Olympic Stadium (Japan National Stadium): Main Venue for Tokyo Olympics
Things to do at Olympic Stadium (Japan National Stadium)
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The Olympic Stadium (オリンピックスタジアム), also known as the Japan National Stadium (国立競技場), is a stadium constructed for the Olympics Tokyo 2020. Just being completed in November 2019, this was the main venue for the Olympics including the opening and closing ceremony of both the Olympics and Paralympics.
In this article, I will show you a little about this stadium, including its history, how to get there, and interesting spots around the venue.
*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.
About Olympic Stadium
In 1958, The first National Stadium was built in this same spot to serve as the main venue for the 1958 Asian Games. This same stadium was also used as the main stadium for the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Ever since this, this place became a sacred place for Japanese sports and became known as the “Seichi”(聖地). Most important sporting events will take place here for Athletics and Football.
But when it was decided that the Summer Olympics would take place in Tokyo (originally in 2020, but postponed to 2021), it was determined that the stadium had to be rebuilt mainly for security reasons. The reconstruction was determined in 2012, reconstruction started in 2016, and was completed in November 2019.
The new Olympic Stadium had a capacity for 68,000 spectators during the Olympics.
Olympic events occurring at Olympic Stadium
The Olympic Stadium, being the main venue for these Olympic games, was where the opening and closing ceremony of both Olympics and Paralympics take place. Other than this, most of the athletics of both the Olympics and the Paralympics also took place here as well as the Women’s football gold medal match.
- Olympic Opening Ceremony
- Athletics (Track & Field)
- Football(Soccer) Women’s Gold Medal Match
- Olympic Closing Ceremony
- Paralympic Opening Ceremony
- Paralympic Athletics (Track & Field)
- Paralympic Closing Ceremony
How to get to Olympic Stadium
The Olympic Stadium is located in a very centric area of Tokyo, which means it is very accessible. the closest train station is Kokuritsu-kyogijo Station of the Toei Oedo Line which is only a 1-minute walk. But there are also other station such as Shinanomachi Station of the Sobu Line(5-minute walk) and Gaiemmae Station of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line(15-minute walk).
You could also take the “Hachiko bus” from Shibuya station to Sendagaya Station(Tokyo Taiikukan) which is just 1 minute away from the stadium.
Interesting spots near Olympic Stadium
-1st. Shinjuku gyoen: Shinjuku gyoen(新宿御苑) is a 58,3000 m² park located at a walking distance from the Olympic Stadium. It is a nice quiet place where you can escape from the constantly energetic city vibe. Immerse yourself in the relaxing park full of nature. This is also a popular place to see the Cherry blossoms in spring.
-2nd. Kagurazaka: Kagurazaka(神楽坂) is a long street located on a slope with many fancy restaurants. From traditional Japanese Ryotei restaurants to western restaurants such as French, Italian, and Spanish. there are also many cafes as well. You can go to Kagurazaka using the Sobu Line and getting off at Iidabashi station.
-3rd. Omotesando: Huge shopping district located near Harajuku. You will find pretty much any international top brand shop you can imagine in this area. Many people like to spend a whole day at Omotesando and Harajuku for shopping. There are many cool cafes in this area. You can get to Omotesando using the Ginza Line.
Hotels near Olympic Stadium
If you are planning in attending Tokyo Stadium and are looking for a place to stay near the venue, here are 2 options for you to consider.
The first hotel I recommend is the “Nippon Seinenkan Hotel Tokyo, Shinjuku”(日本青年館ホテル東京 新宿).
This hotel is located just a few minutes away from the Olympic Stadium and it is at walking distance from Gaiemmae Station(Tokyo Metro Ginza Line), Shinanomachi Station(Sobu Line), and Kokuritsu-kyogijo Station(Toei Oedo Line). If you’re looking for a place close to the venue, it doesn’t get any closer than this.
<<Book “Nippon Seinenkan Hotel Tokyo, Shinjuku” at the best price!!>>
This other hotel is also located near the Olympic Stadium. It is the “Hotel Allamanda Aoyama Tokyo”(ホテル アラマンダ青山) which is connected to Gaienmae Station(Tokyo Metro Ginza Line).
The hotel has high ratings on Agoda, having spacious rooms and a swimming pool to refresh during the hot summer.
Since the hotel is annexed to the train station, transportation will not be a problem.
<<Book “Hotel Allamanda Aoyama Tokyo” at the best price!!>>
Or, if you want to search for more options, check the link below!
<<Check for more hotels near Olympic Stadium!!>>
Information
 Access |
1-minute walk from Kokuritsu-kyogijo Station (Toei Oedo Line) |
|---|---|
 Official Website |
https://www.jpnsport.go.jp/corp/english/tabid/382/Default.aspx |
Do you want to know more about places to visit in Tokyo? Check out these other articles for more ideas!
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Written by
Born and raised in Costa Rica, I started living in Tokyo from college. I love traveling within Japan & around the world. Since I wasn’t born in Japan, I know the cultural impact that you can get when visiting Japan for the first time and what you might be worried about before your trip. And I’ve lived long enough to somewhat understand the nuances of the Japanese culture that make this country such an attractive place to visit. Hopefully I can provide to you both the information you’re looking for and the information you didn’t know you needed to know.
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