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SPORTS GEMS💎
Gifts & Goods Guide by JAPAN.GG
The 1964 Tokyo Games were Asia's first Summer Olympics — vintage pins are popular collectibles today.
OLYMPICS1964 TOKYO OLYMPICS
→ GET ITEM 🔥(eBay)
Shohei Ohtani's children's book about his real-life dog Decoy's first pitch on Opening Day.
OHTANI'S BOOKDECOY SAVES OPENING DAY
In 2024, Shohei Ohtani became MLB's first-ever 50/50 player — 54 HR, 59 SB in one season.
LA DODGERSOHTANI #17
→ GET ITEM 🔥(MLB Shop)
Japan's "Samurai Blue" kit dates to the 1930s — the nickname went official in 2009.
JAPAN JERSEY SOUVENIRFOOTBALL KIT
→ GET ITEM 🔥(Fanatics)
Guide ToJ-LEAGUE
Guide ToKOSHIEN
Guide ToSUMO
Guide ToSKI & SNOW
Guide ToMOTORSPORT
Guide ToMARTIAL ARTS
☄️ GRAND SLAM GETAWAY! 🛫
EST.
1684
EDO PRO SUMO
HONBASHO
6
PER YEAR
DURATION
15
DAYS EACH
TOKYO · RYŌGOKU KOKUGIKAN
Opened 1985. Capacity 11,098. Hosts three honbasho a year (January, May, September). Sumo Museum inside.
🏮 HATSU BASHO
JANUARY · NEW YEAR
Opened 1985. Capacity 11,098. Hosts three honbasho a year (January, May, September). Sumo Museum inside.
🌿 NATSU BASHO
MAY · SUMMER
Opened 1985. Capacity 11,098. Hosts three honbasho a year (January, May, September). Sumo Museum inside.
🍁 AKI BASHO
SEPTEMBER · AUTUMN
REGIONAL TOUR
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium (Edion naming rights since 2015). Hosts Haru Basho every March. Near Namba Station.
⛩️ HARU BASHO
MARCH · EDION ARENA OSAKA
Nagoya Basho moved here July 2025 — replacing the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium after 60 years. Sumo seating is capped around 7,800, well under the arena's 17,000 max.
🏆 NAGOYA BASHO
JULY · IG ARENA (NEW 2025)
Hakata-ku waterfront. Hosts the Kyūshū Basho every November — the final honbasho of the calendar year.
🌊 KYŪSHŪ BASHO
NOVEMBER · FUKUOKA KOKUSAI
EST.
1882
KODOKAN JUDO
OLYMPIC JUDO
1964
TOKYO GAMES DEBUT
BUDOKAN
14,471
SEATS, CHIYODA
HOMBU DOJOS
Founded 1882 by Jigoro Kano with just 9 disciples on 12 tatami mats — now an 8-story complex in Bunkyō and judo's spiritual home worldwide.
🥋 KODOKAN JUDO
WORLD HQ SINCE 1882
Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba built this dojo in Wakamatsu-chō in 1931; his descendants still lead classes here as Doshu today.
🌊 AIKIKAI HOMBU DOJO
AIKIDO HQ SINCE 1931
Formed in 1949 by students of Okinawan-born Gichin Funakoshi, the JKA became one of the first karate bodies to send instructors abroad, spreading Shotokan worldwide.
🥊 JKA HONBU DOJO
SHOTOKAN KARATE HQ
ARENAS & TRAINING GROUNDS
Built for judo's 1964 Olympic debut, its octagonal shape echoes Nara's ancient Yumedono hall. Hosted karate's own Olympic debut in 2021.
🏟️ NIPPON BUDOKAN
1964 OLYMPIC JUDO VENUE
This 1899 wooden hall was headquarters of the Dai Nippon Butokukai, which helped standardize modern judo, kendo and karate — now a National Important Cultural Property.
⚔️ KYOTO BUDOKAN
EST. 1899 · NATIONAL TREASURE
The shrine's own budo hall teaches kyudo, judo, kendo and aikido side by side — its adjoining archery ground is among the most beautiful in Japan.
🎯 MEIJI JINGU SHISEIKAN
KYUDO, JUDO, KENDO & MORE
In 1966, martial arts purists were outraged when the Fab Four played five sold-out shows at judo's Olympic shrine — the first rock concert ever held there.
⭐ BONUS
THE BEATLES AT THE BUDOKAN
FOUNDED
1872
NPB TEAMS
12
WBC
TOKYO DOME
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Built 1924. Japan's most sacred ballpark — home of the Tigers and the National High School Baseball Championships every August.
⚾ HANSHIN KOSHIEN
HANSHIN TIGERS
Japan's first dome (1988). Home of the Yomiuri Giants — 22 Japan Series titles — and hosted WBC 2026 Pool C.
🏟️ TOKYO DOME
YOMIURI GIANTS
Opened 2009, replacing the beloved ballpark across from the A-Bomb Dome. Its retro-classic design and solar-panel roof made it an instant fan favorite.
🌸 MAZDA ZOOM-ZOOM
HIROSHIMA CARP
Opened 1997 as Nagoya Dome — a geodesic-dome design. Celine Dion once played a full concert here in 1999.
🐉 VANTELIN DOME
CHUNICHI DRAGONS
Opened 1978 in the heart of Yokohama Park. Hosted the baseball and softball finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
🌊 YOKOHAMA STADIUM
DeNA BAYSTARS
Opened 1926 — Japan's second-oldest ballpark after Koshien. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig played here during their 1934 barnstorming tour.
⭐ MEIJI JINGU STADIUM
YAKULT SWALLOWS
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Opened 2023, Kitahiroshima — Japan's most modern ballpark, retractable roof, natural grass. Home of the Nippon-Ham Fighters.
❄️ ES CON FIELD
NIPPON-HAM FIGHTERS
Opened 1993 as Fukuoka Dome — Japan's first stadium with a retractable roof, a title it held alone until ES CON Field opened in 2023.
🦅 MIZUHO PAYPAY DOME
SOFTBANK HAWKS
Opened 1979 as an open-air park; a roof was added in 1999 — but with no outer walls, home runs can still sail clear out of the stadium.
🦁 BELLUNA DOME
SEIBU LIONS
Opened 1990 on Tokyo Bay — infamous for swirling sea winds that mess with fly balls. Site of Roki Sasaki's 19-strikeout perfect game in 2022.
🌊 ZOZO MARINE STADIUM
LOTTE MARINES
Built 1950, rebuilt for the expansion Eagles in 2005. Became a rallying symbol for Tohoku after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
🦅 RAKUTEN MOBILE PARK
TOHOKU RAKUTEN EAGLES
Opened 1997 as Osaka Dome — its UFO-like silhouette makes it one of Osaka's most recognizable landmarks. Also hosts Hanshin Tigers games each August.
🐂 KYOCERA DOME OSAKA
ORIX BUFFALOES
After the 2011 tsunami, local youth teams kept playing. The Miracle Pine — last of 70,000 — became the city's enduring symbol.
🐦🔥 RIKUZENTAKATA
📍 MAP (IWATE)
Iwate, Tōhoku. Hanamaki Higashi High School consistently sends players to NPB and MLB — small city, outsized legacy.
🏙️ ŌSHŪ & HANAMAKI HIGASHI
Witness historic baseball moments at the iconic Dodger Stadium!
⭐ BONUS
UNIQLO FIELD AT DODGER STADIUM
📍 MAP (LOS ANGELES)
FOUNDED
1993
J.LEAGUE
J1 TEAMS
20
CLUBS
WC
2026
NORTH AMERICA
KANTO EAST
Japan's most fervent fanbase packs 63,700-seat Saitama Stadium. Asia's most decorated club, with three AFC Champions League titles (2007, 2017, 2022).
🔴 URAWA REDS
SAITAMA · SAITAMA STADIUM 2002
Founded 1947 as Sumitomo Metal Industries. The J.League's most successful club with 8 titles, and the only one never relegated since 1993.
🔴 KASHIMA ANTLERS
IBARAKI · KASHIMA SOCCER STADIUM
Descended from Nissan FC (1972). Sister club to Manchester City under City Football Group since 2014, with 5 J1 titles.
🔵 YOKOHAMA F. MARINOS
YOKOHAMA · NISSAN STADIUM
Founded 1935 as Tokyo Gas SC. Shares Ajinomoto Stadium with cross-town rivals Tokyo Verdy in Japan's biggest Tokyo derby.
🔴 FC TOKYO
TOKYO · AJINOMOTO STADIUM
The dominant force of Japanese football's 2020s, winning four J1 titles (2017, '18, '20, '21) with a relentless passing style.
🔵 KAWASAKI FRONTALE
KAWASAKI · TODOROKI STADIUM
KANTO NORTH
Made history in 2011 as the first club ever to win J1 the season immediately after being promoted from J2.
🟡 KASHIWA REYSOL
KASHIWA · SANKYO FRONTIER KASHIWA STADIUM
As Verdy Kawasaki, built a 1990s dynasty around Kazuyoshi Miura and won the J.League's first two titles before relocating to Tokyo in 2001.
🟢 TOKYO VERDY
CHOFU · AJINOMOTO STADIUM
Climbed from Tokyo's amateur leagues to the top flight, winning J2 in 2023 for a first-ever promotion, then reaching the ACL Elite final four.
🔵 FC MACHIDA ZELVIA
MACHIDA · MACHIDA GION STADIUM
Founded 1946 as Furukawa Electric — the first Japanese club to win the Asian Club Championship, in 1986-87.
🟡 JEF UNITED CHIBA
CHIBA · FUKUDA DENSHI ARENA
Promoted to J1 for the first time in their 26-year history after winning J2 in 2025 — with a squad of zero foreign players.
🔵 MITO HOLLYHOCK
MITO · K'S DENKI STADIUM
KANSAI & CHUGOKU
Won a maiden J1 title in 2005, then became the first Japanese club to win the AFC Champions League in 2008.
🟠 GAMBA OSAKA
SUITA · PANASONIC STADIUM SUITA
Named for the Spanish word for cherry blossom. A renowned youth academy has produced stars including Shinji Kagawa.
🔴 CEREZO OSAKA
OSAKA · YANMAR HANASAKA STADIUM
Signed World Cup winner Andrés Iniesta in 2018, then claimed a first-ever J1 title in 2023 under owner Rakuten.
🔴 VISSEL KOBE
KOBE · NOEVIR STADIUM KOBE
"Sanfrecce" means three arrows, echoing feudal lord Mori Motonari's parable of unity. Won three J1 titles in four years (2012, '13, '15).
🟣 SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA
HIROSHIMA · EDION PEACE WING
Founded 1922 as Kyoto Shiko Club — the oldest club in the J.League. "Sanga" comes from the Sanskrit word for community, nodding to Kyoto's Buddhist heritage.
🟣 KYOTO SANGA
KAMEOKA · SANGA STADIUM BY KYOCERA
CENTRAL & KYUSHU
Managed by Arsène Wenger in the mid-1990s with Gary Lineker on the books, before winning a first J1 title in 2010 under Dragan Stojković.
🟡 NAGOYA GRAMPUS
NAGOYA · TOYOTA STADIUM
One of the J.League's ten founding clubs in 1993. Shimizu's schoolyards have produced more Japan internationals than any other city.
🟠 SHIMIZU S-PULSE
SHIZUOKA · IAI STADIUM NIHONDAIRA
"Fagiano" is Italian for pheasant, Okayama's symbolic bird from the Momotarō folktale. Reached J1 for the first time in 2024.
🟡 FAGIANO OKAYAMA
OKAYAMA · JFE HARENOKUNI STADIUM
"Avispa" is Spanish for wasp. Claimed their first major trophy in 2023, beating Urawa Reds to win the J.League Cup.
🟡 AVISPA FUKUOKA
FUKUOKA · BEST DENKI STADIUM
Returns to J1 in 2026 after a seven-year absence, having first won promotion in 2018. Owned by e-commerce giant Japanet.
🟠 V-VAREN NAGASAKI
NAGASAKI · PEACE STADIUM
EST.
1962
SUZUKA CIRCUIT
F1 JAPAN GP
40
RACES SINCE 1976
RALLY JAPAN
WRC
TOYOTA CITY, AICHI
JAPAN'S F1 HOSTS
Japan's only figure-eight circuit on the F1 calendar — the back straight crosses over the front via a flyover. Opened 1962 as a Honda test track.
🏎️ SUZUKA CIRCUIT
F1 HOST SINCE 1987
Toyota-owned since 2000, sitting right at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Hosts the WEC's 6 Hours of Fuji every autumn, plus Super GT and Super Formula.
🌋 FUJI SPEEDWAY
F1 HOST '76–'77, '07–'08
Twice hosted F1 as TI Circuit Aida, the 1994 & '95 Pacific Grand Prix — both won by Michael Schumacher. Now a Super GT & Super Formula regular.
🏁 OKAYAMA CIRCUIT
F1 HOST '94–'95 (TI AIDA)
OTHER MAJOR SERIES
Honda's second home circuit, renamed from Twin Ring Motegi in 2022. Hosts MotoGP's Japanese round on its 4.8km road course.
🏍️ MOBILITY RESORT MOTEGI
MOTOGP JAPAN GP
Built high in the Kyūshū mountains in 1990 as an exclusive members' circuit before opening up to Super GT, Super Formula and Superbike racing.
🏔️ AUTOPOLIS
KYŪSHŪ'S ONLY MAJOR CIRCUIT
Back on the WRC calendar since 2022 — narrow tarmac mountain stages through Aichi & Gifu, run out of Toyota Gazoo Racing's home turf.
🌲 RALLY JAPAN
WRC · AICHI & GIFU
Soichiro Honda's entire telegram to Dutch designer John Hugenholtz in 1961 — the result was Suzuka's one-of-a-kind figure-eight layout.
⭐ BONUS
"I'M BUILDING A CIRCUIT. PLEASE COME TO TOKYO."
SEASON
DEC–APR
PEAK JAN–FEB
RESORTS
400+
ACROSS JAPAN
OLYMPICS
2X
SAPPORO・NAGANO
HOKKAIDŌ
Japan's powder capital. Siberian storms crossing the Sea of Japan dump some of the driest, lightest snow on Earth — "Japow." Mt. Annupuri tops out at 1,308m.
❄️ NISEKO UNITED
4 LINKED RESORTS
Three connected peaks — East Mountain, West Mountain, and Mt. Isola — famous for birch-tree powder runs and a base-area amusement park with a Ferris wheel lit up over the snow.
🌋 RUSUTSU RESORT
THREE PEAKS, ONE PASS
Hosted the FIS Alpine World Cup more than 10 times — a Japanese record. The same rolling hills turn into the country's most famous lavender fields every summer.
🌨️ FURANO SKI RESORT
FIS WORLD CUP HOST
Hosted alpine skiing at the 1972 Sapporo Games — Asia's first Winter Olympics. The original Olympic flame plinth still stands in the Olympia Zone.
⛷️ SAPPORO TEINE
1972 OLYMPIC SLOPES
HONSHU & TŌHOKU
Host of the 1998 Winter Olympics. Ten resorts spread across one valley, ~3 hrs from Tokyo by Shinkansen + bus — Japan's widest terrain variety.
🏔️ HAKUBA VALLEY
10 RESORTS, ONE VALLEY
Eighteen linked ski areas on one lift pass — Japan's largest and highest resort. Hosted the 1998 Nagano Olympics giant slalom, with the Jigokudani snow monkeys just down the road.
🌊 SHIGA KOGEN
JAPAN'S LARGEST SKI AREA
The only ski resort with its own Shinkansen station — 75 minutes from Tokyo Station to the gondola, no transfers required.
🚄 GALA YUZAWA
SHINKANSEN TO THE SLOPES
Ride past "Juhyō" — wind- and frost-sculpted "snow monsters" — then soak in a hot spring town that's welcomed skiers for a century.
♨️ ZAŌ ONSEN
SNOW MONSTER COUNTRY
🎐 MORE WINTER STOPS
Snow Monkey Park near Shiga Kōgen. Wild Japanese macaques have bathed in this hot spring valley since the 1960s — pair it with a day on the slopes.
🐒 JIGOKUDANI
📍 MAP (YAMANOUCHI)
Early February, Odori Park. Started with 6 statues in 1950; now draws 2M+ visitors for building-sized snow sculptures lit up at night.
🎊 SAPPORO SNOW FEST
📍 MAP (SAPPORO)
Yasunari Kawabata's Nobel Prize-winning novel Snow Country opens on that very line, set in the onsen town of Yuzawa — today the exit for GALA Yuzawa's slopes.
⭐ BONUS
"THE TRAIN CAME OUT OF THE TUNNEL..."
