The 2019 Rugby World Cup begins on Friday, with Japan set to become the first Asian country to hold the global showpiece.
12 cities and stadiums across the country have been selected to host matches during the tournament, though plans for Tokyo's New National Stadium - an important pillar of the successful bid and key venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics - to stage the final were scrapped back in 2015.
Over 400,000 fans are expected to descend on Japan for the World Cup, which World Rugby are confident will be a 'a very special success on every level' and 'break records and make history on and off the field' in addition to proving a 'transformational driver of sporting and social legacy in the host nation and across Asia'.
Standard Sport takes a look at each of the 12 venues for the latest edition of rugby's global showpiece...
Sapporo Dome
Location: Sapporo City, Hokkaido
Opened: 2001
Capacity: 41,410
Tenants: Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo (football), Nippon-Ham Fighters (baseball)
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Two
- Australia vs Fiji (Pool D, September 21)
- England vs Tonga (Pool C, September 22)
Tokyo Stadium
Location: Chofu, Tokyo
Opened: 2001
Capacity: 49,970
Tenants: FC Tokyo (football), Tokyo Verdy (football)
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Eight (plus openiong ceremony)
- Japan vs Russia (Pool A, September 20)
- France vs Argentina (Pool C, September 21)
- Australia vs Wales (Pool D, September 29)
- England vs Argentina (Pool C, October 5)
- New Zealand vs Namibia (Pool B, October 6)
- Quarter-final 2 (October 19)
- Quarter-final 4 (October 20)
- Bronze final (November 2)
International Stadium Yokohama
Location: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Opened: 1998
Capacity: 72,327
Tenants: Yokohama F. Marinos (football),
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Seven (plus closing ceremony)
- New Zealand vs South Africa (Pool B, September 21)
- Ireland vs Scotland (Pool A, September 22)
- England vs France (Pool C, October 12)
- Japan vs Scotland (Pool A, October 13)
- Semi-final 1 (October 26)
- Semi-final 2 (October 27)
- Final (November 2)
Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
Location: Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture
Opened: 1991
Capacity: 25,600
Tenants: Panasonic Wild Knights (rugby union)
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Three
- Russia vs Samoa (Pool A, September 24)
- Georgia vs Uruguay (Pool D, September 29)
- Argentina vs USA (Pool C, October 9)
Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa
Location: Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture
Opened: 2001
Capacity: 50,889
Tenants (occasional): Jubilo Iwata (football), Shimizu S-Pulse (football)
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Four
- Japan vs Ireland (Pool A, September 28)
- South Africa vs Italy (Pool B, October 4)
- Scotland vs Russia (Pool A, October 9)
- Australia vs Georgia (Pool D, October 11)
Kobe Misaki Stadium
Location: Hyogo-ku, Kobe
Opened: 2001
Capacity: 30,132
Tenants: Vissel Kobe (football), INAC Kobe Leonessa (football), Kobelco Steelers (rugby union)
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Four
- England vs USA (Pool C, September 26)
- Scotland vs Samoa (Pool A, September 30)
- Ireland vs Russia (Pool A, October 3)
- South Africa vs Canada (Pool B, October 8)
City of Toyota Stadium
Location: Toyota, Aichi Prefecture
Opened: 2001
Capacity: 45,000
Tenants: Nagoya Grampus (football), Toyota Verblitz (rugby union)
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Four
- Wales vs Georgia (Pool D, September 23)
- South Africa vs Namibia (Pool B, September 28
- Japan vs Samoa (Pool A, October 5)
- New Zealand vs Italy (Pool B, October 12)
Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium
Location: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Opened: 1995
Capacity: 21,562
Tenants: Avispa Fukuoka (football)
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Three
- Italy vs Canada (Pool B, September 26)
- France vs USA (Pool C, October 2)
- Ireland vs Samoa (Pool A, October 12)
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Location: Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture
Opened: 1929, renovation 2018
Capacity: 24,000
Tenants: Kintetsu Liners (rugby union)
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Four
- Italy vs Namibia (Pool B, September 22)
- Argentina vs Tonga (Pool C, September 28)
- Georgia vs Fiji (Pool D, October 3)
- USA vs Tonga (Pool C, October 13)
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium
Location: Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture
Opened: 2018
Capacity: 16,334
Tenants: None
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Two
- Fiji vs Uruguay (Pool D, September 25)
- Namibia vs Canada (Pool B, October 13)
Kumamoto Stadium
Location: Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture
Opened: 1998
Capacity: 30,228
Tenants: Roasso Kumamoto (football)
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Two
- France vs Tonga (Pool C, October 6)
- Wales vs Uruguay (Pool D, October 13)
Oita Stadium
Location: Oita, Oita Prefecture
Opened: 2001
Capacity: 40,000
Tenants: Oita Trinita (football)
2019 Rugby World Cup matches: Five
- New Zealand vs Canada (Pool B, October 2)
- Australia vs Uruguay (Pool D, October 5)
- Wales vs Fiji (Pool D, October 9)
- Quarter-final 1 (October 19)
- Quarter-final 3 (October 20)
