Sanga Stadium by Kyocera, Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture
Sanga Stadium by Kyocera (サンガスタジアム by Kyocera) just west of Kyoto in Kameoka, western Japan is the new 21,600 capacity home of J.League club Kyoto Sanga.
History & Capacity
The 21,600 capacity stadium replaces the aging Nishikyogoku Stadium (Takebishi Stadium Kyoto) that was built in the 1940s. Nishikyogoku also has a 20,000 capacity but was hindered as a soccer-specific ground by its running track. Nishikyogoku was one of the most unpopular stadiums in the J.League. Sanga Stadium opened in 2020 and is a beautiful sight.
Kyoto Sanga
In recent years Kyoto Sanga languished in J2 for a decade from 2011 to 2021 and the glory days under coach Gert Engels with a young Park Ji Sung (later of PSV and Manchester United fame), Daisuke Matsui and Teruaki Kurobe (62 goals in 138 games) in the team seemed long gone.
However, Sanga gained promotion to J1 for the 2022 season and managed to stay there for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The team is going strong in 2025.
The club's sole major honor is the Emperor's Cup in 2002 during the Gert Engels' years. Sanga have also won the J2 title twice.
The club began as Kyoto Shiko Club in 1922 and did not start life as a company team. In fact, Sanga are the oldest club competing in the J.League. As Kyoto Purple Sanga, the club joined the former Japan Football League in 1993 and then the J.League in 1996. The club dropped 'Purple' from their name in 2007, though it remains as the color of the team's uniforms.
Besides the fondly-remembered German coach, Gert Engels, other foreign managers at the Kansai club include Dutchmen Hans Ooft and Pim Verbeek, who both had brief spells in Kyoto. South Korean Cho Kwi-jae has been in charge since 2021.
Access - Getting There
Kameoka is 20 km west of Kyoto city and easily reached by JR train from either Kyoto Station or Nijo Station in 18-30 minutes depending on the type of train you take. Both stations are on the city's subway network.
Kameoka Station is adjacent to the new stadium and just five minutes on foot.
There are several places to eat and drink near the station.
Nearby Hotels
The ground is near enough to Kyoto to stay there. Kyoto as one of Japan's top tourist destinations offers a range of hotel and guesthouse options.
If you do wish to stay in Kameoka itself try the Keizankaku Hotel.
The Sun Royal Hotel Kameoka Ekimae is adjacent to both Kameoka Station and the ground.
J.League Stadiums
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu
Tosu Stadium (Ekimae Real Estate Stadium)
Toyota Stadium Aichi Prefecture
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