[June 2026] Japan Pickleball News Roundup: PICKLR Toyosu Opens Membership, International Tournament in Utsunomiya, and More Tournaments Nationwide

"Where are next month's tournaments being held?" "Will there be permanent courts in Tokyo?" Lately, questions like these about the "playing environment" have increased noticeably, both in the store and on LINE. Following last month (May), when Japanese players' success abroad made headlines, June 2026 felt like the month when both the "places" to play and the "tournaments" in Japan started moving together.

As someone who launched a pickleball business in Japan, I (Coach Yoshi) have rounded up Japan's domestic pickleball news for June 2026, with sources. This month was less about a single splashy headline and more about quiet but important moves that are steadily improving the playing environment.

1. Japan's First Permanent Facility, "PICKLR TOKYO TOYOSU," Begins Member Recruitment

Of all the domestic news in June 2026, this is the one that caught my attention most. PICKLR, one of the world's largest pickleball facility brands, began recruiting Founder Members (special first-round members) on June 18, 2026, ahead of the opening of "PICKLR TOKYO TOYOSU," its first permanent location in Japan.

• Facility name: PICKLR TOKYO TOYOSU
• Location: 1-2-2 Shiohama, Koto-ku, Tokyo
• Courts: 7 (PICKLR & PPA TOUR official hard courts)
• Scheduled opening: September 2026 (planned)
• Membership plans: 3 plans (PLAY, UNLIMITED, PRO). Founder benefits include 50% off the enrollment fee and a permanent 10% discount on monthly fees

According to the announcement, the facility covers about 560 tsubo (roughly 1,850 square meters) and will have official-spec hard courts indoors. Until now, pickleball in Japan has mostly meant "borrowing tennis courts" or "renting gymnasiums by the hour," so the arrival in Tokyo of a permanent, dedicated facility where you can just show up and play anytime feels like a move that could change how the sport takes root.

Source: PR TIMES (Pickleball Japan Holdings Inc.) (June 18, 2026) (Photo source: PR TIMES / Pickleball Japan Holdings Inc. The company notes that the photos shown are images of PICKLR clubs in the US.)

2. International Tournament in Utsunomiya (July) | APP Asia Qualifier = World Cup Japan National Team Selection

In tournament news, the "KINTO Utsunomiya APP Asia Qualifier 2026," announced on June 12, 2026, is not to be missed. The announcement came from the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF).

• Tournament name: KINTO Utsunomiya APP Asia Qualifier 2026
• Dates: July 10–12, 2026
• Venue: Nikkan Arena Tochigi (4-1-1 Nishikawada, Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture)
• Prize money: ¥2 million in total (pro divisions)
• Significance: An Asia Series event of the APP (Association of Pickleball Professionals), which is also said to serve as the Japan national team selection event for the "Pickleball World Cup 2026" (scheduled for August 30 to September 6, 2026, in Da Nang, Vietnam)
• Wheelchair divisions: Wheelchair unified returns from the previous edition, and wheelchair doubles will be held for the first time

The announcement came in June and the tournament itself is in July, but I think the fact that selection for Japan's national team at an international event is taking place in a regional city like Utsunomiya shows how times are changing. The expanded wheelchair divisions also conveyed a real commitment to broadening the sport's base.

Source: PR TIMES (Pickleball Japan Federation) (June 12, 2026) (Photo source: PR TIMES / Pickleball Japan Federation. Some images carry a note that they were edited with generative AI.)

3. One Tournament After Another Across Japan | Yamaguchi and Rusutsu, Hokkaido Were June's Two Big Topics

Looking around the country, tournaments were held in various places in June as well. The two that stood out in terms of scale were Yamaguchi and Rusutsu, Hokkaido.

Yamaguchi | PJF Pickleball Japan Open in Yamaguchi (June 5–7)

A regional tournament organized by the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) was held on June 5–7, 2026, at the Ishin Daiko Arena (in Ishin 100-nen Kinen Park) in Yamaguchi City. It was a full-fledged tournament on indoor courts, with men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles, and more, divided by skill level and age group (35+, 50+, etc.).

Source: Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) Official Website

Hokkaido | RUSUTSU Pickleball Open 2026 (June 28)

At the end of the month, the resort-hosted "RUSUTSU Pickleball Open 2026" took place on June 28, 2026. Held on 8 dedicated courts at Rusutsu Resort, it was organized by Rusutsu Resort and supported by the Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) mentioned above. This open tournament, friendly to beginner and intermediate players, featured men's doubles, women's doubles, mixed doubles, and men's singles, each divided into beginner and intermediate categories. On the previous day (June 27), side programs such as trial events and lessons were also offered.

Source: Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) Official Website

The style of holding tournaments at resort facilities is exactly how pickleball is enjoyed in America, "playing while sightseeing." In Japan, this culture of "traveling to play" seems to be gradually taking root.

4. Regional Tournaments | UTR Tour Regional Events

Beyond the big events, regional tournaments were also held in June. Among those I could confirm through the organizers' official information:

• June 20 (Osaka) and June 21 (Kanagawa): Regional events of the UTR Pickleball Japan Tour 2026 powered by PJF (a tour linked to UTR ratings, organized by the Pickleball Japan Federation/PJF)

Top-level tournaments tend to get all the attention, but having regional tournaments you can enter close to home may also be a sign that the sport is starting to take root.

Source: UTR Pickleball Japan Tour 2026 powered by PJF (Pickleball Japan Federation)

The increasing use of rating systems like DUPR and UTR in tournaments is explained in "Using DUPR in Japan."

5. Continued Media Exposure | TV Asahi's "Tsunagaru Pickle"

Beyond competition and facilities, TV exposure also continued as of June. On TV Asahi (Kanto region only), the pickleball program "Tsunagaru Pickle" (Sundays 11:45–11:50), hosted by comedian Miyazon, aired throughout June as well.

It's a short program, but I think more people discovering the sport "by chance on TV" matters a lot for raising awareness. Pro players' success, expanding facilities, tournaments nationwide, and media exposure: with all four moving forward at the same time, 2026 may be shaping up to be a year when pickleball takes another step forward in popularity in Japan.

Sources: Tsunagaru Pickle (Wikipedia) and TVer On-demand (June 14, 2026 broadcast)

Recent Tailwinds | May's Feat and Data Pointing to a Growing Market

June's momentum was boosted by the recent surge (through May). It isn't this month's news, but it's essential for understanding the trend, so here's a quick recap.

• May: Yuta Funemizu won a PPA Tour event in the US (PPA 500 San Clemente). His management agency announced it as a first for a Japanese player; the previous week, he had become the first Japanese player to finish 4th at a Grand Slam. For details, see "May 2026 | Japan Pickleball News Summary."
• Market growth: Surveys show the playing population continues to expand rapidly, with strong interest among tennis players (sources and figures are compiled in "Latest Pickleball Situation in Japan").

"Players succeed on the world stage → the media covers it → tournaments and facilities increase → more people start playing." This virtuous cycle is now taking shape in June's facility and tournament news. That's the kind of month it was.

Summary | In June 2026, Japan's Pickleball "Environment" Moved Forward

Looking back at Japan's pickleball news for June 2026, the keyword was "a growing playing environment."

• PICKLR TOKYO TOYOSU (Toyosu area, Tokyo / 7 courts) began recruiting Founder Members on June 18. Japan's first permanent dedicated facility is scheduled to open in September
• International tournament in Utsunomiya: the "KINTO Utsunomiya APP Asia Qualifier 2026" was announced on June 12. Held in July, it also serves as the World Cup Japan national team selection
• Yamaguchi (June 5–7) and Rusutsu, Hokkaido (June 28) hosted full-fledged open tournaments, along with a move toward pairing resorts with tournaments
• Regional UTR Tour events and other regional tournaments are being held as well
• Media exposure also continued, including the ongoing broadcast of the TV program "Tsunagaru Pickle"

While May made headlines for players' achievements, June was a month when both "places to play" and "tournaments to enter" increased together. A better playing environment is the most welcome change of all for people about to start.

Related Articles

• May 2026 | Japan Pickleball News Summary — Last month's domestic news, including Funemizu's achievement.
• Latest Pickleball Situation in Japan | Playing Population, Facilities, and Future Growth — Market data and background of its spread.
• Where to Play Pickleball in Tokyo — How to find courts, facilities, and trial events in Tokyo.
• How to Find and Participate in Pickleball Trial Events and Beginner Classes — For your first tournament or trial event.
• Using DUPR in Japan — How to utilize rating-compatible tournaments and events.

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References

1. PR TIMES (Pickleball Japan Holdings Inc. "PICKLR TOKYO TOYOSU" begins Founder Member recruitment - June 18, 2026)
2. PR TIMES (Pickleball Japan Federation announces "KINTO Utsunomiya APP Asia Qualifier 2026" - June 12, 2026)
3. Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) Pickleball Japan Open in Yamaguchi 2026
4. Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) RUSUTSU Pickleball Open 2026
5. Pickleball Japan Federation (PJF) UTR Pickleball Japan Tour 2026 powered by PJF Vol.2
6. Tsunagaru Pickle (TV Asahi / Wikipedia)