Japan Stadiums: Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium (広島ビッグアーチ) presently known for sponsorship reasons as EDION Stadium Hiroshima is located in the large city of Hiroshima in western Japan. It was the home ground of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, a successful J.League club until their move in 2024 to the new EDION Peace Wing Hiroshima Stadium. Edion is a nationwide electronics and home appliances retailer.
The Big Arch Stadium is one of several stadiums in the J.League with a running track and is not soccer-specific.
History & Capacity
The all-seater 36,894 capacity multi-purpose stadium was built in 1992 to stage the 1992 Asian Cup (won by Japan for the first time) and the 1994 Asian Games. The main stand has a large arch-shaped roof, which is where the nickname "Big Arch" comes from. This large roof is perhaps inspired by the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Sanfrecce have won the J.League title three times and reached the final of the Emperor's Cup a record 15 times. The club last lifted the title in 2015. Before that they won the league in 2012 and 2013. They finished third in the 2015 Club World Cup.
Manager and former player Hajime Moriyasu was the inspiration behind the team's success at the time.
The official capacity of the stadium is 50,000 people, and the match against V. Kawasaki in 1994 drew a record 42,505 people. However, nowadays the capacity is set at 36,894 spectators.
Access - Getting There
The ground is inconvenient to get to taking at least 20 to 25 minutes by bus from central Hiroshima on the urban expressway.
By train, the nearest station is Kōiki-kōen-mae Station on the Astram Line, a 15-minute walk from the stadium. From Hiroshima Station take a JR train to Omachi Station and change to the Astram.
Hiroshima is, of course, famous for being the first city in the world to be the victim of an atomic bomb. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Peace Memorial Park are must-visits.
5-1-1 Otsuka-nishi, Asaminami-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 731-3162
Nearby Hotels
The city of Hiroshima offers a range of hotel and guesthouse options to suit all budgets.
Some recommendations include the Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima, a 4-star property with three dining options and rooms with flat-screen TV.
The APA Hotel Hiroshima-Ekimae Ohashi is 3-star business hotel, a short walk from JR Hiroshima Station.
More J.League Stadiums
Tosu Stadium (Ekimae Real Estate Stadium)
Sanga Stadium by Kyocera Kyoto
Toyota Stadium Aichi Prefecture
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