Sapporo City will be the first location the Wallabies will be visiting during the Rugby World Cup 2019. It is the largest city in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Sapporo is also a veteran in hosting international sporting events, it was host city to the 1972 Winter Olympics and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Many Australians have already discovered Sapporo during the winter for its close proximity for ski resorts. Wallabies supporters can expect to find some fantastic food while in the city. Sapporo ramen and fresh Hokkaido seafood are readily available in the city and are a must try while in Sapporo. Hokkaido is also known for its many beautiful mountains and coastlines to explore, which are easily accessible from Sapporo.

RWC Venue:
Sapporo Dome

Transport access to the venue:
Subway train from Sapporo station to Fukuzumi on the Toho Line and it’s a 10 minute (500m) walk from there to the venue.

Kamaishi City is on the northeastern coast of Japan’s main island in Iwate Prefecture. The venue for RWC 2019, the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium was built as a monument of hope as the city continues to recover and show its resilience after the tsunami that effected the city in 2011.
The city itself is located within the Sanriku Fukko National Park and is spread across four bays. From the gorgeous Unosumai Rivers to the mountains that stretch out to sea and is abundant in all sorts of natural scenery. From being blessed with the coastline that edges the city, Kamaishi is known for delicious fresh oysters, Japanese scallops, seaweed, as well as plenty of seafood.

RWC Venue:
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium

Transport access to the venue:
15 minutes on the shuttle bus from Kamaishi Station.

The suburban landscape of Saitama is Kumagaya City. One of the city’s most prized item is the national treasure which is the Shodendo. It is known as a sacred spot for receiving fortune in the way of personal relationships. In the surrounding area are many traditional confectionary stores still operating out of heritage houses.
Kumagaya being one of the biggest producers of wheat in Japan, so while in Kumagaya, be sure to try out the delicious Kumagaya Udon!

RWC Venue:
Kumagaya Rugby Stadium

Transport access to the venue:
Take the Takasaki Line from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Kumagaya Station. Then take the bus to Kumagaya Dome or Kumagaya Sports and Culture Park from the north exit of Kumagaya Station.

Tokyo is firstly Japan’s capital city. It is a hypermodern city where both fast paced business and exciting leisure coexist. There are many attractions to Tokyo city; from sightseeing spots like Tokyo Tower to the traditional garden at Hamarikyu or the Meiji Shrine in Harajuku. For leisure, there are themed cafes from robots to anime, a great many selections of local izakaya pubs at every station or shopping in Shibuya. Be sure to check out the small alleyways, the nooks and cranny for some hidden gems, especially around Shinjuku where the whole town is bursting with shops and eateries.

RWC Venue:
Tokyo Stadium

Transport access to the venue:
25 minutes by train on the Keio Line from Shinjuku Station or 30 minutes from Shibuya Station to Tobitakyu Station and then a 5 minute walk from there.

Yokohama is the other major city in the Kanto region. It is a harbour city that functions as both a business and entertainment hub. Yokohama sees many foreigners in town thanks to the cruise ships that come in and out of its ports, and is known to have many foreign residents in the area so due to this the city is very traveller friendly. There are several ways to enjoy Yokohama, including an amusement park by the water in Sakuragi-cho, the busy and brightly coloured Chinatown, as well as a unique shopping centre that is located within old warehouse known as the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse.

RWC Venue:
International Stadium Yokohama

Transport access to the venue:
10 minutes from Yokohama Station to Shin-Yokohama Station on the JR Yokohama Line or to the Yokohama Municipal Subway, then a 14 minute walk from there.

The Wallabies are playing Georgia in Shizuoka which will certainly be an exciting game to watch. However, there is something else that will match that excitement in Shizuoka that you must see while there and that is Mount Fuji! Shizuoka is home to one of Japan’s most iconic sights, Mount Fuji as well as many beautiful mountains, lakes and rivers. Another thing to try in Shizuoka is their green tea. Shizuoka is famous for its green tea as its climate and terrain creates perfect conditions for cultivation. Over in Hamamatsu city, you can visit Hamamatsu Castle where you can explore into Japan’s history.

RWC Venue: Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa

Transport access to the venue:
Train from Shizuoka Station (50 minutes) or Hamamatsu Station (20 minutes) to Aino Station on the JR Tokaido Line and then a 15 minute walk to the stadium.

The name of this city should easily giveaway what it is famous for, and yes, the answer is Toyota and its cars! The city is the home of Toyota Motor Corporation and thanks to them the city has shaped into a place of technological innovation that mixes and mingles with nature and traditional culture. Aichi Prefecture is known for the fresh Mikawa vegetables and unique foods like the Ayu sweetish and boar meat.
RWC matches up with Autumn, Japan’s Autumn leaves season and Toyota City is home to the Korankei Gorge which is a truly spectacular Autumn leaves.

RWC Venue:
City of Toyota Stadium

Transport access to the venue:
50 minutes on the Aichi Loop Railway Line from Nagoya Station to Toyohashi Station.

Osaka can easily described as the capital city of Western Japan and it has had a major role in politics and trade throughout Japan’s history. To the east of the central area of Osaka is Higashi-Osaka, where the Hanazono Rugby Stadium is located.There are many heritage buildings, parks, temples and shrines to visit here including the Ishikiri-Tsurugi shrine. The street leading up to the shrine is lined with fortune tellers. At the shrine, you’ll find people circling between the main building and the torii gate - a hundred times to be exact - to make their wish come true. A great place to visit and wish for a grand final win for the Wallabies!

RWC Venue:
Hanazono Rugby Stadium

Transport access to the venue:
20 minutes by train from the Osaka Namba station on the Kintetsu Nara Line to the Higashi Hanazono Station, then 10 minutes on foot.

Kobe is a unique port city, located just an hour out of Osaka. Like Yokohama, Kobe is a port city and receives many overseas visitors through cruise ships that stop off in its port. Since the port of Kobe opened in 1868, the city has continuously adapted foreign food and lifestyle into the traditional Japanese culture. From this, Kobe is known as one of Japan’s gourmet capitals - one of the biggest reasons being Kobe Wagyu, the best Wagyu beef there is. So make sure to visit one of Kobe’s many fantastic restaurants to try Kobe beef for yourself.

RWC Venue:
Kobe Misaki Stadium

Transport access to the venue:
10 minutes on the Kobe City Subway Kaigan Line from Kobe Sannomiya Station to Misaki Koen Station, then a 5 minute walk from there. Alternatively take the JR Wadamisaki Line to Wadamisaki Station and walk 6 minutes from there.

Also on the Kyushu island is Oita Prefecture, which is on the northeastern side of the island facing an inland sea. From its location you can expect to find fresh foods from both the sea and the land. One of the specialities you must try in Oita is deep fried chicken that’s served with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce. The true star of Oita are the hundreds of hot springs located across the whole prefecture. In the main city area there are 30 hot spring facilities where you can relax and recover from all the excitement of the RWC games!

RWC Venue:
Oita Stadium

Transport access to the venue:
45 minutes on the bus bound for Park Place from Oita station to Oita Sport Park Higashi.

Kyushu is one of the southern islands that belong to Japan, and the largest city of Kyushu is Fukuoka. It is a vibrant city that receives many visitors throughout the year, and the city is perfectly cut out for entertainment. The real stars of Fukuoka are culinary ones, starting with the fact that Fukuoka is said to be the birthplace of Japanese udon noodles, as it is told at the monument at Jotenji Temple in the city. Fukuoka also has one of the largest fish markets in Japan, so fresh sushi is readily available too. Also a must-try is the Hakata ramen, which is a rich and creamy Tonkotsu broth based ramen.

RWC Venue:
Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium

Transport access to the venue:
Walk 25 minutes from Fukuoka Airport or take that Nishitetsu Bus to Higashi-Hirao Koen-Iriguchi and walk 5 minutes to the venue. From Hakata Station, take the subway toe Fukuoka Airport first and then walk or train.

Abundant in nature and historic sights, Kumamoto City is known as the Forest City by some for the gorgeously green, woodland areas in and around the city. A visit to the Kumamoto Castle, an icon of Kumamoto City, and it is a must have on your itinerary as well as a day trip to Mount Aso, the volcanic mountain. There are also many shrines, temples as well as heritage buildings such as Hosokawa Samurai Residence that have watched samurais rise and fall in its history. For history buffs and nature lovers, Kumamoto will be a delightful destination to explore.

RWC Venue:
Kumamoto Stadium

Transport access to the venue:
50 minutes on the bus bound for Shika No.4 Menkyo Centre from Kumamoto station, hop off at the ‘Park Dorm Kumamoto mae’ stop.