Kashima Antlers are a J1 League club based in Kashima, Ibaraki, holding the record for most J.League titles (9) — Japan’s most decorated football club. Their home, Kashima Soccer Stadium, holds about 40,700, and since the city itself has a small population, most supporters travel in from elsewhere.
Seating is split between the Main Stand (west side, near the team benches) and the Back Stand (cheaper, but gets strong afternoon western sun); the goal-end areas are divided into home Supporters Seats and away Visitor Seats.
Tickets
Check the club’s English or Japanese ticket page for purchase methods.
Visiting Kashima Jingu shrine (a deer sanctuary that inspired the “Antlers” name) before matches is a fan tradition, and the club is also known for Brazilian legend Zico leading its early years.
Tap the button below to see transit, walking, and driving directions from your current location to the stadium, via Google Maps.
💡 Insider Tips
🚌 Getting Around — stadium renamed
As of July 2025, the stadium’s nickname changed to “Mercari Stadium” (official name: Ibaraki Prefectural Kashima Soccer Stadium, under contract through 2028). The closest station is Kashima Rinkai Railway’s “Kashima Soccer Stadium station” — a temporary stop that only opens on gamedays — about 5 minutes from Kashima-jingu station. A reserved highway bus (¥2,700 one-way) also runs between Tokyo station and the stadium.
🏨 Lodging
Business hotels are plentiful a 1-minute walk from Kashima-jingu station (Kamome-so, Hotel Route Inn Kashima, and more), making station-area lodging plus a shuttle bus the practical combination.
🎟️ Tickets
Purchase through the official “Shika-Chike” system: select a match, choose seats, pick a delivery method, then pay. Since 2024, an English version of the official J.League Ticket site allows QR-ticket purchases with overseas credit cards.
🗺️ Tourism Tie-in
The Kashima Soccer Museum attached to the stadium displays materials from the 2002 Japan-Korea World Cup and club history, and nearby is Kashima Jingu, one of Japan’s three great shrines.
💡 Insider Tips
Away supporters split between a dedicated cheering section behind the goal and a more relaxed general section; outside the dedicated supporters’ seats, wearing either team’s gear is allowed anywhere.