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Every year around the time the cherry blossoms start to pop up around Okinawa is also when you’ll find professional baseball is back for spring training.
Every year on Feb. 1, many teams of Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB) head to the sub-tropical islands to get ready for the official season. Fans flock to Okinawa stadiums for a chance to see their favorite players in action.
Sports media also descend on the islands to cover the team warmups in search for the next MVP ahead of the season start in late March.
Whether you’re a Major League Baseball fan or not, you don’t want to miss catching some Japanese baseball. And, spring training on Okinawa is a great opportunity to see some quality baseball for free.
Catch a game
Hanshin Tigers
Date: Feb. 1 – Feb. 27
Location: Ginoza-son Yakyujo near Camp Hansen and Camp Schwab (GPS Coordinates: N 26.483346, E 127.974811), Uruma-shi Gushikawa Yakyujo near Camp Courtney (N 26.359484, E 127.865471)
Days off: Feb. 5, 9, 15, 21 (On Feb. 23, 24 25, the team will play a preseason game at Okinawa Cellular Stadium, ANA Ball Park Urasoe, and Agre Stadium Chatan respectively)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Date: Feb. 15 -27
Days off: Feb. 14, 19, 22
Location: Koza Shinkin Stadium near Kadena Air Base and Camp Foster (GPS Coordinates: N 26.332487, E 127.790266)
Yokohama DeNA Baystars
Date: Feb. 1 – Feb. 25
Days off: Feb. 5, 9, 14, 20
Location: Union Desukara Stadium Ginowan near Camp Foster and MCAS Futenma (GPS Coordinates: N 26.282342, E 127.737392)
Yomiuri Giants
Date: Feb. 16 – 28
Days off: Feb. 20, 26 (Feb. 24, at Koza Shinkin Stadium for a preseason game)
Location: Onoyama Sogo Undojo / Okinawa Cellular Stadium Naha near Naha Military Port (N 26.203384, E 127.673039)
Chunichi Dragons
Date: Feb. 1 – 25
Days off: Feb. 5, 9, 14, 19
Location: Agre Stadium Chatan near Camp Foster and Kadena Air Base (GPS Coordinates: N 26.311772, E 127.758383)
Yakult Swallows
Date: Feb. 1 – 28
Days off: Feb. 5, 9, 14, 19, 22, 26
Location: ANA Ball Park Urasoe near Camp Kinser (GPS Coordinates: N 26.251269, E 127.724458)
Chiba Lotte Marines
Date: Feb. 1 – 26 (Ishigaki Island), Feb. 13 – 25 (Itoman City)
Days off: Feb. 6, 12, 16, 20, 24 (Ishigaki Island), Feb. 19 (Itoman City)
Location: Ishigakishi Chuo Koen Yakyujo (GPS Coordinates: N 24.345995, E 124.170769),
Itomanshi Nishizaki Sogo Undo Koen (GPS Coordinates: N 26.144957, E 127.662413)
Rakuten Eagles
Date: Feb. 1 – 18 (Kin Town, Kume Island)
Days off: Feb. 5, 9, 14
Location: Kincho Baseball Stadium near Camp Hansen (GPS Coordinates: N 26.462314, E 127.941645),
Kumejima Yakyujo (GPS Coordinates: N 26.349468, E 126.734698)
Nippon Ham Fighters
Date: Feb. 1 – 25 (-24 at Kaigin Stadium Kunigami)
Days off: Feb. 5, 9, 14, 20
Location: Tapic Stadium Nago (GPS Coordinates: N 26.592702, E 127.966825), Kaigin Stadium Kunigami (GPS Coordinates: N 26.726887, E 128.162040)
