Japan Stadiums: Nagaragawa Stadium, Gifu, Gifu Prefecture
Nagaragawa Stadium (岐阜メモリアルセンター長良川競技場) is located in the northern part of the prefectural city of Gifu in central Japan. It is the home ground of FC Gifu, a J.League club now in J3 after a spell in J2.
The stadium is one of several stadiums in the J.League with a running track and is not soccer-specific.
History & Capacity
The 26,109 capacity, multi-purpose stadium opened in 1991.
FC Gifu
Gifu were present in J2 from 2008 until 2019 but have suffered from financial problems throughout their existence. They were founded in 2001.
The football club were managed between 2014 and 2016 by J.League and Verdy legend Ruy Ramos. Ramos was also the former coach of the Japan Beach Soccer National Team.
The club signed a number of veterans from Ramos' playing days including goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, who once played for Portsmouth in England and wing back Alessandro Santos who was part of Japan's World Cup 2002 squad.
Sports facilities at Nagaragawa Stadium include an athletics track, a baseball field (used occasionally by the Chunichi Dragons pro-baseball team), tennis courts, a swimming pool, a martial arts building and indoor stadia for volleyball, gymnastics, table tennis, basketball etc.
Access - Getting There
The pleasant ground is reached by bus from either JR Gifu Station or JR Meitetsu Station.
By train, Gifu is connected by regular JR and Meitetsu trains from both JR Nagoya Station and the adjacent Nagoya Meitetsu Station. The journey from Nagoya Station takes between 20 and 35 minutes depending on the type of train.
Gifu's attractions include its lovely castle perched on the top of Mount Kinka with incredible views as well as traditional cormorant fishing - known as ukai - from boats on the river. Other places of interest are Sofukuji Temple, the modern Nagara River Ukai Museum and the Japan-China Friendship Garden.
For wining and dining head for the street directly north of Gifu Station and the golden statue of Oda Nobunaga.
Address: Nagarahara, Fukumitsu, Ono 2675-28, Gifu City, Gifu 502-0817
Nearby Hotels
The city of Gifu offers a range of hotel and guesthouse options to suit all budgets.
Some recommendations include the Miyako Hotel Gifu Nagaragawa, a 4-star property with three restaurants.
The Daiwa Roynet Gifu is a 3-star business hotel, just a short walk from JR Gifu Station.
More J.League Stadiums
Tosu Stadium (Ekimae Real Estate Stadium)
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu
Sanga Stadium by Kyocera Kyoto
Toyota Stadium Aichi Prefecture
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