URAWA REDS – How to get to Saitama Stadium 2002

This topic is for those who want to watch a live soccer game in Japan.
In this blog, I will tell you about Urawa Reds and their stadium.

Why I recommend Urawa?

Do you know any Japanese football teams? Urawa Reds (=Urawa Red Diamonds) is one of the most famous and popular Japanese football teams. I highly recommend you go to their stadium to watch a game. I would like to show you three reasons why Urawa is the best for you.

Play in the top league (J1)

First of all, Japanese professional football league (J-League) consists of 57 clubs (as of 2021) with 3 categories (J1, J2, J3). Urawa plays in the J1, top league, and has won J1, League cup and Emperor’s cup. In addition, Urawa has been in J1 except for one year since J-League initiated (1993).
Furthermore, Japanese football’s level is one of the highest in Asia, and Urawa won the AFC Champions League twice (2007, 2017). So, you can enjoy watching a high level game.

Enthusiastic supporter

Of cource there are also some football clubs in Tokyo, including a J1 club. However, you must be amazed by Urawa’s supporter, and this is why I recommend Urawa. 
By FoxSports in 2017, the supporter was honored as one of five most hardcore football club fans with River Plate, Balcelona, Galatasaray and Liverpool. Some guys suspect this selection, but there is only one Asian club mentioned here. So, you can watch a game of the team whose supporter is Asian No.1 without doubt.

Accessibility from Tokyo

Many guys visit Tokyo. You can easily go to the stadium (Saitama stadium 2002) from Tokyo. I think watching a game there can be one of your wonderful memories in Japan. 
Regarding how to get to the stadium, kindly go down this post.

How to get to “Saitama Stadium 2002”?

If you get interested in Urawa, I’m very happy. Do you want to go watching a game?
As for a simple description of how to get to the stadium, please access the official page from the link below (English page).

For those who cannot understand how to get to the stadium from the above, 
I will show you the ways. I chose three main places of depature. 
Kindly refer to the description, depending on your situation.

From Tokyo Station (Central Tokyo) – about 1.5h

I think many people stay in Tokyo. As I mentioned earlier, Saitama, hometown of Urawa, is next to Tokyo in terms of prefecture. You can easily go to the stadium from central Tokyo. 

① From Tokyo station
Please get on “JR Yamanote Line” for Ueno, Ikebukuro.
*In the case you depart from another station, please go to the nearest Yamanote Line’s station firstly, then change to the line.

② At Komagome station
Change the train to “Nanboku Line” bound for Urawa Misono.

③ At Urawa Misono terminal
Exit the station from No.2.
Regarding how to get to the stadium from the station, please refer to the below.

From Haneda Airport (HND) – about 2h

I don’t recommend you go to the stadium directly from the airport, because you may get tired and have heavy luggages. But, I will write the description for your information. In the case you check in a hotel once, then go to the stadium, please refer to “1. From Tokyo Station”. How to get to the stadium from Haneda is as follows.

① From the airport
 Get on “Tokyo Monorail” bound for Hamamatsu-cho.
 *There are other ways to go to central Tokyo such as bus, taxi and train. However I will omit these ways since the monorail is the best for you in terms of price and ease of use. Also you can enjoy this unusual monorail.

② At Hamamatsu-cho terminal
Change the train to “JR Yamanote line”.
*Yamanote line is circular. You can get on all trains.

③ At Komagome station
Change the train to “Nanboku line (Metro)” bound for Urawa Misono.

④ At Urawa Misono terminal
Exit the station from No.2.
Regarding how to get to the stadium from the station, please refer to the below.

From Narita Airport (NRT) – about 2h

As is the same with HND case, I don’t recommend you go to the stadium directly from NRT, however I will write the way just in case. 
From Narita Airport, mainly there are 4 ways to go to central Tokyo.

• Train (Narita SKY Access Line) 
  It’s recommended for going to the stadium directly.
• Express Train (Keisei Skyliner or Narita Express)
  *Mainly for going to central Tokyo, not stadium.
• Bus
  *Mainly for going to central Tokyo, not stadium. 

I will omit Taxi, because it’s very expensive rather than other choices.

Train (Narita SKY Access Line)

If you’d like to go directly to the stadium, I recommend you use the train.
How to get to the stadium by Keisei Line is as follows.

 ① From the airport
      Kindly get on “Narita SKY Access Line”. 
      *Please don’t use “Keisei Main Line”.

 ② At Higashi Matsudo station
      Change the train to “JR Musashino Line” (bound for Fuchu-Honmachi).

 ③ At Higashi Kawaguchi
      Change the train to “Saitama Stadium Line” (bound for Urawa Misono).

 ③ At Urawa Misono terminal
      Exit the station from No.2.
      Regarding how to get to the stadium from the station, please refer to the below.

Express Train (Keisei Skyliner or Narita Express)

*This way is mainly for going to central Tokyo, not directly to the stadium. 

If you want to save money and time allows, you can use the normal train (Keisei Line).
However, Keisei has also the express train, “Skyliner”. It’s better to save time.
You can find the detail, and buy a ticket online.

SkylinerOverview｜Skyliner | KEISEI ElectricRailway

Regarding the other choice (“Narita Express”), please refer to the following website.
It’s more expensive than Skyliner.

About N’EX | Narita Express | JR-EAST

If you’d like to go directly to the stadium using these trains, please change the train to “JR Yamanote Line” at the following stations. Then, refer to “1. From Tokyo Station” as above.

・Skyliner : Nippori station (teraminal)
・Narita Express : Tokyo station

Bus

*This way is mainly for going to central Tokyo, not directly to the stadium. 

There are buses with many destinasions. It’s better if you can directly go to the destination, although it usually costs much than normal train. However, you don’t have to take care of your buggage, and can relax with your own seat.

In the case your destination is in central Tokyo, I recommend you use “Airport bus TYO-NRT”, because it costs only 1000 JPY to go to Tokyo station with your own seat. Actually I choose this bus whenever I use Narita airport. Please visit the official website from the following link to get more detail. 

TYO-NRT Airport bus  https://tyo-nrt.com/en

To the stadium from Urawa Misono

You can choose one from walk, bus and taxi, then can arrive at the stadium.

     Walk – It takes around 25mins to get to the stadium (South gate).
     Bus  – It takes only 5~10mins (100 JPY), but you have to wait for the bus in line.
     Taxi  – You don’t have to wait for the bus, however it costs about 1300 JPY.

As for how to enjoy the stadium and game, I will write it later.

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That’s it for today. I appreciate your reading.
I hope you keep well, and enjoy Urawa’s game on the stadium after covid situation.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me via comment.

SW