Noevir Stadium Kobe
Kobe Stadium (Noevir Stadium Kobe) ノエビアスタジアム神戸
Noevir Stadium Kobe, aka Kobe Stadium, Kobe City, Hyogo
Kobe Stadium in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture was built for the 2002 World Cup and was completed in 2001 as Kobe Wing Stadium.
The stadium was reconstructed on the site of the previous Kobe Central Football Stadium which was built in the 1970's.
It is now known as the Noevir Stadium Kobe for sponsorship reasons. The stadium is the home ground of both J.League soccer club Vissel Kobe and the Top League rugby team Kobelco Steelers.
Vissel are owned by the locally-born Rakuten internet mogul Mikitani Hiroshi. His wealth has attracted a number of (aging) superstars to the team such as World Cup winners Andres Iniesta, David Villa from Spain, and Germany's Lukas Podolski.
Kobelco Steelers (owned by Kobe Steel) have been Top League champions twice in their history so far in the 2003-04 and 2018-19 seasons. The team is a mix of home-grown and foreign talent and once fielded Dan Carter, the All Black legend.
The stadium is one of the 12 venues chosen for the Rugby World Cup 2019 to be held in Japan.
Kobe Stadium, Kobe City, Hyogo
2019 Rugby World Cup Poster, Kobe Stadium, Kobe City, Hyogo
Facilities
The stadium has a retractable roof and two large video screens. The ground has a seating capacity of 30,132, reduced from 42,000 for the World Cup.
The playing surface is a hybrid of both artificial and natural turf. It is set within the larger Misaki Park which serves as a pre-game entertainments and catering area. Within the stadium is a fitness studio equipped with exercise machines, swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi.
The seating is very close to the playing area and most areas of the ground have excellent sight lines.
Noevir Stadium, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
Noevir Stadium on a match day, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
Access - Getting There
Kobe Stadium is a short journey from Sannomiya Station in central Kobe. Take the Kaigan Line of Kobe subway to Misaki Koen Station and walk five minutes or get off at the previous station Wada Misaki Station and walk six minutes.
Alternatively ride the JR Line (especially if you have a JR Rail Pass) to Hyogo Station. From here it is a 20 minute walk. If you do not wish to walk, ride the Wadamisaki Line one stop to Wada Misaki Station and walk six minutes. However, this line mainly operates in the morning and evenings only for workers at the nearby Mitsubishi factories.
Kobe City Bus #3 runs to Yoshida-cho 1-chome bus stop near the stadium from Minatogawa, Shinkaichi and Kosoku Kobe stations on the Hanshin Railway Kobe Kosoku Line (Kobe Tozai Line). The bus fare is 210 yen.
Noevir Stadium Kobe for Vissel vs Frontale
Accommodation
If you are staying in Kobe some excellent upmarket hotels in the city include the ANA Crown Plaza, Kobe Port Tower Hotel, Meriken Park Oriental Hotel and Hotel Okura Kobe.
Nearer to the stadium are the Hotel Wing International Kobe - Shinnagata Ekimae and Kobe Luminous Hotel, both three stars.
Kobe Attractions
Places of interest in Kobe include Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Maritime Museum, Kobe Chinatown, the entertainment and shopping area around Sannomiya and the Ijinkan - the former homes of foreign merchants in Kitano-cho up the hill from Sannomiya.
JR Hyogo Station, Kobe
Noevir Stadium on a match day, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
Book Hotel Accommodation in Kobe
Books on Japan
Noevir Stadium Kobe aka Kobe Stadium was reconstructed for the 2002 World Cup. It is the home ground of Vissel Kobe and Kobelco Steelers.
