Japanese

Urawa Reds' second home, Saitama Stadium 2002, was built for the FIFA World Cup 2002 Korea/Japan.   It hosted four matches, including the semi-final between Brazil and Turkey.  With a capacity of 63,700, it is Japan's biggest specialised football ground.
Saitama Prefecture built the stadium at a cost of 35.6 billion yen as a focus for new development about 8 kilometres east from the city centre.  This still rural area is expected to develop as a delightful 21st century urban community during the next two decades.
The prefecture chose to be a part of the World Cup bid in the early nineties and the decision to build a stadium where 60,000 supporters could watch in complete comfort and safety was approved in 1994.
This district used to be a huge marsh prior to massive reclamation work in the 18th century.  The ground remains soft, and the great roofs on the eastern and western flanks had to be especially light.  They represent a brace of dancing shirasagi herons, birds still common in the ponds and rice paddies of the region. 
The stadium's greatest pride is a seating design that gives every one of the 63,700 seats a clear and enjoyable view of the game.  This is a world class stadium where everybody, in effect, sits in the Royal Box.
After the stadium was completed in July, 2001, 60,553 spectators attended the inaugural match between Urawa Reds and Yokohama F-Marinos on October 13 of that year, a J. League record that still stands.
　　　For all Japanese fans, the unforgettable memories are from Japan's opening game against Belgium at the 2002 World Cup, when goals by Takayuki Suzuki and Junichi Inamoto earned a 2-2 draw and Japan's first ever World Cup point.
Saitama Stadium was officially registered alongside Komaba as Reds’ home stadium in August, 2004.  The Urawa Reds office was moved to a location inside the stadium in March, 2005, to serve from there as the club’s main base.
　 Saitama Stadium is a new home ground for both Urawa Reds and the Japan national team.   On December 2, 2006, Reds won their first ever J. League championship in 14 years of trying in front of 62,241 spectators at this ground.  We can be sure that many more dreams will be made here.

Saitama Stadium 2002 Map
Saitama Stadium 2002  
20 min. walk from Urawa Misono Station


●From Tokyo Station
(About 55 mins. to Urawa Misono Station)
Take the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line from Tokyo to Oji and change there for the through train on the Tokyo Metro Nanboku and Saitama Kosoku Tetsudo Lines to Urawa Misono. Walk, bus or taxi from there to the stadium.

●From Ueno Station
(About 45 mins. to Urawa Misono Station)
Take the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line from Ueno to Oji and change there for the through train on the Tokyo Metro Nanboku and Saitama Kosoku Tetsudo Lines to Urawa Misono. Walk, bus or taxi from there to the stadium.

●From Shinjuku Station
(About 50 mins. to Urawa Misono Station)
Take the JR Yamanote Line from Shinjuku to Komagome and change there for the through train on the Tokyo Metro Nanboku and Saitama Kosoku Tetsudo Lines to Urawa Misono. Walk, bus or taxi from there to the stadium.

●From Haneda Airport
(About 80 mins. to Urawa Misono Station)
Take the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho and change there for the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to Oji. From Oji, take the through train on the Tokyo Metro Nanboku and Saitama Kosoku Tetsudo Lines to Urawa Misono. Walk, bus or taxi from there to the stadium.

●From Narita Airport
(About 120 mins. to Urawa Misono Station)
Take an express train on the Keisei Line from Narita Airport to Nishi-Nippori, changing there for the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to Oji. From Oji, take the through train on the Tokyo Metro Nanboku and Saitama Kosoku Tetsudo Lines to Urawa Misono. Walk, bus or taxi from there to the stadium.

The stadium is a 20-minute walk from Urawa Misono Station. Please aim to arrive at Urawa Misono Station at least 1 hour before kick-off because the route does get very crowded on match days. A shuttle bus (\100) runs from the station to the stadium (but not the other way) from 3 hours before kick-off.