Great Britain, who play Belgium in the Davis Cup final in Ghent next weekend, will start their 2016 campaign at the 9,000-seat Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham on 4-6 March against Japan, it was announced on Friday.

While the city’s National Exhibition Centre has hosted ties, the former National Indoor Arena was last used for the competition in 1999, when Great Britain played the United States.

Japan, who lost to Canada this year, remained in the World Group by beating Colombia in the play-offs.

This will be the first encounter between Great Britain and Japan since 1931 and the winner plays Kazakhstan or Serbia in the quarter-finals in July.

“We are delighted to be heading to Birmingham,” the Great Britain captain, Leon Smith, said. “It is a city with a great sporting history that has hosted some incredible Davis Cup ties in the past. Our fans have supported us so well this year and they really make a difference. Japan will be a tough contest but I’m sure the Birmingham fans will get right behind us and make as much noise as they can.”

Tickets go on sale online at 8am on 24 November for British Tennis members, with the general sale opening at 8am on 2 December.