Ajinomoto Stadium
Tokyo's multi-purpose stadium, home to FC Tokyo and Tokyo Verdy, and a key venue for rugby and football.
Ajinomoto Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan. It was founded at Kantō Mura, the redevelopment area formerly used by United States Forces Japan, in March 2001. It was the first stadium in Japan that sold its naming rights, which went to Ajinomoto Co., Inc. on a five-year, 1.2 billion yen contract from March 2003 to February 2008. The contract has been renewed four times, the last one extended for five years from March 2024 to the end of February 2029, for 1.05 billion yen.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
- Opened
- 2002 (FIFA World Cup venue)
- Named after
- Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (the umami/MSG food company)
- J-league tenant
- FC Tokyo
- National team use
- Regular host for Japan A-match friendlies and qualifiers
Lore & Background
The stadium is the home of J1 League football clubs FC Tokyo and Tokyo Verdy. It was used as a training ground for Saudi Arabia's national team during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, though it did not host a World Cup match. It served as a shelter for survivors of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The stadium was the rugby venue for the 2020 Summer Olympics, where it was known as Tokyo Stadium due to the IOC's non-commercialization policy. It was also a venue for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, hosting the opening ceremony, the opening match, and seven other matches including the Bronze Final.
Reader's Guide
The north end of the stadium adjoins Chofu Airport, while Route 20 runs close to the south end. The main gate at the south end is directly connected by a pedestrian bridge over Route 20. Access: 5 minutes' walk from Keiō Line, 20 minutes' walk from Seibu Tamagawa Line. The stand accommodates 49,970 and is divided into two levels (upper 20,600, lower 29,370, all-seated). The ground was originally designed for athletics and football; an athletics track was installed in 2013 for the National Sports Festival of Japan. Artificial turf is laid over the track for football matches. The pitch is sunk below the level of the surrounding land to comply with height limitations near the airport.
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