FC Machida Zelvia has decided to participate in the J1 League in 2023, but the stadium is known to be far away. Machida GION Stadium is located in Machida City, but it is very difficult to access and does not have a good reputation among some soccer fans and supporters. So how far is it?
What kind of soccer team is FC Machida Zelvia?
FC Machida Zelvia is a sports and soccer club whose hometown is Machida City, Tokyo. The club was founded in 1977, and its nickname “ZELVIA” is a coined word combining the Japanese zelkova “zelkova” and the salvia “salvia.” Although there was no J1 license for many years, it was finally granted in 2019.
club color is blue
The club colors are blue and the uniforms are blue for home games. When away, it turns white. The team mascot will be a character called Zelby. Although the players and coaches involved are modest, we have a good group of talented members. Tickets are relatively easy to obtain.
JFL era and J2 era
FC Machida Zelvia is a team that has been in the JFL and J2 for a very long time. In 2009, they were first approved as an associate member club of the J League and play in the JFL. In 2011, they finally finished the season in 3rd place, within the range of promotion to J2, and were therefore promoted to J2. At that time, there was no J3 yet, so they were promoted to J2. We had a hard time with the long J2 and the license was not granted, but we were finally able to enter J1 in 2023.
J Club in Tokyo
As mentioned in the article at the top of this article, Machida, FC Tokyo, and Tokyo Verdy are clubs based in Tokyo. However, Machida is based in Machida City, which is at the point of contact with Kanagawa Prefecture, so it may be more correct to say Kanagawa Prefecture rather than Tokyo.
Is FC Machida Zelvia’s stadium far away?
It is said that the stadium where FC Machida Zelvia’s matches will be held is a little far away. Now let’s take a look at their home stadium, Machida GION Stadium. Machida GION Stadium is clear from the Google Map below, but the surrounding stations are very far away. Speaking of Machida Zelvia, there may be a route from Machida Station, but the most common information is that the closest station is Tsurukawa Station. Personally, I would like them to move because the location is bad.
| Stadium | Machida City Athletics Stadium |
| URL | Home |
| Address | 2035 Nozutamachi, Machida, Tokyo 195-0063 |
About stadium seats
The atmosphere of the stadium seats is like the video below. If you’re a regular fan, the main stand or back stand is best, but if you’re behind the goal, the seats are reserved for supporters, so you’ll probably want to support them. Because it has a roof, you won’t get wet in the rain unless you’re on the first floor.
| main stand | Prices are a little high for people who want to watch soccer up close. |
| back stand | The price is a little low for people who want to watch soccer up close. |
| behind the goal | It is aimed at people who want to enjoy soccer with realistic cheering, and the price is low. |
Access to the stadium
The nearest station to get to the stadium is Tsurukawa Station on the Odakyu Line, but walking is quite difficult. We recommend getting off at the last stop of the direct bus bound for Nozuda Park, or the Zelbia shuttle bus. It takes about 10 minutes on foot from Nozuda Garage. This means that you will need to travel by bus, car, or taxi. Click here for information on Kanagawa Chuo Bus timetables, fares, and operations. By the way, if you try to walk from Tsurukawa Station, it will take 50 minutes to over an hour.
There are also free local bus services. This is a quote from Machida Zelvia’s official website. There are buses from Tama Center Station, Fuchinobe Station, and Minami-Machida Granberry Park Station. The actual operation will be as follows.
| route | Operating hours | Operation interval |
| Tama Center Station ⇔ Machida GION Stadium | Departure: 3 hours and 20 minutes before kickoff – kickoff Return: Until about 1 hour after the game ends | Operates within approximately 20 minute intervals |
| Fuchinobe Station ⇔ Machida GION Stadium | Departure: 3 hours and 20 minutes before kickoff – kickoff Return: Until approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes after the end of the match | Operates within approximately 20 minute intervals |
| Minami-Machida Granbury Park Station ⇔ Machida GION Stadium | Departure: 2 flights: 3 hours before kickoff and 1 hour before kickoff. Return: Scheduled to depart 15 minutes after the game ends | Scheduled to depart 15 minutes after the game ends |
There is no convenience store nearby
There are also few commercial facilities around this stadium. Also, to get to the stadium, you have to feel like you’re hiking, so you’ll have to walk along a mountain path from Nozuda Garage. If it is a night game, you will need to be careful about the bus on the way home. There is a possibility that you will not be able to catch the last train, so this is not a recommended place unless you are playing during the day. Therefore, please prepare the necessary supplies at Tsurukawa Station and other places.
Be careful of the line for the return bus
If you’ve ever been to the stadium, you’ll know that the bus on the way back is so crowded that it’s hard to get on. If you wait more than 30 minutes, you won’t be able to get on the bus, so it’s best to either take it easy after the game ends, or go home about 10 minutes before the game ends. Unlike Disneyland, there is no standard waiting time for attractions, so you may have to wait quite a while.
Let’s watch J League
In the J League, you can watch thrilling battles every game. If you subscribe to a video streaming service, you can watch every game live. I will introduce it in the article below, so if you are interested, please take a look.
| Channel | Plan | Soccer Contents | URL |
| DAZN | \3750 | national team major europe leagues J league | DAZN |
| Hulu | ¥1026 | french league dutch league | Hulu |
| WOWOW | \2530 | UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League | WOWOW |
| ABEMA TV | ¥960 | national team World Cup Premier League scottish league | ABEMA |
| スカパー | ¥429 + ¥2480 | national team emperor’s cup soccer Bundesliga laliga | スカパー！ |
| J SPORTS | \1100 | fifa world youth | J SPORTS |
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