Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe briefed the media on the club’s preparations in Japan ahead of a pair of matches in the J.League International Series 2024 powered by docomo.

The Magpies are set to take on Urawa Reds at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Wednesday night before facing Yokohama F·Marinos at the Japan National Stadium on Saturday evening, with tickets still available for both matches which will be shown live around the world.

With a packed itinerary ahead, Newcastle have wasted no time in getting acquainted with Japan on and off the pitch.

"It’s an amazing country, an amazing city," Howe said after training in Tokyo. "We’re very privileged to be here."

Despite the sweltering conditions, spirits are high throughout the Newcastle camp as they look to ramp up their pre-season preparations ahead of an intense Premier League campaign.

“We’re really looking forward to the two games. I think they will be high-level games in what will be extreme heat, which I’d love to think will help us for the new season,” Howe said.

The Magpies will be battling not only the sky-high temperatures but also two of the J.League’s most storied clubs, who are both in mid-season form and have reached the finals of the last two editions of the AFC Champions League.

"I think athletically it’s a really big test for us — probably the ideal test for where we are in preseason," Howe said.

"We’re getting closer to the first game and I think this will be an ideal week."

Tickets for Newcastle's matches on Wednesday in Saitama and on Saturday in Tokyo are still on sale, with overseas broadcast details for the games available here.