Japan National Stadium

The Japan National Stadium is a level playing field, mostly. There is no air conditioning in the seating areas, which is a practical detail for anyone watching a match in July. The real distinction is how the timber is used.

The capacity sits between 67,000 and 68,000 depending on whether there is a running track in place. The attendance record was set during a rugby test match against New Zealand, with 65,188 people inside. No one came close to that for the football final that opened the stadium. That match had 57,597 fans, which is a number but not a record here.

The stadium replaced the old arena from the 1964 Olympics, which was torn down in 2015. The current building opened in December 2019 with a ceremony, but the first real match happened shortly after on New Year’s Day. It hosts the Japan national football team and the rugby union side. Starting in 2026 it will carry the name MUFG Stadium, but that is a future change. For now, the timber roof and the lack of climate control are what you notice first.