Tokyo Dome

Japan's first all-weather domed stadium, completed in March 1988. An air-supported membrane roof covers a diameter of 201 metres, with a total floor area of approximately 116,932 square metres. Home to the Yomiuri Giants and the centrepiece of Tokyo Dome City in Bunkyo.

Use

Office tower

Area

Bunkyo City

Completed

1988

Floors

6 above ground, 2 below

Height

56 m

Total floor area

approx. 116,932 m²

Developer

Tokyo Dome Corporation

Architect

Nikken Sekkei

The Day Rain Stopped Cancelling Baseball

When Tokyo Dome opened on 17 March 1988, professional baseball in Japan changed permanently. The stadium’s air-supported roof — a membrane of white Teflon-coated fibreglass kept taut by continuous low-pressure air — made it Japan’s first fully weatherproofed sports venue. The dome rises approximately 56 metres at its peak, spans a floor diameter of 201 metres, and contains a total floor area of around 116,932 square metres across six above-ground floors and two basement levels. Design was by Nikken Sekkei; construction was carried out by Takenaka Corporation.

The air-support membrane system was a first for Japan and significantly reduced both construction cost and programme time compared to a steel-framed dome. The success of the technique encouraged the development of similar venues across the country in the years that followed. The Korakuen site has been associated with sports since 1937, when Korakuen Stadium — the Giants’ predecessor home — stood on the same land. The transition from that open-air ballpark to the enclosed dome marks a broader shift in how Japanese cities approached large-scale sports facilities.

Summary

Tokyo Dome was completed in March 1988 with six above-ground floors and a height of approximately 56 metres, covering a total floor area of around 116,932 square metres. As Japan’s first air-supported dome stadium, it fundamentally changed the country’s approach to outdoor sports infrastructure. Its white membrane rising from the back streets of Bunkyo City is one of Tokyo’s most recognisable silhouettes — and the walk through the surrounding Dome City complex gives a clear sense of how a single building can anchor an entire urban precinct.

Related: Tokyo Dome Hotel

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