen and monthly dues are about 30,000 yen. 

The club is at one end of Arisugawa Park, up the hill from Hiroo station, next to the baseball field.  On the other side of the baseball field are the 4 public courts obtained by lottery through Minato ward.   After a rain, Tokyo Lawn's courts aren't useable, while the public courts are -- go figure!

Address is Minami-Azabu 5-6-41, Minato-ku, Tokyo  106-0047.  Phone is 3473 1545.