The world’s largest indoor pickleball franchise - The Picklr - is expanding to Japan.

On Thursday, plans were announced to open 20 facilities across the country within the next five years.

The first Picklr on Japanese soil will be located in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Other targeted facility locations include Kanagawa, Osaka, Aichi, Saitama, Chiba, Hyogo, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Kyoto, Miyagi, Hiroshima and Okinawa.

Facilities will be based in retail, office, light-industrial and purpose-built spaces.

The international expansion project was made possible after The Picklr reached a Master Franchise Agreement with Japan’s leading pickleball company, Nippon Pickleball Holdings Co., Ltd.

“Japan is known for valuing precision, wellness and community — all things built into The Picklr DNA. Expansion into this market allows us a chance to help shape what pickleball looks like on a global stage, “ said The Picklr CEO Jorge Barragan. “For us, Japan is more than a market — it’s a launchpad for how The Picklr can lead the charge in Asia, just like we’ve done in the U.S. We’re not just creating courts; we’re creating a culture. And we believe that culture will resonate in Japan.”

All Japan-based clubs will reflect the same aesthetic, amenities, programming, and membership offerings as clubs in the U.S. and Canada.

The Picklr has sold more than 500 locations globally, with plans for more than 80 to open by the end of 2025. 

Click here for more information about The Picklr Japan.