[1] Nagoya Grampus were the cup holders, having won their first title in 2021.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima won their first League Cup title, beating Cerezo Osaka 2–1 in the final.

Four clubs involved in the 2022 AFC Champions League received byes for the group and play-off stages: Kawasaki Frontale, Yokohama F. Marinos, Vissel Kobe, and Urawa Red Diamonds.

They were divided into four groups of four teams by their finish on the 2021 J1 and J2 Leagues (parenthesized below).

The play-off stage was played as two-legged ties of two teams each.

The away goals rule, an extra time (away goals rule not applied for the scores in the extra time), and a penalty shoot-out were used if needed.

The semi-finals were played between four quarter-final winners as two-legged ties of two teams each.

This was also Sanfrecce Hiroshima's third J.League Cup final, losing the previous two.