A two-rink arena opened in 2014 with an Olympic-size main rink and no regular closing day
Saitama Ice Arena stands in Saitama Mizukami Park in Ageo, south of the prefectural Budokan, and opened on 1 November 2014. It is run by Patine Leisure, and the rink describes itself as one of the leading indoor two-sheet rinks in Japan, where anyone can skate without a booking all year round.
The main rink is Olympic size, 30 by 60 metres, and built to ice hockey specification. The sub rink, 46 by 16 metres, is meant for beginners and holds a limited-period illumination rink. The two-storey steel-frame building covers 5,332.72 square metres and has a free viewing deck on the upper floor.
The cooling plant uses carbon dioxide and its latent heat of evaporation, and waste heat from the refrigeration equipment keeps the ground under the floor from freezing and heaving. Inside, the air stays at 5 to 7 degrees all year, and there is no regular closing day, though competitions, events and inspections can close the rink or change its hours.
Admission, rentals and arrival details, researched from official rink information. Source checks stay current for 30 days.
Skating costs ¥1,300 for adults (high school and over) and ¥800 for children (junior high and under); the discounted price for skaters with a disability certificate is ¥1,100 and ¥600. Hire skates cost ¥500 and a person accompanying a skater to watch pays ¥500.
Source checked · · Official source
Hire skates come as figure, hockey and half-speed skates, and double-runner skates for children from 15 to 21 cm.
Source checked · · Official source
The rink says anyone can skate at any time of year without a reservation.
Source checked · · Official source
Helmets are lent free of charge at the rink side; knee and elbow pads are not provided.
Source checked · · Official source
The arena has its own free car park for 90 cars, entered from behind the building along the Shibakawa river; when it is full, visitors are asked to use the Saitama Mizukami Park car park.
Source checked · · Official source
Skaters who show a disability certificate at the front desk get the discounted price, which also applies to one companion who accompanies them.
Source checked · · Official source
A source check records what the rink published on that date. Session-specific booking details take precedence.