Football Venues For The 2020 Olympics In Tokyo

Football venues for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo are a sight to behold themselves. Football (or soccer) is without a doubt the most popular sport in the world. And while the Olympics don’t hold the same type of bragging rights or the same amount of prestige as the FIFA World Cup, taking home the gold is in the mind of all the countries competing. Those that do compete will have an opportunity to see their young stars shine since only those that are younger than 23 years old will be allowed to compete in the games. Each country will be allowed to play only three players that are older than 23. All other rules of the game and field specs will remain the same for each match in the tournament.

With that being the case, all of the largest stadiums in the Tokyo area and in the country of Japan will be used to host these matches. Football fans travel in packs and even locals love to watch football for the sake of watching the game. Each venue comes with its own unique specifications and things to keep in mind, such as whether it’s an indoor or outdoor facility, whether it’s in the city or out of the city, and what the seating arrangement will look like. We’ll answer a good bit of these concerns in the sections below so you can have the best understanding of the 2020 Olympic football venues.

Sapporo Dome

Sapporo Dome

The Sapporo Dome, while being one of the most comfortable venues in the country, is also a great distance away from Tokyo. The Sapporo Dome is located in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Japan, which is on the upper side of the country. To get there it would take about a nine-hour bus or railway ride or an hour and a half flight. However, the long travel there may be worth it.

The stadium fits approximately 41,484 football fans and is the only football venue in the 2020 Summer Olympics that has a roof and a retractable surface. This means that the weather won’t affect the game or your experience watching. This also means the players are using real turf which usually translates into better performances from the athletes. The venue has also seen it’s fair share of high-profile events. It was previously used for the opening ceremony of the 2017 Asian Winter Games and for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Miyagi Stadium

Miyagi Stadium

This 2020 Olympic football venue is a bit more of an easy one to access. The stadium is about a four-and-a-half-hour car ride from central Tokyo. Miyagi stadium is located in the town of Rifu in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, along the Sendai Bay. If you choose to take a plane you are only looking at about an hour to arrive, but rates for these plane trips can be quite expensive. The Sendai Airport is also about a half-an-hour drive from the stadium.

Once you’re there you’ll be able to see one of the more robust architectural designs in Japan. The roof that covers only spectator seating was built to evoke images of a crescent moon which was stamped on the helmet of Date Masamune, a 16th-century feudal lord who was in charge of what is now present-day Miyagi Prefecture. The venue hosts all types of athletic events, which is why there is a large track and field course that is wrapped around the football field. This does create a bit of distance between fans and the football team which is something to keep in mind when looking at where to buy tickets. The stadium also has a large video scoreboard located at its northern end.

Ibaraki Kashima Stadium

Ibaraki Kashima Stadium

Ibaraki Kashima Stadium is one of the easier stadiums to access as it is on an hour and a half drive away from Tokyo. If you choose to travel by bus, you are looking at closer to a two-hour ride. The stadium is located in the city of Kashima in the Ibaraki Prefecture and is only minutes away from the coast.

The venue is actually a dedicated football stadium and his home to the J1 league teams, the Kashima Antlers. The stadium has a maximum capacity of about 40,728 but offers great seats from just about anywhere. The football pitch is only a few feet from the lower bowl seats and the stadium offers spectators on the top sections a small but convenient roof to keep them shaded. This makes it one of the best places to watch the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic football events.

Saitama Stadium

Saitama Stadium

Saitama Stadium will be one of the easier venues to reach if you’re staying in Tokyo for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. The stadium is only a half an hour drive away from downtown Tokyo. You can either make this trip in your own car or by utilizing a taxi. It is also only a 15-minute walk from the Urawa-Misono Sta. on the Saitama Railway.

With a total capacity of 63,700, the Saitama Stadium is the largest football stadium in Japan and one of the biggest in all of Asia. Its size allows it to include the main football stadium, three sub football fields, and two futsal fields. The dedicated football venue was famous for hosting the “2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan” and has served the community since. To add to all of the football areas, the venue also includes a “Mominoki Plaza” and a “Kids Space” which contributes to a relaxing area for the neighborhood. The size of the stadium also means that nose-bleed seats are quite the distance away from the action, but the stadium also has a partial roof and large video board displaying the game and score.

International Stadium Yokohama

International Stadium Yokohama

International Stadium, also known as Nissan Stadium, is located only half an hour away south of Tokyo if you choose to take a car. If you would rather take a bus to get there you’re looking at about an hour ride. Its direct address is 3300, Kozukuecho, Kita-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa and should be relatively easy to spot, judging by how large the stadium is.

While Saitama Stadium is the largest in terms of sheer size in the country, International Stadium has the largest seating capacity of any venue with a total of 75,000 seats available for spectators. Although, this is a multi-purpose stadium so you’ll have to keep in mind that there is a large track area surrounding the football pitch. This is especially true for those who have seats located behind the goals. The stadium takes more of an oval shape so those located on either one of those ends may have a hard time watching the game at times. There is a large screen monitor showing the game and a scoreboard that wraps around the stadium to help you keep up with the action.

Olympic Stadium

Olympic Stadium

Olympic Stadium is still under reconstruction but should be ready in time for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. The venue is located within the city limits of Tokyo and has been undergoing construction since December of 2016. It is about a five-minute walk from Sendagaya Sta. (JB12) or Shinanomachi Sta. (JB13) on the JR Sobu Line. It is also just a one-minute walk from Gaiemmae Sta. (G03) on Subway Ginza Line.

The stadium is set to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic games, several football matches, and several rugby matches as well. The stadium normally has a capacity of 68,000 but temporary seating for the ceremonies will be put in place making for a total of 80,016 seats. Once the games are finished, Japan hopes to utilize the space for both sporting and cultural events.

Tokyo Stadium

Tokyo Stadium

Tokyo stadium, or Ajinomoto Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located within one of the districts of the city itself. The exact address is 376-3, Nishimachi, Chofu, Tokyo and it is only a 20-minute drive east and away from central Tokyo. If you want to use a bus or one of the railway systems you’re looking at closer to about an hour and 15-minute trip from downtown Tokyo.

The venue itself is quite large and holds a total capacity of 49,970 fans. It is also a multi-purpose stadium and it will host multiple events for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic games. These events include rugby, football, and even some of the games that go along with the pentathlon. The stadium is circular in shape, but due to a large portion of the stadium being dedicated to track and field events, the football pitch is a bit off center. You’ll want to choose your seats wisely when trying to watch a football match at this venue.

What Will The Weather Be Like In Japan For The Football Matches?

Since the football venues are all located in different areas around the country, you may want to pack different types of clothes. The Sapporo Dome is located in the northern part of the country and temperatures during the summer will usually range between the high 70s to low 60s. Miyagi stadium is a little warmer and will usually experience temperatures in the low 80s to low 70s. However, once you get to the venues that are close to Tokyo you can expect to see temperatures reach the high 80s, and with the humidity levels playing a factor, it will feel as though the temperature is in the mid-90s. Stadiums that are located directly in Tokyo will also feel the effect of the crowded city which makes for a very hot trip.

Transportation To The 2020 Summer Olympics Football Events

Knowing your mode of transportation for the 2020 Summer Tokyo Olympics will be crucial if you plan on watching the football events. As stated before, the venues are located all throughout the country and aren’t necessarily tied down to just Tokyo. Certain events may require you to get on a plane, while others may involve using a bus, railway, or even a car. Japan is well known for having a crowded public transportation system, but that may be your best bet for navigating through the city and to the next football match.

Traveling By Car

If you plan on renting your own vehicle in Tokyo you will most likely have to use a GPS to get around the city. This will be especially true if you are arriving from the Haneda Airport which is located about 25 minutes from Olympic Stadium. Getting to each venue will require that you drive on some highway and you will have to feel comfortable with the fact that in Japan, cars drive on the left side of the road and the steering wheel is located on the right side of the car. Renting taxis may be a safer option if you plan on traveling by car.

Traveling By Bus

If you are looking for a cheaper mode of transportation for some of the venues that are located far away from Tokyo, OlympicBettingOdds.com thinks traveling by bus may be your best bet. However, for certain venues such as Tokyo Stadium, taking a bus may mean having to wait twice as long to get to the stadium. This strategy usually works best if the stadium is outside of the city limits.

Traveling by Plane

Only one football venue may require you to take a plane and that is the Sapporo Dome. If you plan on flying from Haneda Airport you can except an hour and a half flight to get to New Chitose Airport. Once you’re there you will either have to take a bus from the airport or take a car to reach the dome. Either one of those choices means that you’ll have to wait an additional 40-50 minutes to arrive.

Traveling By Railway

While traveling by railway may be the most crowded option, it is without a doubt the most direct way to get from each destination. Football stadiums in and around Tokyo will usually only be less than a 15-minute walk from each major station. Those stations will have their routes posted so you know exactly where each ride will take you before you get on.

What Else Is There To Do In Tokyo During The Olympics?

If you plan on attending multiple football venues for the 2020 Summer Tokyo Olympics, you will likely pass by many fun excursions on the way. One of those will likely be Mount Fuji. The mountain is the country’s tallest peak and one of the three sacred mountains in the country. Summit hikes are a popular activity for locals and tourists alike. Though you will likely be walking for much of your trip, you’ll also need somewhere to sit down and eat. There are plenty of upscale restaurants in Tokyo that serve authentic Wagyu, which is a special type of Japanese food such as Kobe beef. The Mori building Digital Art Museum is also one of the most unique and futuristic museums in the world. Ancient shrines such as the Imperial Palace Gardens also serve as a way to get in touch with some of the local nature and to take a break from all the 2020 Summer Olympic games.

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