Kashima Stadium, Ibaraki Prefecture
Kashima Stadium (カシマサッカースタジアム) was a venue stadium for the World Cup 2002 Korea/Japan and is the home ground of J.League club Kashima Antlers. The stadium was also a venue for both the men and women's football events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It has a capacity for 40,003 spectators. Since July 1, 2025 the stadium is now known as 'Mercari Stadium' ((メルカリスタジアム)) for sponsorship reasons. Mercari is an online marketplace and the largest shareholder in the club.
History & Capacity
The 15,000 capacity Ibaraki Prefectural Kashima Soccer Stadium opened on the site of the present ground in 1992. At the time it was the the first soccer-only stadium in Japan with full-scale facilities. This stadium was renovated in time for the 2002 World Cup and opened in 2001. It now has a capacity of 40,003.
Legend Zico scored the first goal at the new stadium in a friendly versus Brazil's Fluminense in May, 1993. He followed that up with a hat-trick in the ground's first competitive J.League game versus Nagoya Grampus.
The stadium is rarely full - only travelling hordes of Urawa Reds fans push attendances towards capacity - yet it remains a hostile place to come and play, not least because the J. League's most successful club Kashima Antlers possess a relentlessly imposing home record.
World Cup 2002
During World Cup 2002 the stadium was the venue for 3 group games: Argentina v Nigeria in Group F, Germany v Ireland in Group E and Italy v Croatia in Group G.
Dimensions & Facilities
The stadium covers an area of 105 meters by 68 meters with a natural grass playing surface with no running track.
Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers is one of Japan's most successful professional football clubs. Founded in 1947 as the Sumitomo Metal Industries football club, it became one of the founding members of the J.League in 1993 and was renamed Kashima Antlers (a reference to the deer at nearby Kashima Shrine). The team quickly rose to prominence, becoming known for its consistent success, including winning a record eight J.League titles plus numerous domestic and overseas trophies. Besides eight J1 League titles (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016) and counting, Antlers have won the J.League Cup a record 6 times, the Emperor's Cup 5 times and the Japanese Super Cup a record 6 times.
In 2016 they reached the final of the Club World Cup losing out to Real Madrid in the final and also clinched the J.League title that year. In 2018 Kashima won the AFC Champions League.
Along with Yokohama F. Marinos, Antlers have never been relegated from J1 since its inception in 1993.
The Antlers are also notable for their strong football culture and development of top talent. Famous players who have worn the club's jersey include Brazilian legend Zico, who also served as coach, and Japanese internationals such as Atsuto Uchida, Mitsuo Ogasawara, and more recently, Hiroki Abe.
Access - Getting There
Train & Bus
Kashima Stadium is one of the more remote venues in Japanese football. Sandwiched between Lake Kitaura on one side and the sea on the other, many fans make the long-haul trip to Kashima Stadium by train, as it trundles through the urban sprawl of Greater Tokyo and out into the open fields of Ibaraki. Journey time by train from Tokyo is about 2 hours, 30 minutes.
From the Yaesu Exit of Tokyo Station there are also quicker buses from Bay 1 to Kashima Jingu Station continuing on to Kashima Soccer Stadium Station. From Kashima Jingu Station there are local buses to the stadium on match days. Direct buses also return to Tokyo Station after matches.
26-2 Ushiroyama, Jinkoji, Kashima City, Ibaraki 314-0007
Tel: 0299 84 6622
Nearby Hotels
Ibaraki Prefecture has a range of hotel and guesthouse options ranging from luxury 5-star properties to more affordable business hotels.
If you do wish to stay close to the stadium it is better to stay either near Kashima Jingu Station or Itako Station. Try the 2-star Hotel Shin-Makomo in Itako, or alternatively, the pleasant, three-star Hotel Route-Inn Kashima.
Nearby Sights
Kashima Jingu
Kashima Jingu is a historic Shinto shrine located and one of the oldest shrines in the country, founded in 660 BCE. It is dedicated to Takemikazuchi-no-Ōkami, the god of martial valor, and has long been associated with the samurai class. The shrine is renowned for its serene forested grounds, sacred deer, and ancient artifacts, including a legendary straight sword known as the "Futsu-no-Mitama no Tsurugi."
Itako
Itako is a pleasant riverside town known for its bridges, canals and annual iris festival.
J.League Stadiums
Tosu Stadium (Ekimae Real Estate Stadium)
Toyota Stadium Aichi Prefecture
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