On May 9, 2026, the Iwate eSports Association held the grand opening of " PLAY HUB KITAKAMI," the first eSports facility in Iwate Prefecture, in Saiwaicho, Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture.
The first e-sports facility in Iwate Prefecture! Grand opening of "PLAY HUB KITAKAMI" in Kitakami City!
北上市に新たに誕生するeスポーツやデジタルコンテンツのコミュニティスペース「PLAY HUB KITAKAMI」のロゴが完成！
〜遊ぶ、チャレンジする、そして繋がる〜
2026年5月オープン💁#北上市 #eスポーツ pic.twitter.com/bGKEQWnITr
— PLAY HUB KITAKAMI (@PLAYHUBKITAKAMI) April 3, 2026
On Saturday, May 9, 2026, the first e-sports facility in Iwate Prefecture, " PLAY HUB KITAKAMI," opened in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture! The facility is located on the first floor of an apartment complex near Kitakami Station. The facility will serve as a new hub, combining a play space for competitions and a community space for interaction and learning.
A new base for e-sports. Iwate's first "PLAY HUB KITAKAMI
PR TIMESThe newly opened facility is equipped with five high-spec gaming PCs. The PCs are provided by Pasoul, a PC brand that is one of the sponsors of the facility. In addition to large monitors, the facility is also equipped with accessibility controllers that allow people with physical disabilities to enjoy playing. Everyone can enjoy playing on the same stage in a well-equipped playing environment!
PR TIMESThe facility will not only be a "place to play games," but will also be used to host tournaments, provide programming classes, and serve as a place for local residents to interact. It is expected to become a "regional hub" with e-sports as its starting point.
The opening event was a great success! The event was filled with excitement and talk sessions.
PR TIMESTo celebrate the opening of the facility, an event was held on May 9 (Sat.) and 10 (Sun.), 2026. The event featured a "Street Fighter 6" and "Puyopuyo" match-up session. Talk sessions were also held on the themes of "revitalization of e-sports in regional areas" and "changes in BTO and gaming PC sales. While the e-sports scene is concentrated in Tokyo and other major metropolitan areas, the e-sports community in regional cities is showing new prospects.
PLAY HUB KITAKAMI" will hold its grand opening in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture. Details of the facility can be found on the official website. If you live nearby or are visiting on a trip, please visit the facility.
| Facility Overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | PLAY HUB KITAKAMI |
| Location | 102 Urban Flats Kitakami, 1-9 Saiwai-cho, Kitakami-shi, Iwate |
| Business hours | Weekdays: 13:00 - 20:00 Weekends & Holidays: 10:00 - 20:00 Closed: Monday, Wednesday |
| Management | Iwate e-Sports Association |
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