These are the venues of the Olympic Games in Japan to visit on sightseeing trips

(CNN) – There’s nothing like watching the Olympics on TV to give your wanderlust a reason. Despite the mostly empty stadiums (spectators were banned), athletes from all over the world managed to amaze us, and with the beautiful scenery of Japan as a backdrop.

The good news is that many of the structures specially built for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics they will remain available long after the events end. So when the borders finally open, you can go and see where your favorite athletes competed for gold.

The outskirts of Tokyo

Most of the Olympic and Paralympic events take place in and around the capital.

Some of the structures built to house them are temporary, such as the Aomi Urban Sports Park, where the sport climbing competition was held. Also the Ariake Gymnastics Center and the Ariake Urban Sports Park, home to BMX and skate events.

But part of Tokyo’s proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was that most of the new structures made especially for the Games would remain in use afterward to benefit the people of Japan.

Japan National Stadium

This place in the famous Shinjuku area of ​​Tokyo was the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games. It also hosted most of the track and field events. It replaced a previous national stadium, which was demolished in 2016.

World-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, who is also a professor of architecture at the University of Tokyo, designed the new icon, which was meant to be the centerpiece of the Games.

The stadium seats 68,000 people and is made of wood brought in from 46 of Japan’s 47 prefectures.

There were no shortage of historic moments at this Games venue, including the emotional high jump final in which Italians Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar opted to share the Olympic gold medal.

For great views of the stadium, you can access the Shibuya Sky Observation Deck at the Shibuya Scramble Square building.

Ariake Arena

Located in southwest Tokyo, this elegant building hosted all the volleyball matches during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The United States made history there when the women’s volleyball team beat Brazil in the gold medal competition on the final day of the Games.

After the Games are over, the arena will serve as a local community center and event venue that can host more than 12,000 people.

Musashino Forest Sport Plaza

This arena in Chofu, in the western suburbs of Tokyo, was the first specially designed Tokyo Olympics venue to be completed.

Covering an area of ​​30,000 square meters, the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza has a sloping silver and white roof. It hosted badminton and modern pentathlon events during the Games.

China dominated the badminton court here, winning six medals, including two golds.

After the Games, Tokyo officials say it will serve as a multipurpose venue that will host major sports competitions and entertainment events.

Bonus: it’s also a short walk from the Studio Ghibli Museum.

Tokyo Aquatic Center

Built specifically for the Games, the Tokyo Aquatics Center is located within the Tatsumi-no-mori Seaside Park, a popular green space where locals can play miniature golf or simply enjoy the changing autumn leaves.

As the name implies, many water sports, such as diving and swimming, were held here during the Games. And here many moments that made history took place.

Team USA made their mark at the Tokyo Aquatics Center. There they won the gold medal and broke the world record in the men’s 4×100 meter medley relay final.

Meanwhile, American swimmer Katie Ledecky reaffirmed her status as an athlete capable of competing in short and long distance events. Ledecky won the 1500m and 800m freestyle golds in Tokyo and silver in the 400m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relays.

Now accumulate 10 medals won in three Olympic Games.

After the Olympics, the Tokyo Aquatic Center will continue to host events. It will also function as a swimming facility for Tokyo residents.

Sea forest waterway

This course, home to rowing and canoeing events, was specially built in the canals between two artificial islands in Tokyo Bay.

After the Games, it will continue to host international rowing and canoeing competitions. In addition, it will be open to the public as a recreation area.

Visitors will know they are getting closer when they see the spectacular Tokyo Gate Bridge at the end of the tour, a constant sight on the screens during this year’s Games.

Hockey Stadium Oi

This was the eye-catching, angular spot for field hockey. Electric blue artificial grass looks just as cool in real life as it does on TV. It is located within the Oi Central Seaside Park Sports Forest along the Sumida River.

Locals love this park for its sunset views.

Officials say the venue, built specifically for the Olympics, will be used for hockey, indoor soccer and other sports after the Games.

Nippon budokan

The judo venue in the Chiyoda neighborhood was custom built for the Tokyo Olympics, but not this year.

It is usually only known as the Budokan, which means Martial Arts Hall. It was built in 1964, the first time that Tokyo hosted the Games.

Since then, it has also become a popular venue for musicians to perform when they come to Japan.

At this year’s Games, it had the honor of being the scene of karate’s Olympic debut.

Japan’s Ryo Kiyuna engraved his name in Olympic history here on August 6, being the first gold medalist in the men’s kata event.

The Village of the Olympic and Paralympic Athletes

Built on 13.5 hectares in the Harumi district of Tokyo, the Athletes’ Village will have a new life once the sporting events are over.

The much-discussed cardboard beds will be removed and the entire complex turned into apartments, something that is always needed in a densely populated city like Tokyo.

According to an Olympics spokesperson, there will be 5,650 residential units for sale.

Beyond Tokyo

Tsurigasaki surf beach

Surfing made its first appearance at the Tokyo Olympics in which Tsurigasaki, in neighboring Chiba prefecture, was chosen as the venue due to its natural waves and its proximity to Tokyo.

It was here that American Carissa Moore made history by becoming the inaugural Women’s Olympic Surfing Champion.

Tsurigasaki was already hugely popular with surfers in Japan and around the world. It has many hotels, restaurants and surf shops for those who want to plan their own surf vacations when Japan reopens its borders to tourism.

Makuhari messe

Taekwondo, wrestling, and fencing were some of the events that took place at Makuhari Messe during the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

This conference center in Chiba prefecture regularly hosts global events, be it a Lady Gaga concert or a giant Pokémon card exchange.

Gable Steveson of Team USA will definitely cherish his time at Makuhari Messe – he defeated Geno Petriashvili of Georgia and won the gold medal in the men’s 125 kilogram final here on August 6.

Enoshima Yacht Harbor

First built for the sailing events at the 1964 Tokyo Games, the Enoshima Yacht Port in Kanagawa prefecture did the honors again this year.

It is also where the Olympic cauldron was stored prior to the opening ceremonies.

After the Games, it will continue to be a destination for water sports enthusiasts.

Saitama Super Arena

With a convertible dome, the stunning Saitama Super Arena is one of the largest multipurpose venues in Japan. It hosts concerts, conferences and many other events besides sports.

North of Tokyo, in neighboring Saitama Prefecture, is where the US team beat the French men’s basketball team for the gold medal on Saturday.

The women of Team USA earned their own gold medal here on the final day of the Games, beating Japan in the final match.

The victory makes WNBA stars Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm and Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury the first athletes to win five gold medals in any team sport in Olympic history.

Saitama Stadium

As Japan’s largest soccer stadium, Saitama Stadium was the logical place to host the soccer Olympics – it hosted the 2002 World Cup.

Canadians may want to come here to relive the moment their country won gold in a dramatic final against Sweden.

After the Games, the Saitama Stadium will continue to host important soccer matches.

Yokohama Baseball Stadium

Baseball is big business in Japan. The 2020 Olympics marked the return of softball and baseball as official events.

Completed in 1978, Yokohama Baseball Stadium hosted the events that culminated on Saturday night when the United States faced Japan for the gold medal in baseball. In the end, the host team prevailed by beating the United States 2-0.

For the rest of the year, this huge stadium south of Tokyo is where the Yokohama DeNa Baystars professional team plays for tens of thousands of fans.

J-Village National Training Center (Fukushima)

The theme of the Tokyo Olympics was “Recovery Games.”

To honor that, the Olympic torch relay began at the J-Village National Training Center in east Fukushima, which was the base of operations for first responders who arrived here after the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Located in the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan, it has since become a community center and sports training venue.

Sapporo Odori Park

On Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido, Sapporo Odori Park is a popular destination thanks to its annual winter festival.

This year it hosted the walking and marathon races. On the final day of the Games, Kenyan legendary Eliud Kipchoge won gold in the men’s marathon, crossing the finish line at Sapporo Odori Park with a time of 2:08:38 for his fourth career Olympic medal.

Fun fact: Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympics in 1972, and aspires to do so again in 2030.

Contributed to this report were Karla Cripps, Jill Martin, George Ramsay, Ben Morse, Homero De La Fuente, and Jacob Lev.