Japan Stadiums: Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Osaka Prefecture
Panasonic Stadium Suita (パナソニックスタジアム吹田) aka just Suita City Football Stadium is located in Suita just outside the city of Osaka in the Kansai region of western Japan. It is the home of Gamba Osaka. The relatively recent Panasonic Stadium is now one of the most modern stadiums in the J.League.
History & Capacity
The 40,000 capacity stadium replaced the aging Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium (万博記念競技場) that was built in the 1970s. Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium had a 21,000 capacity but was hindered as a soccer-specific ground by its running track and lack of covered stands. The former ground still remains in use as a venue for athletics, rugby and as a home ground for Gamba Osaka's Under-23 team in J3.
The new stadium opened in 2015 and is a vast improvement on the old ground. As well as J.League fixtures, the stadium has been used for international fixtures including World Cup qualifying matches and international friendlies.
Panasonic are closely associated with the club and have had naming rights for the modern home ground since January 1, 2018.
The Club: Gamba Osaka
Gamba are a successful, though inconsistent team in the J.League and have won the title in 2005 and 2014 as well as the Emperor's Cup on four occasions.
They have played in the Club World Cup where they once met Manchester United in 2008, losing 5-3. Gamba were relegated to J2 in 2012 along with local rivals Vissel Kobe but bounced back the following year.
Standout players have included midfielder Yasuhito Endo, Tomokazu Myojin and Patrick Mboma. Former coach Akira Nishino went on to manage the national team.
The other club in Osaka is Cerezo Osaka who play occasionally at Nagai Stadium and more frequently at the smaller Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Osaka city.
Access - Getting There
Suita is 20 km north of downtown Osaka and easily reached by public transport from Osaka or nearby Kyoto.
From Umeda Station in Osaka take a Tokaido-Sanyo Line train bound for Ibaraki (茨木市) to Kishibe. There, change for a JR train for Yamada Kashikiriyama. From here it is a short walk to the stadium.
Alternatively, take a Takarazuka Mainline train to Hotarugaike Station. Here change to the Osaka Monorail for Bampakukinenkoen Station.
If you are coming from Kyoto take a Hankyu Line train from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station bound for Umeda in Osaka. Change at Minami-Ibaraki and take the Osaka Monorail for Bampakukinenkoen Station.
There are several places to eat and drink near the stadium which is located in the large and interesting Bampakukinenkoen.
3-3 Senri Expo Park, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture 565-0826
Nearby Hotels
The ground is near enough to Osaka to stay there. Osaka, Japan's second city offers a range of hotel and guesthouse options to suit all budgets.
If you do wish to stay somewhere close to the stadium itself try the Senri Hankyu Hotel Osaka.
The Minamisenri Crystal Hotel is at Minami-Senri Station.
J.League Stadiums
Sanga Stadium by Kyocera Kyoto
Tosu Stadium (Ekimae Real Estate Stadium)
Toyota Stadium Aichi Prefecture
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