If you are visiting Japan, it’s very possible that you’ll get burnt out from visiting all the ancient temples and glittering skyscrapers. You will want to find other activities to do that will add a bit of variety to your trip. A great way to experience a different side of Japan is to attend a baseball game. Baseball is extremely popular in Japan, and the nice thing about it is that it’s familiar to many Westerners, too. This means it’s possible to attend a game, understand the action, and still appreciate the differences that make baseball culture in Japan unique. Here is our guide to Tokyo Dome baseball tickets: how to buy them and what to expect when you attend a game.
Why is baseball so popular in Japan?
Until baseball arrived in Japan, local sports tended to focus on solitary pursuits, such as sumo wrestling. Baseball was one of the first sports that introduced concepts of teamwork and discipline that appealed to the Japanese psyche. Its popularity increased after World War II, when American GIs promoted the sport. Today, its’ common to see Major League Baseball in North America sign players from Nippon Professional Baseball, the top league in Japan. More than 60 players have moved from the NPB to the MLB.
How to buy Tokyo Dome baseball tickets
Online from the official site
The Yomiuri Giants call Tokyo Dome home. The official site to purchase Tokyo Dome baseball tickets to see the Yomiuri Giants play is called Giants Online Ticket. This is the easiest way to purchase tickets in advance, as the site is in English and major credit cards are accepted.
There are two options for receiving tickets. You can select “Print at Home” to receive an email with a QR code for each ticket, which can be shown on a smartphone at the gate, or printed out in advance. Or, you can select “Pickup at Outlet” to pick up your tickets at a local 7-11 store. If you select this option, you’ll receive an electronic voucher to print and bring to the store to exchange for your tickets. There is a service fee for this option (¥165). Occasionally, visitors to Japan encounter problems entering their foreign credit card details. This is when using the Pickup at Outlet option comes in handy.
Online from a concierge service
There are also some ticket concierge services aimed at tourists. One such service is Japan Ball Tickets. This site allows you to purchase tickets using a foreign credit card to have tickets purchased on your behalf. They will be delivered to your hotel by your check-in date. A service fee is charged. Note that this service can hook you up with any Japan baseball tickets, not just tickets to Tokyo Dome. The Yomiuri Giants have an English-language site to buy Tokyo Dome baseball tickets online, but not all of Japan’s professional teams do. A concierge service is the next best thing for situations like this.
You can also buy tickets in-person at Tokyo Dome, but many games sell out in advance. It’s best to purchase your tickets ahead of time.
Similar to the MLB, the NPB season runs from April to October.
How much do Tokyo Dome baseball tickets cost?
The cheapest reserved seats start at about ¥2000. Tickets go up to ¥6800 for the best seats. You can find a seating chart with the price for each category of seats labelled here.
About Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is part of an entertainment complex known as Tokyo Dome City. The complex includes an amusement park, the LaQua spa resort, a 43-story hotel, and the stadium itself. In front of the stadium there are merch stores and interactive games.
The stadium is three stops from Ikebukuro via the Marunouchi Subway line. The closest station on this line is Korakuen. You can also reach it on the Chuo line, where it is between Shinjuku and Akihabara. Get off at the Suidobashi stop.
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Inside Tokyo Dome: tips for attending a baseball game
Gates open 2 hours prior to the start of the game.
Tokyo Dome is cashless – be sure to bring a credit card!
There are no bag restrictions at Tokyo Dome, though you should be mindful of not impeding other patrons’ view of the game. Also keep in mind that stadium seating is rather cramped and there’s not a ton of space to stow your belongings under your chair. You can bring in your own food and drink (no glass bottles) as well as professional cameras.
Make sure to enjoy the food available at the concession stands. You’ll find all kinds of treats unique to Japan: ramen, bento boxes, and curry. You’ll also find these fun ice cream sandwiches shaped like the stadium itself.
If you really need a taste of home, you can also find some Western concessions here, such as Baskin-Robbins, Taco Bell, and hot dog and hamburger counters.
Beer girls (called uriko in Japanese) roam the stadium with kegs strapped to their backs, selling beer to patrons in their seats – very convenient!
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In conclusion…
We really enjoyed attending a baseball game at Tokyo Dome. The Yomiuri Giants lost to the visiting Yokohama BayStars, but it was still a fun outing. There were choreographed chants and cheers, brass bands and flags waving in the stands, and plenty of team spirit. Have you been to a baseball game at Tokyo Dome or any of Japan’s other NPB stadiums? Let us know in the comments below.
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