Three days in Chofu, and the series ends here
This is where the Grand Prix series ends. The 2026 NHK Trophy runs from November 27 to 29 at Keio Arena in Tokyo. It is the sixth and final stop of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, and the Japan Skating Federation hosts it.
Being last gives it extra weight. Earlier stops hand out points, but the final event is where the qualifying picture for the Grand Prix Final settles. Skaters who arrive in Tokyo on the edge of qualifying are skating for a December place, not just a medal.
The competition has existed since 1979 and has been part of the Grand Prix since the series began in 1995. It moves between Japanese cities from year to year, so a Tokyo edition is not something fans get every season.
The arena next to the stadium
Keio Arena is a large modern sports hall in Chofu, a residential city on Tokyo’s western side. Until a naming-rights deal it was called Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, and many locals and older signs still use that name. Its main arena seats roughly ten thousand people around the rink.
It stands right beside Ajinomoto Stadium, the big football ground. On a skating weekend the stretch between the two buildings fills with fans carrying tote bags, banners rolled under their arms and shopping bags of gifts for skaters.
Like any hall holding a full ice sheet, the seating bowl is cold. Regular rink-goers come in layers, and blankets and hand warmers are a common sight in the stands. In late November it is also cold outside, so the walk from the station does not warm you up much.
Getting to Tobitakyu
The train is the easy way in. The nearest station is Tobitakyu on the Keio Line, a short, level walk from the arena that takes about five minutes.
- From Shinjuku: take the Keio Line west. Faster trains often skip Tobitakyu, so many riders change at Chofu Station for a local train and ride one more stop.
- From Chofu Station: there is a straight run along the Keio Line, or a longer walk if you want the air.
- Leaving after the last session: the platform at Tobitakyu gets packed at once. Lots of fans walk to Chofu or wait in a nearby café until the crowd at the gates has thinned.
Parking near the venue is limited on event days, so most spectators arrive by rail.
How the weekend unfolds
The NHK Trophy usually includes the four standard Grand Prix disciplines:
- men’s singles
- women’s singles
- pairs
- ice dance
Each discipline skates a short program (the rhythm dance, in ice dance) and then a free skate. The medals are decided over the competition days. On the last day there is traditionally an exhibition gala, where the medallists skate looser, showier programs with costume changes and props, without judging.
The session order, start times and entry list all appear on the Japan Skating Federation’s official site and on the ISU’s Grand Prix pages. The organisers have announced no specific skater line-up here, so treat any names you see elsewhere as unofficial.
Plush toys, flowers and the rink-side sweepers
The thing that sets a Japanese Grand Prix apart happens once a program ends. As the skater takes their bows, flowers and soft toys land on the ice from every section, often one skater’s signature character many times over.
Young skaters in matching outfits, often called flower kids, skate out to collect everything before the next competitor’s warm-up. At a big event in Japan this gift-clearing becomes a small spectacle in itself.
Gifts thrown onto the ice are expected to be wrapped, so nothing loose comes apart on the surface. Fans bundle flowers in cellophane and put soft toys in clear bags. Because of this, spectators with seats near the boards tend to throw more than those high in the upper tiers.
Watching like the regulars
Japanese skating crowds are famously knowledgeable and well-behaved, and the arena works best when you follow their rhythm.
- Silence during programs. The hall goes still once the music starts, and applause comes on landed jumps and at the final pose.
- Banners at the right moment. Flags and name banners go up for the skater’s introduction and come down so they do not block the view of the people behind.
- Seats between groups. People usually move during the ice resurfacing breaks rather than while a skater is on the ice.
- Merchandise first. The official goods stalls draw long lines, so many fans head there as soon as doors open and leave the stands for later.
Tickets for major skating events in Japan have historically been sold through lotteries on Japanese ticket platforms. Those systems often run only in Japanese and sometimes ask for a domestic phone number, so overseas fans often enter with help from a friend in Japan. The Japan Skating Federation’s official site is where sales information and ticket links are published.
Between sessions: Jindaiji and soba
Long gaps between sessions are normal, and Chofu has a good way to fill one. Jindaiji, one of Tokyo’s oldest temples, is a short bus or taxi ride north of the arena. It is known for the soba shops lining its approach, a local custom that goes back centuries.
The Jindai Botanical Gardens are next to the temple. In late November the trees around the area are turning colour.
If you would rather stay close, the shops and restaurants around Chofu Station are one stop away on the Keio Line. Many visiting fans also stay in Shinjuku, which has the widest choice of hotels and a direct line back to the rink each morning.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is the 2026 NHK Trophy?
It takes place on November 27–29, 2026 at Keio Arena in Chofu, western Tokyo. The Japan Skating Federation hosts it, and it is the sixth and final stop of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.
How do I get to Keio Arena?
Take the Keio Line to Tobitakyu Station, about a five-minute walk from the arena. From Shinjuku, faster trains often skip Tobitakyu, so many riders change at Chofu Station for a local train.
Where are NHK Trophy tickets sold?
The Japan Skating Federation publishes sales information and ticket links on its official site. Major skating events in Japan have historically sold tickets by lottery through Japanese ticket platforms, which are often Japanese-language only.
Can I throw flowers or plush toys onto the ice?
Yes, it is a long-standing tradition at Japanese competitions. Gifts are expected to be wrapped, for example flowers in cellophane and soft toys in clear bags, so nothing comes loose on the ice. Young skaters collect them between performances.
What is there to do near the arena between sessions?
Jindaiji temple, known for the soba shops along its approach, and the Jindai Botanical Gardens are a short bus or taxi ride north. Ajinomoto Stadium is right next door, and Chofu Station's shops and restaurants are one stop away.
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