On 1 June 2002, the day after the opening match in Seoul, the eyes of the world will turn to Niigata as it plays host to the first FIFA World Cup match ever to be played in Japan.

Located 300 km north-west of Tokyo at the mouth of Japan's longest river, the Shinano, the prefectural capital of Niigata City has a population of 500,000.

It has the largest port on the Japan Sea coast and serves as a convenient gateway and transportation hub supporting the prefecture's prosperous machinery, textile, chemical,
oil-refining and lumber industries.

Blessed with abundant farmland, Niigata Prefecture is the nation's top producer of rice, tulips and pears, and is a leading source of "sake" (rice wine), watermelons and radishes.

Not surprisingly with all these riches, Niigata is a leading tourism destination. Visitors are drawn by the region's many hot spring resorts as well as excellent sports and leisure facilities.

The local football team, Albirex Niigata, plays in the second division of the Japanese League but enjoys great fan support, and now the locals are gearing up for the World Cup matches
with characteristic enthusiasm.

They have created a campaign to welcome visitors from near and far under the slogan "Kick off! Niigata to the World".

Completed in March 2001, the elegant 42,700-seat Niigata Prefectural Stadium is conveniently located just 10 minutes from JR Niigata station and 25 minutes from the airport.

The stadium's proudest feature is its translucent white Teflon roof, which allows in 80 percent natural light and stretches across 90 percent of the seating.

The graceful curves of the stadium roof have been likened to an image of swans alighting on the nearby Toyanogata lagoon - an evocative and appropriate combination of images from the modern world of sport and the ageless world of nature.

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