Wave Stadium Kariya, Aichi Prefecture
Wave Stadium Kariya (ウェーブスタジアム刈谷) in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan is a multi-purpose athletic, rugby and football stadium located inside the Kariya City General Athletic Park in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It also serves as the home ground for local football club FC Kariya.
Asian Games 2026
The venue staged several men's soccer group matches at the 2026 Asian Games. These were UAE 1 v Iran 3, China 2 vs North Korea 1, Iran 0 vs China 0, North Korea 1 vs UAE 2, Iran 1 v North Korea 4 and Kyrgyzstan 4 v Hong Kong 0. In the women's tournament Uzbekistan played Hong Kong with the Uzbeks winning 2-1.
Other stadiums used during the soccer competitions at the 2026 Asian Games were Toyota Stadium, Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium, Nagoya City Mizuho Park Rugby Field and Nagoya City Minato Soccer Field.
South Korea won the men's tournament defeating Japan 1-0 in the final at Toyota Stadium. Japan won gold in the women's competition defeating North Korea 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Ecopa.
The stadium will also host rugby matches at the following Asian Para Games 2026.
History & Capacity
The 4,000 capacity stadium has 2,602 main/wheelchair seats as well as 1,400 lawn seats.
The venue was first built in 1993 as a football and rugby venue. It was later completely renovated and expanded into a full athletics stadium with its all-weather track in 1999.
The ground is also used by FC Kariya who presently compete in the Tokai League after spells in the JFL mostly recently in 2021 and before that from 2006 to 2009. The club were founded in 1949 as Nippon Denso soccer club and renamed in 2006 as FC Kariya.
An indoor arena Wing Arena Kariya (ウィングアリーナ刈谷) was added to the park in January 2007. The Green Ground Kariya (グリーングラウンド刈谷) pitches (one natural grass pitch and the other artificial turf) were also developed that same year.
Accessibility
The venue is equipped with barrier-free facilities such as disabled parking, wheelchair-accessible elevators, and wheelchair-accessible toilets (including ostomy facilities), making it a relatively easy facility for wheelchair users to use.
Access - Getting There
The stadium is about 1.6 km from Fujimatsu Station on the Meitetsu Line from Nagoya Meitetsu Station, Kanayama Station and Horita.
Buses run from outside the station to Kariya City General Athletic Park (Kariya Sogo Undo Koen) or it is a 25-minute walk.
Alternatively take a JR train from Nagoya Station to Kariya and then a 29 bus towards Aichi University of Education via Fujimatsu Station and get off at Kariya Sogo Undo Koen.
There's an excellent cafe within the sports park serving coffee and light meals including pasta.
Address: 1 Arata, Tsukiji-cho, Kariya City, Aichi 448-0011
Gallery
Nearby Hotels
Nagoya Station (Meieki) and the entertainment area of Sakae offer a wide choice of places to stay in Nagoya.
Choose from the Mitsui Garden Hotel Nagoya Premier, Hotel Unizo Nagoya Ekimae or the more budget Hotel Mystays Nagoya Nishiki. In the Yagoto area near Mizuho Stadium is the The Strings Hotel Yagoto Nagoya.
Nagoya Guide
Nagoya, a large industrial sprawl, is far from being Japan's most attractive city. However, attractions include Nagoya Castle, Atsuta Shrine, Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Gardens and the delightful Tokugawa Art Museum and attached garden.
Nagoya is trying to shake off its image as the most boring city in Japan and hosting the next Asian Games in 2026 will help redefine its image to the world.
Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle is a historic castle located in Meijo Koen and is one of the most famous castles in Japan for its large, stunning grandeur. The structure was originally built in 1612. Unfortunately it was almost destroyed during US bombing in World War II though the main building was restored in 1959. The area around the castle is also a stunning and spacious park where cherry blossoms bloom in season.
Nagoya Aquarium
A port city with the sea central to its existence, Nagoya owes much of its prosperity to its coastal location. The Nagoya Aquarium, officially known as the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, is a popular marine-themed attraction which draws in huge numbers of tourists each year.
Sea life lovers will enjoy the wide array of marine species, including fish, dolphins, seals, penguins, turtles, and many creatures.
One of the highlights of the Nagoya Aquarium is the Pacific Giant Octopus, which is known for its intelligence and remarkable abilities. The Nagoya Aquarium is a popular attraction for families and those who love nature as it really is an immersive and educational journey where people can spend hours learning about the wonderful world around us.
The city situated in the center of Japan is a gateway to the more rural landscapes of Gifu, Nagano and Toyama prefectures. Buses and trains radiate out from the Meieki (Nagoya Station district) to such destinations as Gujo-Hachiman, Shirakawa-go and the Nakasendo towns of Magome and Tsumago. The latter two villages retain their Edo Period charm and have become increasingly popular with overseas visitors.
Tourist photos of Nagoya by Chris KL
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