Poketinerary

Baseball is arguably the most popular sport in Japan and games are known for their very lively atmosphere, organised cheering, and passionate fans. All things we can confirm, having attended games ourselves. Even as non baseball fans, it was a great experience and something we aim to do once every time we visit Japan.

The top league is Nippon Professional Baseball and features teams from cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima.

Attending a game is in our opinion, as much of a cultural experience as you can have in Japan.

Even if you have never watched a baseball game before, attending a game whilst in Japan is without question something we would strongly recommend.

Here’s why based on our experience:

• Tickets are inexpensive. Ranging from between about £10 – £80 per ticket (depending on your seat selection of course). Even the cheaper seats are not ‘bad’ by any stretch.
• A true cultural experience with unique chants, coordinated cheering (including props like small team umbrellas) and overall a great vibe. Kawaii culture extends into baseball.
• Stadium food and drinks are pretty good and also relatively inexpensive especially when compared to what you would expect in a western country.
• Cleanliness and safety (much like most of Japan) is top notch.

Give it a go, especially on a warm evening with clear skies, what an experience!

There’s a few ways to purchase baseball tickets:

Official Team Website

Most teams sell tickets directly on through their websites. The websites themselves are very typical of the UX design Japan prefers, but translating it to English will help. This is the option we used. Simply Google the team name followed by ‘japan baseball tickets’ and it should be the top option every time.

• Good availability although some of the best seats do go pretty quickly upon being released.
• Official pricing meaning that it is not marked up by a third party.

Convenience Stores (In Japan)

You can purchase tickets in person at various convenience stores in Japan like:

• 7-Eleven
• Lawson
• FamilyMart

The language barrier can make it tricky, but in tourist heavy locations you probably won’t have much issue.

We would recommend buying from the Official Team Website prior to your tip for simplicity and to ensure you get better seat selection. But if it is a spur of the moment decision, then being able to purchase via a convenience store is truly a convenient alternative.

Tickets are usually released 1-2 months in advance of each game.

Popular teams and weekend games typically sell out especially in cities like Tokyo, with the best seats being purchased quickly upon being made available.

We recommend booking early to guarantee tickets especially if you have specific dates in mind.

Step 1: Choose a Team and Game That Interests you

Naturally the timing of your visit along with your destination play a vital role in your selection, but depending on the duration of your stay, you may have several available options.

Step 2: Select Booking Method

Online:

Simply Google the team name followed by ‘japan baseball tickets’ and it should be the top option.

Via a Convenience Store in Japan:

Whilst availability is not guaranteed, if this is the option you take and are able to buy, then disregard the rest of the steps!

Step 3: Select a Date

When you are on the desired teams website select your preferred date and thus game.

Step 4: Select Your Desired Seat

Japanese stadiums offer different types of seating based on base sides, but generally:

• Outfield sections will considered to be ‘cheering sections’.
• Infield
• Premium or box seats

Step 5: Select the Number of Seats

After selecting the seat type, you will then need to choose the number of seats you wish to purchase.

When booking multiple seats, it is important to double check that the seats are located next to each other. This information will be stated on the confirmation screen prior to proceeding with the purchase.

While the system attempts to place multiple seat bookings together, availability decreases closer to the game date. This means it may require trying various ticket types to obtain seats next to each other – if at all possible!

Step 6: Complete Your Purchase

After ensuring your tickets are seated together (if booking multiple) click on payment and follow the instructions.

Note that certain team websites only allow Google pay if using a desktop browser. If this is an issue, we recommend buying via a mobile browser instead. As using an iPhone browser for instance, will make Apple pay an option. Tokyo Yakult Swallows are an example of this.

Here’s some popular options for teams to consider:

• Tokyo Yakult Swallows – They play at the Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium in Shinjuku Tokyo and are known for their great fan atmosphere (which we confirm from our experience).
• Yomiuri Giants – They play at the Tokyo Dome which is just north of Chiyoda City Tokyo and they are considered Tokyo’s most famous team.
• Hanshin Tigers – They play at the Hanshin Kōshien Stadium located in Nishinomiya between Osaka and Kobe and are known for their VERY passionate supporters.
• Hiroshima Toyo Carp – They play at the (enjoyably named) Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium located in Hiroshima. The unique local culture is what makes them stand out.

For many visitors, experiencing a Japanese Baseball game is trip highlight! Here’s a few tips based on our own experience watching the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, that will not only help you book, but enjoy the Japan Baseball experience:

• Book EARLY for weekend games and popular teams as well as to guarantee multiple seat bookings are located next to each other.
• Check stadium locations versus your itinerary and chosen hotel to avoid long travel times. Even if it means selecting a different team!
• Consider weekday games if availability for weekend games is affecting desired seat selection or multiple seat placement.
• Avoid dedicated cheering sections as you will be expected to cheer and chant the entire game (really!).
• Book via a mobile browser for added payment options especially if Apple pay is preferred to Google pay.