Overview
Jingu Stadium (Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium), located in the Meiji Jingu Gaien area of Shinjuku, Tokyo, serves as the home of the Yakult Swallows. Opened in 1926, it is one of Japan's most historic ballparks with nearly a century of heritage. Jingu is equally revered as the spiritual home of college baseball, hosting the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League. Traditional rivalries like the Waseda-Keio series are inseparable from the stadium's history, and the autumn Meiji Jingu Tournament brings top university and high school teams to its grounds. As a professional venue, Jingu's greatest asset is its central Tokyo location. The easy commute allows office workers to catch weeknight games, sustaining attendance even on workdays. The open-air atmosphere - watching baseball with a beer in hand while feeling the evening breeze - is a distinctive charm that endears the stadium to generations of fans. However, aging facilities have been a longstanding concern, and a rebuilding project is underway with completion targeted for the 2030s. The prospect of the historic stadium's transformation has prompted nostalgic farewells from devoted patrons.