RWC 2019

Wed 07 August, 2019

· 7 min read

Getting to Kumamoto Stadium

The stadium is located in Higashi-ku, Kumamoto City, about 10km northeast of the city centre. Kumamoto City is about 890km from Tokyo and 490km from Osaka.

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 Kumamoto (Kumamoto 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 suggest 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. You can also arrive into Kumamoto Airport from where shuttle buses will run on the day of the match. For detailed information on stadium access and to reserve a shuttle bus, please check out Kumamoto Rugby Info page here. 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 reservation only and spaces are limited so book your place well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Transport expected to be busy: If possible, travel to and from Kumamoto City on the days before or after the match and stay local if you can. 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 by train: Shuttle buses will run between the stadium and Kumamoto Station and Hikarinomori Station before and after the match. For detailed information on stadium access and to reserve a shuttle bus, please check out Kumamoto Rugby Info page here
Arrive early: Arrive into Kumamoto 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.
Stay longer and enjoy the local area: Rather than travel away from the host city after the match, spend some time at the stadium (gates close 90 minutes after the final whistle) or enjoying the local area before heading to your next destination. Staying on will also help you avoid the anticipated crowds at transport hubs.
Pre-paid travel cards are best: Prepaid travel cards or IC Cards are a convenient way to pay for public transport, but are not valid in Kumamoto on spectator shuttle buses or liner buses. They are an ideal way to pay for local train services. 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: Please note that all Kumamoto shuttle buses and park and ride services require advanced bookings and tickets will not be sold on the day.
Head to the Fanzone: The Fanzone at Hanabata Square and Symbol Promenade will be a great way to spend time before and after the match. Shuttle buses will run between the Fanzone and the stadium. Additional information on shuttle buses will be available closer to the tournament. Please check our Fanzone page for additional information. For detailed information on stadium access and to reserve a shuttle bus from the Fanzone, please check out Kumamoto Rugby Info page 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 the match venue page for more information on prohibited items.
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 match days 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. Click below for additional information on your preferred travel choice.

Which travel option is best?

Find out more about each travel option here.

	Air
	Train
	Bus
	Walk
	Cycle
	Park and Ride
	Taxi
	Car
	Accessible transport
	Getting to the Fanzone
	Additional travel information

Air

The nearest airport to the stadium is Aso Kumamoto Airport. The airport is about one hour and 40 minutes from Haneda Airport (Tokyo) by plane and about one hour and 10 minutes from Itami Airport (Osaka).

Spectator shuttle buses will run before and after the match between the airport and the stadium on match day. It costs 500 Yen one way and the journey takes about 15 minutes.

Train

The nearest stations to the stadium are: Hikarinomori Station and Kumamoto Station.

Hikarinomori Station is the nearest station to the stadium. Spectator shuttle buses will run between the station and the stadium. The shuttle bus stop is about a 10-minute walk from the station and takes about 15 minutes to get to the stadium.

Kumamoto Station is further from the stadium. It is about three hours from Osaka on the Shinkansen. Spectator shuttle buses will run between the station, the Fanzone and the stadium. The journey takes about 45 minutes and costs 2,000 Yen for a round trip but needs to be booked in advance.

Shuttle bus services are reservation only and spaces are limited so book your place well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Bus

There are a number of spectator shuttle buses running to the stadium:

-from Aso Kumamoto Airport (reservation only, roughly a 15-minute journey and 500 Yen round-trip)

-from Hikarinomori Station (a free, 16-min journey, no reservation required)

-from Kumamoto Station (reservation-only, 45-min journey and 1000 Yen for single, 2000 Yen for return trip)

-from Hanabata Square and Symbol Promenade Fanzone (reservation-only, 40-min journey, 1000 Yen for single, 2000 Yen for return trip)

-from the park and ride car parks at Grand Mese Kumamoto, Toshima Community Park Side and Tokyo Electron Kyushu (and possibly the Livestock Market if the others become busy)

Please note that park and ride services are reservation only. The parking fee is 500 Yen and a free shuttle bus will take you to the stadium.

For detailed information on all the above services and to reserve a shuttle bus, please check out Kumamoto Rugby Info here.

The location of the spectator shuttle drop-off and pick-up points at the stadium is shown on the map.

Shuttle bus services are reservation only and spaces are limited so book your place well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Private charter buses: There are no private bus pick-up/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. Please note that spaces are limited.

Park and ride

If you intend travelling by car, please use park and ride. Spaces are limited and must be reserved in advance so book park and ride as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

There are four park and ride car parks which will have temporary direct shuttle bus services to the stadium on the day of the match. These are at Grand Mese Kumamoto, Toshima Community Park Side and Tokyo Electron Kyushu (and possibly the Livestock Market if the others become busy).

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 regular commuting hours. Please allow plenty of time to get to the park and ride car park.

Taxi

A taxi drop-off and pick-up area will be located at the stadium. The location will be confirmed closer to the tournament.

Car

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 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 Hanabata Square and Symbol Promenade will be a great way to spend time before and after the match. Shuttle buses will run between the Fanzone and the stadium. Please use the journey planners for information on access to Hanabata Square & Symbol Promenade Fanzone. Please check our Fanzone page for additional information.

Additional travel information

Additional information on getting to the stadium is available here.