Kobe Central Stadium

Kobe Central Stadium was a multi-purpose sports facility in central Kobe with a rectangular playing field. The venue had seating for around 13,000 spectators and featured floodlights that allowed evening matches to be played under bright illumination.

The stadium opened in 1970 on the site of the former Kobe Keirin Stadium and shaped Japanese sports life for nearly 30 years. It was demolished in 1999 as the city restructured and new sports facilities were developed.

The stadium was Japan's first venue built specifically with a rectangular field for ball sports like rugby and soccer. It showed how the country adapted to international sports standards and modern playing formats.

The stadium was centrally located in Kobe with good accessibility and clear pathways for visitors. When it was operational, the floodlights allowed matches to be held at various times of day, making schedules flexible for spectators.

The stadium was one of the venues for the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship, playing an important role in bringing international sports events to Japan. This experience helped pave the way for the country to host larger tournaments like the 2002 World Cup later.

Location: Kobe

Inception: 1970

Official opening: 1970

Capacity: 13000

GPS coordinates: 34.65674,135.16897

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:42