Getting to Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
The stadium is in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture, about 60 km north-west of Tokyo.
We have prepared the following advice to help you plan your travel. The hints and tips below should be read in conjunction with the information on each travel option that follows. Please download our Official Travel Guide for Saitama/Kumagaya (Kumagaya Rugby Stadium) here. Make sure to print it off and bring with you as access to WiFi is not guaranteed in every stadium.
- Plan and book ahead: Arrange your travel and accommodation as soon as possible. If you are an international visitor and intend travelling by train, we strongly recommend you purchase a Japan Rail Pass before you arrive.
- Travel the right way: Roads are expected to be busy on match days so please use public transport, park and ride, walk or cycle where possible. Remember there is no parking at the venue except for wheelchair ticket holders that have reserved a parking space. There are also no drop-off or pick-up facilities near the venue except for taxis. If you intend on driving, please use park and ride. It is free and reservation only. Spaces are limited so book your place well in advance to avoid disappointment.
- Transport expected to be very busy: If possible, travel to and from the area in the days before or after the match and stay local if you can to avoid delays. Transport is expected to be particularly busy after the match. If you do have to queue please listen to announcements and follow directions from staff.
- Travelling from further away: The stadium is accessible from five stations, the closest being Kumagaya Station. You can either walk to the stadium (50 minutes) or walk to the Fanzone (10 minutes) from where a shuttle bus will run to the stadium. Alternatively, you can take a train to Kagohara, Shinrinkoen, Ota or Hanyu Stations from where free shuttle buses will get you to the stadium. Please note that shuttle buses from Shinrinkoen, Ota and Hanyu Stations are reservation only. Spaces are limited so book your place well in advance to avoid disappointment.
- Travelling back by train: Kumagaya Station is expected to be extremely busy after matches. If you are travelling back by train why not spend some time in the stadium (gates close 90 minutes after final whistle) or walk to the Fanzone and spend some time there or in central Kumagaya before heading home. If you’re going to the Russia v Samoa match note that the Fanzone will be closed afterwards and shuttle buses to Kumagaya Station are expected to be busy. Either consider walking to Kumagaya Station or get a shuttle bus to one of the other stations to avoid delays but check the time of your last train back.
- Arrive early: Arrive into Kumagaya City with enough time to soak up the atmosphere. Don’t leave it too late to get to the stadium. Gates open two hours before kick-off. We recommend you arrive 90 minutes early, allowing at least 60 minutes to clear security and access your seat. There will be plenty to see and do inside so leave enough time to enjoy it before the match starts.
- Pre-paid travel cards are best: Paying for public transport is easier using a prepaid travel card or IC Card. These cards are available for different regions and can be pre-loaded with credit. Simply tap the card at the ticket gate at the start and end of your journey and the correct fare is deducted.
- Pick-up travel tickets in advance: Consider picking up your travel card or other travel tickets before match-day to avoid queues at ticket machines on the day.
- Head to the Fanzone: The Fanzone at Saitama Community Space will be a great way to spend time before and after the match. Additional information is available here.
- Check before you travel: For those travelling out of the area after the match, please be sure to check the time of your chosen transport and don’t leave it until the last service of the day.
- Safety and security: When planning your trip, remember there are restrictions on what you can take into the venue. There are no bag-drop or luggage storage facilities at venues so travel light. Please refer to our match venue page for more information on restricted item
- Transport arrangements different to usual: If you are a regular visitor to the area please note some transport arrangements will be different to usual during the tournament so please check before you travel.
- New to Japan? If you are not familiar with the area, please refer to the additional tips for international visitors.
- Stay up to date: Follow us on Twitter at @Japan2019_ENG (English) or @Japan2019_JP (Japanese) for the latest travel and ticket information, weather reports, venue guides, seating information and more.
Please see the map which shows the location of the travel options available on match day.
Which travel option is best?
Find out more about each travel option here.
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Air |
 |
Train |
 |
Bus |
 |
Walk |
 |
Cycle |
 |
Park and Ride |
 |
Taxi |
 |
Car |
 |
Accessible transport |
 |
Getting to the Fanzone |
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Additional travel information |
Air
The nearest airports to the stadium are Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (100km away) and Narita Airport (140km away). Haneda Airport is about one hour and 15 minutes away by public transport and Narita Airport is about two hours away.
Train
The nearest station to the stadium is Kumagaya Station which is up to 60 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo. The station is a 50-minute walk to the stadium, or you can walk 10 minutes to the Fanzone from where you can get a free spectator shuttle bus to the stadium (15 minutes).
The stadium can also be accessed by several other stations via free shuttle bus. These are Kagohara Station, Shinrinkoen Station, Ota Station or Hanyu Station. It is possible to travel between Tokyo and Shinrinkoen, Ota and Hanyu Stations but check for train times.
Please note that the shuttle buses for Kagohara Station do not require reservations. Shuttle buses for Shinrinkoen Station, Ota Station and Hanyu Station are reservation only. Spaces are limited so book your place well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Information for those attending Russia v Samoa match: Note that the Fanzone will be closed afterwards and shuttle buses to Kumagaya Station are expected to be busy. Either consider walking to Kumagaya Station or get a shuttle bus to one of the other stations to avoid delays, but check the time of your last train back.
Bus
There are a number of spectator shuttle buses running to the stadium:
-from Kagohara Station, Ota Station, Shinrinkoen Station and Hanyu Station (see train section). With the exception of shuttle buses from Kagohara Station spaces on all other shuttle buses need to be reserved. Spaces are limited so book your place well in advance to avoid disappointment.
-from the Fanzone (see Fanzone section).
-from the four park and ride car parks at Sakura Sports Park, Osato Administrative Centre, Menuma, Gyoda General Park (see park and ride section). Spaces need to be reserved. Spaces are limited so book your place well in advance to avoid disappointment.
The location of the spectator shuttle drop-off and pick-up points at the stadium is shown on the map.
Private charter buses: There are no private bus pick-up or drop-off facilities at or near the stadium. Please do not drive to the venue unless you have made prior arrangements.
Walk
As shown on the map there are several walking routes for stadium access. Our friendly staff will be on hand to help you on your way and look out for directional signs too.
Cycle
Cycle parking is available close to the stadium as shown on the map.
Park and ride
If you intend travelling by car, please use park and ride. It is free and spaces are limited and must be reserved in advance so book park and ride as soon as possible to secure your space.
There are four park and ride car parks which will have direct shuttle bus services to the stadium on the day of the match. These are Sakura Sports Park, Osato Administrative Centre, Menuma, Gyoda General Park.
There is no parking available at the venue. The only exception is for wheelchair ticket holders that have reserved a parking space beforehand (see accessible transport section). There will also be changes to how some roads operate and there are no drop-off or pick-up facilities near the stadium with the exception of taxis as shown on the map.
When planning your journey please keep in mind that roads in the area are expected to be busier than usual particularly during commuter periods. Please allow plenty of time to get to the park and ride car park.
Taxi
There is a taxi drop-off and pick-up area at the stadium as shown on the map.
Car
There is no parking available at the venue. The only exception is for wheelchair ticket holders that have reserved a parking space beforehand (see accessible transport section). There will also be changes to how some roads operate and there are no drop-off or pick-up facilities near the stadium with the exception of taxis as shown on the map. If you intend driving, please use park and ride (see park and ride section).
Accessible Transport
Reserved parking is available for those who possess a wheelchair ticket. Assistance is available from staff to get you between the car park and Kumagaya Rugby Stadium. If you require additional information on travel associated with wheelchair tickets please contact the ticket support centre.
Additional information is available separately for those with restricted mobility. It includes information on accessibility of local stations, location of toilets and other advice to assist you.
Getting to the Fanzone
The Fanzone at Saitama Community Space in central Kumagaya will be a great way to spend time before and after the match. Free shuttle buses will run between the Fanzone and the stadium on match day. Additional information on the shuttle buses is available here. Additional information about the Fanzone is available here. Please use the journey planners for information on access to Community Space Fanzone.
Additional travel information
The host city has additional information on getting to the stadium.