Nippon Budokan

Built for the 1964 Summer Olympics as a venue for judo, the Budokan is an octagonal hall crowned by a curved roof inspired by an ancient Nara temple. Beyond martial arts, it became legendary as a concert venue after a string of famous performances in the following decades, and it hosts graduations, ceremonies, and sporting events. Set within a wooded park behind a large ornamental gate, its distinctive silhouette rising above the trees is a landmark in its own right. It again staged combat sports during the 2020 Olympics.