Football - Match Venues - JapanThe Soccerphile World Cup 2002 Archives Click here to go to the current Soccerphile.com
Football - Match Venues - Japan
IBARAKI JapanWhen are the matches and how do I get there?
June 2 14:30 (05:30 GMT) Argentina v Nigeria
June 5 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Germany v Ireland
June 8 18:00 (09:00 GMT)
Italy v Croatia
Train Japan Rail (JR) Sobu Line rapid train from Tokyo to Kashima-jingu Station (approx. 2hrs 15mins). From Narita Airport: JR Narita Line to Sawara Station and change to the Kashima Line for Kashima-jingu Station. From Kashima Jingu Station take Oarai-Kashima Line (operated by Rinkai Tetsudo Railway) to Kashima Soccer Stadium Station then a 5-minute walk.
Bus JR Tokyo Station (Yaesu South Exit) to Kashima-jingu Station bus terminal on the Joban and Higashi-Kanto expressways (2hrs). From Kashima Jingu Station local bus takes 15 minutes to the stadium.
What's the stadium like?
The spectacular stadium is home to the J-League's Kashima Antlers and has been enlarged to reach a capacity of 41,800 spectators in time for World Cup 2002.
KOBE Misaki Stadium JapanWhen are the matches and how do I get there?
June 5 15:30 (06:30 GMT) Russia v Tunisia
June 7 15:30 (06:30 GMT) Nigeria V Sweden
June 15 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Win. Group C v Run-up Group H
Air 18 flights in total from Tokyo to either Osaka Itami Airport or Kansai International.
Hydrofoil 25 minutes from Kansai International Airport to Kobe City Air Terminal (K-CAT) on Port Island.
Train JR (Japan Railways) Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen super-express from Tokyo to Shin-Kobe Station in 3 hours 20 minutes, then subway from Shin-Kobe to downtown Sannomiya Station. 25 minutes from Osaka Station to Sannomiya by either JR, Hanshin or Hankyu lines. Access to Misaki Stadium is 10 minutes from Sannomiya Hanadokei Station to Misaki-koen Station on the new Kobe City Subway Kaigan Line or walk from JR Hyogo station or JR Wadamisaki (the branch line from JR Hyogo station operates mornings & evenings).
What's the stadium like?
The new waterfront Misaki 'Wing' Stadium opened in November 2001 after two years of construction work and will have a capacity of 42,000 for the World Cup finals. The impressive football-specific venue has great views from the well-tiered seats, carpet-like turf and is part of the city's regeneration project after the 1995 earthquake.
MIYAGI
Prefectural Stadium JapanWhen are the matches and how do I get there?
June 9 15:30 (06:30 GMT) Ecuador v Mexico
June 12 15:30 (06:30 GMT) Sweden v Argentina
June 18 15:30 (06:30 GMT)
Winner H v Runner-up C
Air Connections from Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo and Seoul.
Train From Tokyo JR Tohoku Shinkansen super-express to Sendai (1 hr.36 min. to 2 hr. 32 min.) is a frequent service.
Taxi From central Sendai to the Prefectural Stadium in Rifu takes around 30 minutes by road, but traffic jams are common on match days.
What's the stadium like?
Construction of the 49,281-seat stadium in Sendai was completed in March 2000.
NIIGATA
JapanWhen are the matches and how do I get there?Niigata Stadium
June 1 15:30 (06:30 GMT) Ireland v Cameroon
June 3 15:30 (06:30 GMT) Croatia v Mexico
June 15 20:30 (11:30 GMT)
Win. Group A v Run-up Group F
Air From Osaka (3 daily) and Seoul (4 weekly).
Train Japan Railways (JR) Joetsu Shinkansen super-express from Tokyo (2 hours) to Niigata Station.
Bus Long-distance bus services from Ikebukuro (Tokyo) to Niigata (6 daily).
Taxi 10 minutes to the ground from the station.
What's the stadium like?
The new 42,700-seat 'Big Swan' stadium in Niigata was completed in time for the Confederations Cup in June 2001. There are great views of the surrounding countryside from the multi-purpose stadium and a fine view of the pitch itself with absolutely no obstructions. The turf was specially imported from the USA. However, the roof does not cover all the spectators, who are also a fair distance from the pitch.
OITA
JapanWhen are the matches and how do I get there?
June 10 18:00 (09:00 GMT) Belgium v Tunisia
June 13 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Mexico v Italy
June 16 15:00 (06:00 GMT) Win. Group F v Run-up Group A
Air Haneda Airport (Tokyo) to Oita Airport is a 90-minute flight, plus an hour by bus or half an hour by hovercraft to central Oita. From Osaka there are 8 flights daily (1 hour).
Train From Tokyo (Tokyo Station) JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen super-express to Kokura and then change to limited express on the Nippo Honsen Line to Oita (6 hours 25 minutes) From Osaka (Shin Osaka Station) Shinkansen bullet train 4 hours. From Tokyo 16 hours 40 minutes by direct sleeper limited express.
Ferry Overnight services are available from Kobe and from Osaka to Beppu.
Bus From downtown Oita to the stadium takes about 30 minutes.
What's the stadium like?
The new state-of-the-art 43,254 seat Oita stadium known as the 'Big Eye' has a retractable roof, giant video screen and sky camera and becomes the new home to the J-League's Oita Trinita. Opened May 2001.
OSAKA
Nagai Stadium JapanAir 9 flights daily from Tokyo (1 hour) to both Osaka Itami Airport and Kansai International. From Kansai International Airport to downtown Osaka in under an hour by JR "Haruka" train, Nankai "rapi:t" train or airport bus.
Train Tokyo to Osaka by Tokaido Shinkansen super-express (2 hours thirty minutes).
Walk Nagai Stadium is 5 minutes on foot from three stations:
Tsurugaoka Station and Nagai Station on the Hanwa Line from Tennoji,
and Nagai Station (exits 1 & 3) on the Midosuji subway line.
People with tickets for the Back North Stand (Home End) should use
JR Tsurugaoka Station.
What's the stadium like?
The 45,409-seat Nagai stadium is home to the J-League's Cerezo Osaka and refurbishments to the site were completed in 1996. Equipped with a huge video screen, Nagai is a vast concrete bowl which suffers from a slight wind-tunnel effect and the presence of a running track which distances spectators from the action.
SAITAMA
Stadium JapanWhen are the matches and how do I get there?
June 2 18:30 (09:30 GMT) England v Sweden
June 4 18:00 (09:00 GMT) Japan v Belgium
June 6 18:00 (09:00 GMT) Saudi Arabia v Cameroon
June 26 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Semi-Final (Win. Quarter-Final 1 v Win. Quarter-Final 4)
Train From Tokyo 50 minutes via Namboku subway line to Urawa-Misono Station on the Saitama Railway Line (scheduled for completion in 2001) and then a 15 minute walk to Saitama Stadium in Urawa.
What's the stadium like?
The futuristic 63,060-seat Saitama stadium will become the new home of the J-League Urawa Red Diamonds and is touted as the largest stadium in Asia dedicated solely to soccer.
SAPPORO
Sapporo Dome JapanWhen are the matches and how do I get there?
June 1 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Germany v Saudi Arabia
June 3 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Italy v Ecuador
June 7 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Argentina v England
Air 40 flights daily from Tokyo (Haneda Airport) to Shin-Chitose Airport (1 hr. 30 min). From Osaka (Kansai Kuko International Airport) 10 flights daily (2 hours).
Train From Tokyo (Ueno Station) JR express sleeper train (16 hours 35 minutes). Or Shinkansen to Morioka, then express via Aomori (10 hours) From Osaka overnight couchettes on express (22 hours 30 minutes). From Sapporo Station to the stadium, 11 minutes on the Toho subway to Fukuzumi Station then a ten minute stroll.
What's the stadium like?
The new state-of-the art indoor Sapporo stadium, designed by Hiroshi Hara, will have a capacity of 42,122-seats and will feature the world's first mobile natural turf pitch. Using new technology, the outdoor grass field will be able to slide over the indoor artificial surface in times of bad weather making the Sapporo Dome arguably the most advanced indoor sports stadium on the planet.
SHIZUOKA
Ecopa Stadium JapanWhen are the matches and how do I get there?
June 11 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Cameroon v Germany
June 14 15:30 (06:30 GMT) Belgium v Russia
June 21 15:30 (06:30 GMT) Quarter-Final 1 (Win. Game 2 v Win. Game 6)
Train From Tokyo JR Tokaido Shinkansen super-express (1 hour by "Hikari" express or 90 minutes by "Kodama") to Shizuoka. From Osaka (Shin-Osaka Station) 1 hour 40 minutes by Shinkansen bullet train. From downtown Shizuoka 50 minutes by JR Tokaido Honsen Line to the Ecopa Stadium in Fukuroi City and then a ten-minute walk.
Bus JR Highway Bus from Tokyo Station.
What's the stadium like?
Shizuoka is known as the heartland of Japanese soccer and is home to two of the J-Leagues most successful teams - Shimizu S-Pulse and Jubilo Iwata. The new 51,349 seat Shizuoka Ecopa stadium was completed in May 2001 and is set in parkland with its own rail station. The stunning cauldron-like all-purpose stadium incorporates a number of eco-friendly features and will host future Shimizu and Jubilo games.
YOKOHAMA
International Stadium JapanWhen are the matches and how do I get there?
June 9 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Japan v Russia
June 11 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Saudi Arabia v Ireland
June 13 20:30 (11:30 GMT) Ecuador v Croatia
June 30 20:00 (11:00 GMT) Final
Train From Narita Airport Station (Tokyo) 85 minutes by JR Narita Express, or 2 hours by JR Sobu Honsen Line's Airport Narita train to Yokohama Station. From downtown Tokyo 25 to 40 minutes by train on JR's Tokaido, Yokosuka, or Keihin Tohoku lines. Alternatively, 30 minutes from Shibuya (central Tokyo) to Yokohama Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line express. From central Yokohama to the International Stadium in Yokohama is 15 minutes by JR Yokohama Line or the municipal subway from Sakuragicho Station to Shin-Yokohama Station followed by a quarter of an hour walk to the stadium.
Monorail From Haneda Airport Station (Tokyo) 45 minutes by Tokyo Monorail and JR Keihin Tohoku lines to Sakuragicho Station or 20 minutes by Keihin Kyuko Line.
Bus From Narita Airport (Tokyo) 90 minutes by airport "limousine bus" to either Yokohama City Air Terminal (YCAT) or the Minato Mirai 21 district. From Haneda Airport (Tokyo) 30 minutes by Keihin Kyuko expressway bus to Yokohama Station.
What's the stadium like?
The final itself takes place at 8pm on 30th June at Yokohama International Stadium, the home ground of the J-League's Yokohama F Marinos, a mere 40 minute journey from downtown Tokyo. The imposing stadium, complete with giant video screens for instant replays and close-ups of the action, is a short 10 minute walk from Shin-Yokohama or Kozukue stations. The 70,564-seater stadium boasts a state-of-the-art eco-friendly design and operating facilities including a recycled water supply from the roof and local homes. Power is supplied from a nearby incinerator unit and heating/cooling from a local wastewater treatment plant. All may not be the green paradise it seems however.
There have been media reports that the topsoil from a disused industrial site not far from the stadium was contaminated with high levels of dioxin and PCBs. Although visitors are not at any risk, the news came as something of an embarrassment for Japanese football officials. Nearby Pacifico Yokohama on the waterfront will host the International Media Centre, which will coordinate television coverage for the massive TV and radio audience around the world.
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