World Cup 2019 Venues

What you need to know about the 12 stadiums hosting matches at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan

Rugby World Cup Venues

The 2019 Rugby World Cup runs from Friday 20 September to Saturday 2 November, with games played across Japan. This page has all you need to know about the 12 venues for the tournament.

This will be the first Rugby World Cup played in Asia and there will be matches played at 12 stadiums across Japan as you can see from the map below. Here’s the lowdown on those Rugby World Cup venues…

Rugby World Cup Venues

Rugby world Cup 2019 venues – Google My Maps

A map of all the Rugby World Cup venues for Japan 2019 – 20 September to 2 November.

1) FUKUOKA – Hakatanomori Stadium

Capacity 22,563

Finished 1995

Uses Football (Avispa Fukuoka) and rugby

Did you know? The ground hosted four games during the 2009 Junior World Championship

Matches – 

2) KOBE – Kobe City Misaki Park

Capacity 30,132

Finished 2001

Uses Football (Visel Kobe) and rugby (Kobe Steel Steelers)

Did you know? Renovated for the 2002 Football World Cup, the stadium has a retractable roof

Matches – 

Rugby World Cup Venues

Raise the roof: this stadium is a home venue for the Kobe Steel Steelers rugby team (Getty Images)

3) KUMAGAYA – Kumagaya Rugby Ground

Capacity 24,000

Finished 1991

Uses Rugby

Did you know? This stadium is being rebuilt to meet World Rugby standards and will also host the sevens at the 2020 Olympics.

Matches – 

4) KAMAISHI – Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium

Capacity 16,187

Finished 2018

Did you know? Kamaishi was left devastated by the 2011 tsunami and this stadium was built in memory of those who died.

Matches – 

5) KUMAMOTO – Kumamoto Stadium

Capacity 32,000

Finished 1998

Uses Football (Roasso Kumamoto), rugby and athletics

Did you know? This ground was Belgium’s training base during the 2002 Football World Cup.

Matches – 

6) OITA – Oita Stadium

Capacity 40,000

Finished 2001

Uses Football (Oita Trinita) and athletics

Did you know? The stadium was designed by leading Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa.

Matches – 

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7) OSAKA – Higashiosaka City Hanazono Rugby Stadium

Capacity 30,000

Finished 1929

Uses Rugby (Kintetsu Liners)

Did you know? This ground is the oldest dedicated rugby stadium in Japan.

Matches –

8) SAPPORO – Sapporo Dome

Capacity 41,410

Finished 2001

Uses Baseball (Hokkaido Fighters) and football (Consadole Sapporo)

Did you know? The stadium has a sliding pitch – artificial turf for baseball and grass for football.

Matches – 

Rugby World Cup Venues

Impressive: The Sapporo Dome is very modern (Getty Images)

9) SHIZUOKA – Ogasayama Sports Park

Capacity 50,889

Finished 2001

Uses Football (Jubilo Iwata) and athletics

Did you know? Sixteen works of art line the route from nearby Aino Station to the stadium.

Matches – 

10) TOKYO – Tokyo Stadium

Capacity 49,970

Finished 2000

Uses Football (FC Tokyo and Tokyo Verdy), athletics and rugby

Did you know? It was used as shelter for survivors of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

Matches – 

Rugby World Cup Venues

Blue sky thinking: The World Cup kicks off with Japan playing in Tokyo (Getty Images)

11) TOYOTA CITY – Toyota Stadium

Capacity 45,000

Finished 2001

Uses Football (Nagoya Grampus) and rugby (Toyota Verblitz)

Did you know? The retractable roof folds like an accordion and takes about 50 minutes to open.

Matches – 

12) YOKOHAMA – International Stadium

Capacity 72,327

Finished 1997

Uses Football (Yokohama F Marinos) and athletics

Did you know? This is the largest-capacity stadium in Japan and it hosted the 2002 World Cup final.

Matches – 

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