Japan Stadiums: Sunpro Alwin, Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture
Sunpro Alwin (サンプロ・アルウィン) in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture is the home ground of J.League side Matsumoto Yamaga FC. The ground was known as Matsumotodaira Park Stadium (長野県松本平広域公園総合球技場) until 2018. The name 'Alwin' is a combination of 'Alps' and 'Wind'. The Shiojiri-based housing company Sunpro are the sponsors.
History & Capacity
The stadium opened in 2001. As it is close to Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport there are height restrictions on nearby buildings so the playing surface is approximately 10 meters lower than the surrounding area. The stadium's capacity is 20,396. Only the main stand is presently covered. To obtain a Class B J.League club license more than one-third of the seats must be covered.
The surrounding park has a cycle track, mallet golf and soccer pitches in addition to the stadium. To the south, Shinshu Skypark surrounds the airport runway and contains an athletics stadium, an indoor multi-purpose gymnasium (Yamabiko Dome) with facilities for soccer, tennis, gateball and softball.
The ground has one large video display renovated in 2017 due to aging.
Paraguay used the stadium as their training camp for the 2002 World Cup and the club office has memorabilia including signed balls and signed shirts on display. Nagano Prefecture paid US$600,000 to host the Paraguayans.
Matsumoto Yamaga FC
The team in green, Matsumoto Yamaga FC, are nicknamed the Ptarmigans or Gans after the official bird of Nagano Prefecture, which appears on the club crest. The team's mascot is 'Gans-kun' (ガンズくん), a Ptarmigan.
The club dates back to 1965 and a group of players who met in a cafe called Yamaga near Matsumoto Station. The club renamed in 2004 and played in regional leagues until joining the Japan Football League JFL in 2010 and gaining promotion to J2 in 2011. The club stepped up to J1 in 2015 but were relegated in the same season before returning, again for a single season in 2019. In 2022, the Gans dropped into J3 where they remain.
Like Oita Trinita, Omiya Ardija, and Machida Zelvia, the club has thus played in all three top divisions: J1, J2, and J3.
Some notable players to have represented the club include the striker and Japan international Daizen Maeda now at Celtic Park in Scotland, defender Masaki Iida who made 348 appearances for the club between 2010 and 2019 and Naoki Matsuda, a Matsumoto native who represented Japan at the 2002 World Cup and made his name with Yokohama Marinos. He tragically passed away while on the books of Yamaga aged only 34 in 2011.
The so-called 'Shinshu derby' sees Matsumoto Yamaga FC take on local rivals AC Nagano Parceiro.
Access - Getting There
The ground is 10 km southwest of Matsumoto Station and about the same distance north of Shiojiri Station. On match days there is a free shuttle bus from Matsumoto Station (about 30 minutes) and between 2015 and 2024 a free shuttle bus from Shiojiri Station, too. This was discontinued in 2025 and only ran for the Shinshu derby game with Parceiro.
Please note to cover bus costs contributions are welcome.
If traveling by public transport to the park on non-match days take a bus from Matsumoto Bus Terminal across the road from Matsumoto railway station east exit to Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport.
There are two buses, one non-stop direct to the airport, or another stopping service (空港今井線). The latter is more convenient, get off at the Kanbayashi stop and walk (about 25 minutes).
By train from Nagano Station, Matsumoto is three stops on the express Shinano south to Shirojiri, Kiso-Fukushima, Nakatsugawa, Tajimi and Nagoya and 55 minutes' travel time. The local train takes an hour and 11 minutes (12 stops).
Nagano city is also connected to Tokyo by Shinkansen (1 hour, 25 minutes).
Address: 5300 Kanbayashi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-1243
Nearby Hotels
Matsumoto, famous for its original castle and as the birthplace of artist Yayoi Kusama, is about 220 km northwest of Tokyo. Matsumoto City Museum of Art has a large collection of works by Yayoi Kusama on display and is the other major attraction in the city along with the superb castle.
The city offers a range of hotels and other accommodation options to suit most budgets. It is increasingly on the foreign tourist trail.
Some recommendations include Toyoko Inn Matsumoto-eki Higashi-guchi, a 3-star property at the station.
The Richmond Hotel Matsumoto is another 3-star business hotel, a short stroll from Matsumoto Station.
More J.League Stadiums
Sanga Stadium by Kyocera Kyoto
Tosu Stadium (Ekimae Real Estate Stadium)
Toyota Stadium Aichi Prefecture
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