Koshien Stadium, Baseball venue in Nishinomiya, Japan.
Koshien Stadium is a baseball venue in Nishinomiya, Japan, known for hosting Hanshin Tigers games and national high school tournaments. The playing surface features a complete dirt infield, natural grass outfield, and green seating divided into several sections.
The venue opened in 1924 as the largest sports facility in Asia, drawing design inspiration from the Polo Grounds in New York. Its initial capacity reached 55,000 spectators, marking its importance in early Japanese sports history.
The name Koshien comes from the year 1924, the first year (kōshi, Wood Rat) of the sexagenary cycle. Both national high school tournaments are simply called Kōshien, and the word now stands for high school baseball itself, lending its name to other national student contests. During games, paper tape, confetti and light-based cheering are banned, and after 10 p.m. drums and trumpets are silenced out of respect for the surrounding houses.
The venue lies two minutes on foot from Koshien Station on the Hanshin Main Line, making public transport the most practical option. Parking in the surrounding area is limited, so visitors should plan to arrive by train.
The stadium's name comes from the sexagenary cycle: 1924 was the first year of the kōshi (Wood Rat) cycle, so the grounds were named Kōshien. The outfield ivy was inspired by Wrigley Field and kept through the 2008–2010 renovation. A plaque marks Babe Ruth's exhibition game here in 1934.
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