5 Reasons Why a Night at the Races Is a Great Date Idea

For a city as big and unique as Tokyo is, many times I hear about the same old date ideas. If you’re looking to impress your date and take them somewhere unforgettable, may I suggest going to Oi Racecourse to enjoy a night at the races. Here are 5 reasons why Oi Racecourse makes an amazing date spot:

1. You don’t have to spend much.

There’s only one fee that you’re required to pay, which is the entrance fee. For 100 yen, you can enter the track. This is all automated. All you need is one 100 yen coin per person, and you can put it in the turnstile.

Once you’re in, you’re not required to make any bets. You can pay to simply hang out, if you want. However, if you decide to take the dive and choose to bet on a race, be glad to know that it’s cheap to do that as well.

The minimum bet is 100 yen per race. Of course, you can choose to bet more if you’re feeling lucky. So, no matter your budget, you can join in on the fun and realistically make 1,000 yen last the entire night. (Not counting your winnings, of course!)

2. There’s delicious food and drink.

Honestly, I was surprised by the selection of food and drink at the racetrack. No matter what you’re craving, there’s bound to be something for you. The food choices ranged from Japanese food, to hamburgers, to grill-it-yourself barbecue. Interestingly enough, the shops also offered seasonal options, so you can always come back for something new.

The racetrack also has its own beers. There are three exclusive beers, called Star Light. They offer a light brew, a medium, and a dark stout so all beer preferences are covered. I decided to go with the light brew, and it was very crisp and refreshing. If you wish to err on the side of caution, you can also get some Kirin beer.

3. You can impress in English or Japanese.

No matter whether you speak Japanese fluently or if you only speak English, you shouldn’t have many problems when it comes to having a good time. The restaurant owners seemed to speak a little bit of English, but it's no different than if you were ordering from a regular restaurant.

As for the races, we were fortunate enough to receive a packet that included a list of all the English names and stats of the horses in each race for the entire day. Though we didn’t know exactly how to read the stats, we based our bets on it. We received this from the information desk.

Within the packet, there are also instructions on how to fill out the betting cards and actually make your bets. This was the most confusing part, so I recommend starting small and having a few extra sheets ready in case you mess up and need to restart. The betting machines have guided lights to ensure that it’s an easy process.

The same goes for collecting your winnings. A few of the machines have English instructions on them as well, but if you can’t find an English machine, just follow the lights! Or, just put your ticket in and if something comes out, then you know you won something!

4. There are great photo ops.

The racecourse grounds are spacious and spotted with different locations for photo opportunities. The evening is when everything really sparkles, as they liberally use fairy lights in every color of the rainbow to decorate everything at the course. You can get great pictures to commemorate your time there.

Alternatively, you can also get pictures in the daytime, with the statues and other fun things around. I got a shot on the merry-go-round and with the adorable horse racing champion mascot! Or something in front of the actual track or from the stands always makes a memorable shot.

5. It’s legitimately fun!

Horse races in Japan aren’t just for old men who like to gamble anymore! (Or, if you’re from the States, posh women who wear fancy hats.) Oi Racecourse has taken horse racing and elevated it into a clean and enjoyable atmosphere that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders.

My friend and I were having so much fun that we decided to stay a bit longer than originally anticipated. We got in one extra race before heading back, both of us having a lot more fun that we ever expected to have!   

This post is supported by Tokyo City Keiba, one of City-Cost's Supporters helping City-Cost bloggers to enjoy life in Japan and engage in new experiences.