Rugby World Cup 2019 Venues In Northern Japan - Food And Travel Tips

Rugby World Cup 2019 Venues in Tohoku and Hokkaido

The Rugby World Cup 2019 is an international sporting event hosted in various parts of Japan from September 20 to November 2. Two of the rugby stadiums are located in northern Japan, namely in Iwate and Hokkaido.

Find out more about these stadiums, how to get there from Tokyo, places to visit nearby, and dining facilities.

Venues in Northern Japan

1. Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Iwate
2. Sapporo Dome, Hokkaido

1. Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Iwate

The Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium is the newest stadium in the Rugby World Cup venue line-up. Located in the city of Kamaishi, Iwate, it was built especially for the Rugby World Cup and completed on August 19, 2018.

The open arena is surrounded by a park, offering lush greenery and a relaxing view of the blue sky.

Kamaishi Stadium is on the smaller side, with about 10,000 temporary seats available for the Rugby World Cup 2019, of which 6,000 permanent seats will be remaining afterward.

Kamaishi historically hosted one of Japan's most successful rugby union clubs. Their Nippon Steel Kamaishi won several national titles between the 1970s and 1980s.

Access to Kamaishi from Tokyo

From Tokyo Station, you can travel to the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in five and a half hours. Take the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen to Morioka Station where you should change toa train on the Tohoku Line towards Hamayuri. Take a rapid train to save time.

After another two hours, change in Kamaishi to the local Sanriku Tetsudo-Riasu Line towards Miyako. The train station closest to Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium is Unosumai Station.

Otherwise, Kamaishi City is also accessible by plane. Use the Iwate Hanamaki Airport. From here, you go by bus to Hanamaki Airport, where you should take a train on the JR Line toward Kamaishi.

Address: Iwate, Kamaishi, Unosumaicho 18-5-1 Google Map
Official website: https://kamaishi-stadium.jp/english/

Kamaishi - Popular Places to Visit

The ruins of the Hashino Iron Mine

Kamaishi is an important fishing and industrial city. It was the first city producing iron in Japan's Edo period (1603-1868). To learn more about this history you can visit the Kamaishi Iron and Steel History Museum or the ruins of the Hashino Iron Mine which have been declared a World Heritage site of Japan's industrial revolution.

Iron and Steel History Museum
Address: Iwate, Kamaishi, Odairacho 3-12-7
Google Map

Hashino Iron Mine
Address: Iwate, Kamaishi, Hashinocho 2-6
Google Map
Website: https://visitiwate.com/article/4782

The Kamaishi Daikannon is another popular place to visit. The forty-eight-meter statue of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, watches over the fishermen as they go out to sea. You can actually enter the statue and have a look over the beautiful coast from a platform located on top of the statue.

Kamaishi Daikannon Temple
Address: Iwate, Kamaishi, Odairacho 3-9-1
Google Map

Everyone should go to the beach when visiting Kamaishi. The Nebama Beach is an especially popular spot located not far from the Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium.

Nebama Beach
Address: Iwate, Kamaishi, Unosumaicho 21 Google Map

For more information on travel in Iwate, please refer to the article below.

Dining in Kamaishi

Kamaishi offers a variety of delicious local dishes. Being a city famous for its fishing industry, fresh seafood is a must try!

1. Shouryumaru - Local Seafood Izakaya

Shouryumaru is one of the highest rated seafood izakayas in the area. Enjoy small tasty local dishes alongside a refreshing beverage.

Shouryumaru
Address: Iwate, Kamihei District, Otsuchi, Omachi 65 Google Map

2. Kiraku Ramen

Kamaishi Ramen is a local specialty. It is made with a rich salt broth. The extra thin-noodles were invented to make it possible to serve the ramen as fast as possible to freezing fishermen.

Kiraku Ramen is one of the ramen restaurants in the closest proximity to the stadium. Do taste the local ramen here!

Kiraku Ramen
Address: Iwate, Kamaishi, Unosumaichi 8 Google Map

3. Sea Side Town MAST

Sea Side Town MAST is a shopping facility that also houses a food court. Choose from a variety of delicious Japanese foods or get a bento (boxed lunch) in the supermarket located in the same building. One of their most popular items at the food court is the curry rice.

Sea Side Town MAST
Address: Iwate, Kamihei District, Otsuchi, Kozuchi 27-3-4 Google Map
Website: http://www.st-mast.co.jp/ (Japanese only)

2. Sapporo Dome, Hokkaido

Picture courtesy of pixta

The Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido is one of Japan's most famous stadiums. It opened in 2001 and is especially known for its retractable grass surface which makes it possible to hold soccer games on grass as well as baseball games on an underlying artificial turf field.

Sapporo Dome can accommodate up to 53,796 people and is conveniently reachable by public transportation from nearly anywhere in Sapporo.

Access to Sapporo from Tokyo

Picture from Ways To Travel From Tokyo To Hokkaido! A Thorough Comparison

The fastest and often also the cheapest way to reach Sapporo is by taking an airplane from Haneda Airport. The ride will take about three hours.

From Sapporo Airport take the limousine bus to Sapporo Dome Station. The bus ride will take forty-five minutes.

Sapporo can also be reached by taking the Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen. Change to the Super Hokuto Express at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station to get to Sapporo Station.

From Sapporo Station take the Toho Subway Line to Fukuzumi Subway Station. It is a ten-minute walk to the Sapporo Dome from there. The whole travel time will be between eight and nine hours.

Sapporo Dome
Address: Hokkaido, Sapporo, Toyohira, Hitsujigaoka 1 Google Map
Official Website: https://www.sapporo-dome.co.jp/foreign/index-en.html

Famous Places to Visit in Sapporo

Picture from Sapporo Travel Guide – Sightseeing, What To Wear, Local Food, And More!

Sapporo is known for having one of Japan’s Three Major Night Views. Mt. Moiwa is one of the most popular spots to enjoy the great view of the city. The Mt. Moiwa Ropeway directly leads up the mountain.

Mt. Moiwa Ropeway
Address: Sapporo, Chuo, Fushimi 5-3-7 (Ropeway Mt. Moiwa Sanroku Station) Google Map
Official Website: http://moiwa.sapporo-dc.co.jp/index.html (Japanese)

Picture from Sapporo Travel Guide – Sightseeing, What To Wear, Local Food, And More!

Susukino is Sapporo's famous night district. It is lined with restaurants, amusement facilities, and hotels. How about enjoying some nightlife after an exciting rugby game?

Susukino
Address: Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Minami 4 Jonishi 4 (Susukino Station) Google Map

Picture from Hokkaido 2018 - 10 Best Spots To View The Autumn Leaves

Hokkaido is famous for its amazing natural hot springs. Jozankei Onsen is located in the outskirts of Sapporo. Stay at a relaxing Japanese hot spring hotel for the night instead of a regular hotel.

Jozankei Onsen is easy to reach from Sapporo's center as there is a direct bus operating from Sapporo Station. It is 770 yen one-way (390 yen for children).

Jozankei Onsen
Address: Sapporo, Minami, Jozankei Onsen Google Map
Official Website: http://jozankei.jp/en/

Dining in Sapporo

Hokkaido offers an abundance of delicious fresh seafood and its own unique ramen.

1. Nijo Market

Picture from Sapporo's Nijo Fish Market - Enjoy The Freshest Seafood In Japan!

Nijo Market is the most famous fish market in Japan. Here you can eat the most delicious fresh sushi and sushi bowls for a fair price. It is open from morning until 18:00. This makes it a great breakfast and lunch option.

Nijo Market
Address: Hokkaido, Sapporo, Chuo Ward, Johigashi 1-3 Google Map

2. Sapporo Ramen

Picture from 30 Must-Try Sapporo Ramen Restaurants Recommended By An Expert

If you go to Sapporo, make sure to eat some local ramen. Every city in Japan offers ramen distinctive to the area and Sapporo is especially famous for their miso ramen.

3. Izakaya Sankai

Sankai is a renown izakaya close to Sapporo Dome. They have a variety of budget-friendly local dishes from seafood over beef to pizza to sweets made with Hokkaido's tasty milk and butter. Enjoy them alongside refreshing alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.

Izakaya Sankai
Address: Hokkaido, Sapporo, Toyohira, Tsukisamu Higashi 19-13-1 Google Map
Official Website: http://www.i-sankai.jp/

Enjoy the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Northern Japan

The Rugby World Cup 2019 is highly awaited and those traveling to Iwate and Hokkaido to watch the matches will surely enjoy their trip to northern Japan. Remember to taste the local specialties!

Rugby World Cup 2019 Official Website: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/venues