Japan National Stadium — Attraction in Tokyo

This article is about the newly rebuilt stadium. For the now demolished stadium, see National Stadium (Tokyo, 1958).

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This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in Japanese.

The Japan National Stadium (国立競技場, Kokuritsu kyōgijō),13[5] formerly known as New National Stadium, officially named National Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium used mostly for association football in Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. The stadium will serve as the main stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the venue for track and field athletics events at the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2021.

Japan National Stadium

Aerial view (2020)

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Location10-2, Kasumigaoka-machi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, JapanCoordinates35°40′41″N 139°42′53″EPublic transitE25 Kokuritsu-Kyōgijō JB12 SendagayaOwnerJapan Sport CouncilCapacity68,000 (football, rugby union, track and field) 80,016 (maximum with temporary seats)Field size107 × 71 mSurfaceGrassConstructionBroke ground11 December 2016; 3 years agoBuiltDecember 2016 – 30 November 2019Opened21 December 2019; 10 months agoConstruction costUS$1.4 billion (¥157 billion)ArchitectKengo KumaTenantsJapan national football team (2020–present) Japan national rugby union team (2020–present)

The rugby game Classic Meiji University versus Waseda University at 56th All-Japan University Rugby Championship - Final

Demolition of the old National Stadium was completed in May 2015, allowing for the construction of the new stadium to begin on 11 December 2016.

The original plans for the new stadium were scrapped in July 2015 by Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe, who announced a rebid after a public outcry because of increased building costs. As a result, the new design was not ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, as originally intended.A new design created by architect Kengo Kuma was chosen in December 2015 to replace the original design, which was completed on 30 November 2019.

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This was my second trip to Japan, and what a setting it was—the Japan National Stadium hosting the 2025 World Track and Field Championships. Over three days, I had tickets in different sections of the stadium, and no matter where I sat, the views were incredible. The design ensures that you never feel too far from the action, whether you’re tucked into the upper tiers or seated closer to the track.

On the final night, the rains came down, but even the weather couldn’t dampen the energy of the crowd. In fact, the storm only seemed to amplify the sense of shared excitement. Leaving the stadium after each session was admittedly slow, but it became clear this was intentional—carefully managed to keep tens of thousands of fans safe as they made their way down the long stairways.

What struck me most was how everything felt both meticulously planned and alive with spirit. From the seating to the flow of people, it was evident that this venue was built not just to impress, but to take care of those inside it.

Thank you, Japan, for an unforgettable championship and for building a stadium that truly honors the athletes, the fans, and the games themselves. This isn’t just a venue—it’s a memory etched in steel, wood, and thunderous applause.

Would you like me to also tighten this into a Google review–length version (shorter, punchier, optimized for impact and readability), or keep it as a full-length...

Very enjoyable experience where you can envision the setting for some of the biggest athletic events in the world but also learn about the amazing, creative, sustainable and intelligently planned architecture of Japan. The entrance is hard to find especially in the morning when there are few other pedestrians to help guide the way but just walk around the stadium until you get to the main gate where you will see customer service wearing blue shirts and black jackets. The whole tour took us about two hours as we were taking our time. It is self guided, with signs and audio available in English. There are 8 stops along the tour where you can see the athlete dressing rooms, walk on the running track, sit in the stadium, see the view from the top. Favorite part is up at the top there is a screen showing a Timelapse of the construction of the building which is super cool to watch. There are a lot of photo opportunities and they provide phone mounts so you can take easy selfies in front of backdrops— really fun! Customer service is nice and there are some who speak good English. This building is a testament to sustainable and well thought out...