Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium, Hyogo Prefecture
Kobe City Misaki Park Stadium (known as Noevir Stadium Kobe ノエビアスタジアム神戸 for sponsorship reasons) in the historic, port city of Kobe, in western Japan is the home of 2023 J.League champions Vissel Kobe. Japan Rugby League One team Kobelco Kobe Steelers also play their home games here.
History & Capacity
The 32,000 capacity stadium replaced the aging Kobe Central Football Stadium that was built in the 1970s. Kobe Wing Stadium (as it was first known) opened in 2001 in time for the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan with a capacity of 42,000.
The ground staged two group games and a Round of 16 match at the tournament. These were Russia v Tunisia (Group H), Sweden v Nigeria (Group F), and Brazil v Belgium (Round of 16).
After the World Cup, the capacity was reduced to its present 32,000.
In addition, the stadium hosted four group matches at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Although Vissel play occasional games at the remote Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium their main ground is Noevir Stadium Kobe.
Vissel Kobe
The club began life in 1966 as a semi-professional company team, Kawasaki Steel Soccer Club, in nearby Okayama Prefecture before moving to Hyogo Prefecture in 1995 with the aim of joining the nascent J.League.
The team was acquired in 2004 by the Crimson Group, parent of the Japanese online retailer Rakuten. Rakuten, headed by Kobe-born entrepreneur, Hiroshi Mikitani, took over full ownership a decade later in 2014.
Mikitani's ownership saw the club embark on a policy of signing aging overseas stars including ex-Barcelona World Cup-winners Andrés Iniesta and David Villa, German striker Lukas Podolski, Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen, the former Barcelona and Stoke City winger Bojan Krkic, Sergi Samper and briefly ex-Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder, Juan Mata. The team lifted its first trophy in 2019, the Emperor's Cup, but ironically won its first J.League title in 2023 with a largely Japanese starting XI.
Current and former Vissel players who have experience in Europe include Kyogo Furuhashi presently at Glasgow Celtic in Scotland. Yuya Osako played in Germany with a number of clubs (1860 Munich, FC Köln, Werder Bremen), Yoshinori Muto also played in Germany with Mainz 05 and had a spell with Newcastle United, scoring his only goal for the club against Manchester United at Old Trafford. US-born left back Gotoku Sakai also has experience in Germany with both Stuttgart and Hamburg while defensive midfielder Hotaru Yamaguchi had a short spell at Hannover 96.
Access - Getting There
From Sannomiya Station in downtown Kobe, ride the Kaigan Line of Kobe subway to Misaki Koen Station or Wada Misaki Station. From either station, the ground is less than 10 minutes on foot.
From JR Hyogo Station the stadium is about 20 minutes on foot.
By bus take the Kobe City Bus #3 to Yoshida-cho 1-chome bus stop from Kosoku Kobe, Minatogawa or Shinkaichi stations on the Hanshin Railway Kobe Kosoku Line (阪神神戸高速線 aka Kobe Tozai Line).
Noevir Stadium Kobe - 1 Chome-2-2 Misaki-cho, Hyogo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 652-0855, Japan
Official Store - CULMEN (Kōbe Information & Culture Bldg.)
〒650-0044 Hyogo, Kobe, Chuo Ward, Higashikawasaki-cho, 1 Chome−5−7
Nearby Hotels
The ground is near enough to central Kobe to stay there. Kobe is a popular tourist destination (see below) and has a range of reasonable hotel and guesthouse options.
If you do wish to stay close to the stadium itself try the Hotel Wing International Kobe Shin-Nagata Ekimae.
Back in central Kobe city, the 5-star Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel is a popular choice.
Kobe City Highlights
Kobe is a famous tourist city in Japan and here are some highlights as there are many things to see and do aside from eating all those delicious Kobe beef dishes.
Nunobiki Ropeway
For the best views of Kobe, the Nunobiki Ropeway is a cable car system that provides visitors with a scenic ride up Mount Rokko, offering open and wonderful views of downtown Kobe.
During the approximately ten-minute journey, passengers can look down and see Kobe city, the harbor, and the surrounding mountains.
The Ropeway is especially popular during the cherry blossom season in spring and when the leaves change color in autumn as tourists flock to the area to see nature blooming in a a whole host of wonderful colors.
Upon reaching the upper station, visitors have the opportunity to explore the Nunobiki Herb Gardens which is a garden showcasing flowers and plants from all around the world.
Meriken Park
Meriken Wharf Park offers stunning views of the city skyline and the iconic Kobe Port Tower.
The park is famed for its wide open spaces and artistic installations. One special location inside the park is the Kobe Port Tower which stands at a height of around 108 meters and serves as an observation deck where visitors can see the port city in all its glory.
Inside the park is also the Kobe Maritime Museum which exhibits items from Kobe's maritime heritage both past and present.
Photos by Chris KL Lau
J.League Stadiums
Tosu Stadium (Ekimae Real Estate Stadium)
Toyota Stadium Aichi Prefecture
©Soccerphile.com
Buy tickets for soccer matches around the world