A Glimpse Into the National Olympic Stadium

For you sports fans, a good place to visit is Japan’s National Olympic Stadium (Kokuritsu Kasumigaoka Rikujō Kyogijō)  in Shinjuku, Tokyo. A marvel of steel and concrete, the stadium contains a long track runway that surrounds a lush green field used for football.

This vast stadium can accommodate as many as 48,000 seated fans. It provides tours and even has its own two-floor museum.

While the lower level of the museum has some small exhibits, it is the upper floor that contains many interesting items like scale models of Olympia and Tokyo Games collectibles—medals, uniforms, and even the Olympic Torch.

The stadium was built in 1958 on the site of the former Meiji Shrine Outer Park Stadium.  Its first event was the 1958 Asian Games. Since then it has been the site of various important events including the 1964 Summer Olympics, the 1991 World Athletics Championships, the Mirage Bowl football games from 1976 to 1993, and the Toyota Intercontinental Cup from 1980 to 2001.

Even now, the stadium is in full use, as fans watch Japan’s national football team’s home matches, as well as the finals of tournaments for major football clubs. It is also the venue for the Emperor’s Cup Soccer, which has the longest tradition of a football tournament in Japan (since 1921).

The stadium is also expected to host a variety of events in the future. Even now, $1 billion is being set aside for renovation to accommodate the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Also, with Japan submitting their bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics, the stadium may have the good fortune of hosting the opening and closing ceremonies.

Located at 10-2, Kasumigaoka-machi in Shinjuku, National Olympic Stadium is in the KCP neighborhood and is easily accessible from several train stations.  These include Shinanomachi, Sendagaya, Kokuritsu Kyogijo, and Gaienmae Station. The stadium is open most days during business hours but is closed every second Tuesday of the month.