Translation guide
An ice rink is a frozen surface for ice skating, hockey, or other ice sports. In Japanese, the most common term is スケートリンク, a loanword from English. There are also native Japanese terms for indoor and outdoor rinks.
ice rink
Referring to any ice skating rink, whether indoor or outdoor, for recreational or sports use.
The most common and widely understood term for an ice rink. Used for both indoor and outdoor facilities.
Want to go to the ice rink this weekend?
This ice rink is only open in winter.
Also common, but slightly less frequent than スケートリンク. Often used in names of facilities.
A new ice rink opened near the station.
Specifically an ice rink inside a building, often used for year-round skating.
An ice rink located outside, often seasonal.
Explicitly states that the rink is outdoors. Common in winter resort areas.
It feels great to skate at an outdoor ice rink.
When you want to stress that it's a place for ice skating, not just any ice surface.
A more explicit term, though slightly redundant. Used occasionally for clarity.
I heard they're building an ice skating rink in that park.
Both スケートリンク and アイスリンク are common loanwords. スケートリンク is slightly more frequent in everyday conversation. In formal writing or news, you may also see スケート場 (スケートじょう), but this can refer to any skating rink (including roller skating), so context is needed.
This indoor ice rink can be used all year round.