The chanting of the gang, the crack of the bat, the motion being displayed on the JumboTron and…edamame? The sport of baseball isn’t simply one in all America’s favourite pastimes, the Japanese are keen about it too, however they do issues just a little bit in a different way.
Seeing a Tokyo baseball sport whereas touring to the nation was on my bucket checklist, however I rapidly realized that it wasn’t going to be your common ballpark expertise.
Tokyo Baseball Groups
Two Tokyo Baseball groups name Japan’s capital their dwelling: the long-lasting Yomiuri Giants and the spirited Tokyo Yakult Swallows. The Yomiuri Giants, with a famend historical past and a staggering 22 championship titles, dominate the scene, drawing followers from throughout the nation.
There are additionally three neighboring groups, the Saitama Seibu Lions, Yokohama DeNA Baystars, and Chiba Lotte Marines. Plus, Central and Pacific Leagues characteristic sturdy groups just like the Hanshin Tigers (one other fan favourite), Hiroshima Toyo Carp, ORIX Buffaloes, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Stadiums In (or Close to) Tokyo
Tokyo’s baseball scene has some cool locations to catch a sport. Proper within the metropolis, you’ve bought the well-known Tokyo Dome, also referred to as the “Large Egg,” the place the Yomiuri Giants play. Then there’s the standard Jingu Stadium, surrounded by greenery, internet hosting the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and making a extra old-school baseball vibe.
For those who’re up for a brief journey outdoors Tokyo, there’s Yokohama Stadium for the Yokohama DeNA Baystars, ZOZO Marine Stadium cheering on the Chiba Lotte Marines, and the MetLife Dome, dwelling turf for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Methods to Purchase Tickets for a Baseball Sport in Japan
There are a number of methods to attain an NPB ticket, every with its personal benefits and quirks.
- Official Group Web sites: Probably the most dependable supply, with English choices typically out there and early entry to presale tickets. Requires registering an account and restricted resale choices.
- Ticket Resale Platforms (like ViaGoGo or JapanBall Tickets: Wider choice, potential offers on sold-out video games, and handy resale choices (albeit at larger costs).
I bought two tickets to the Tokyo Swallows sport by japanball.com, whereas nonetheless in the USA. And although they charged a hefty sixty greenback price for resort supply, on the time, it was well worth the consolation of realizing that the tickets have been a safe deal. However, we might have simply bought tickets for cheaper for this explicit baseball sport on the stadium, saving sixty bucks, as a result of the Swallows aren’t as in style as Japan’s beloved Yomiuri Giants, which simply promote out months prematurely.
- Comfort Shops (like Lawson): You should buy tickets on the kiosks inside, nevertheless (so far as I’m conscious), every little thing is in Japanese so you might have to ask for help in navigating the machine.
- On the Stadium: Is less complicated for much less in style groups, however sells out rapidly for in style video games/groups (e.g. Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers), to not point out the lengthy traces.
When you’ve bought your ticket (apart from on the stadium), how do you truly get it? Listed below are the choices:
- Digital Supply (QR Code): Commonest and handy. Obtain a QR code through e-mail, and current it on the stadium entrance for scanning. No bodily ticket wanted.
- Ticket Pickup at Stadium: Choose this throughout buy and choose up bodily tickets (utilizing the order quantity and password despatched to your e-mail) at designated kiosks across the stadium of your alternative. Most popular if unfamiliar with QR codes or wanting a tangible ticket.
- Mail Supply to a Japanese Deal with: Accessible on some crew web sites or platforms, particularly for international vacationers. Consider mailing time and extra charges. Affirm resort insurance policies concerning package deal deliveries.
P.S. When catching an NPB sport, observe that particular seats are reserved for dwelling and away crew followers. Sometimes, the primary base aspect and proper subject cater to dwelling lovers, whereas the left subject bleachers accommodate the street crew’s supporters. The remaining? Nicely, these are the ‘impartial’ zones. Remember to test the format (like this one from Jingu Stadium) when deciding on your seat.
What To Anticipate From A Baseball Sport In Tokyo
Discovering Your Seat on the Stadium
Navigating the stadium generally is a breeze, however there’s a small problem – most tickets are in Japanese. For those who’re not a professional at studying Japanese, discovering your seat may seem to be fixing a puzzle. Don’t fear, although! The stadiums will normally have useful assistants who’re very happy to information you to your spot. Simply search for their pleasant faces across the stadium, they usually’ll ensure you get to your seat with out a hitch.
After we entered the Jingu stadium, confusion set in since my tickets have been written fully in Japanese, however all of the attendants on the station have been very useful with pointing us in the fitting course.
I had bought the “higher” tickets, which have been thought-about the medium degree value, however our seats have been nonetheless nearly on the tippy-top of the stadium. The nosebleeds actually. What was baffling, is the rows and rows of empty seats in entrance of me. However, we have been proper between dwelling base and 1st. Not a foul view of the motion. With binoculars.
The blue seats have been fairly slender and brief in size to chairs instantly in entrance of us, particularly for six foot 2 Peter. However, no one sat surrounding us in a 5 seat radius, so all was good.
Getting Meals & Drinks
From the Gaiemmae subway station, we took exit #3 and simply adopted the gang to Jingu Stadium. We handed many distributors alongside the best way promoting sodas, beer, edamame and even sushi. You might be allowed to carry outdoors meals into this stadium, so load up. We weren’t conscious of this till after we entered.
Similar to in the USA, you possibly can take pleasure in beer through the sport – simply look ahead to the uriko beer ladies with kegs on their backs. And the way in regards to the meals you should buy on the stadium? It’s superior! There’s loads of stalls promoting conventional and not-so-traditional meals (like scorching canine!). Strive yakitori, takoyaki, yakisoba noodles, and melon soda – it’ll be a Japanese meals tasting journey!
Enjoyable Baseball Sport Traditions
If you’re something like me, the very first thing you’ll discover is how extremely clear the outside stadium is. Attendants have been diligently roaming the grounds armed with plastic luggage to select up each scrap of trash.
For those who arrive early sufficient, you is likely to be fortunate sufficient to catch a pre-show. Earlier than the sport I went to that they had a enjoyable tug-of-war with the children within the crowd. Then, to our shock, the cheerleaders made their entrance. What? There are not any cheerleaders in baseball. There was in Japan— my husband thought this was an excellent concept.
When the sport will get thrilling, and through the seventh-inning stretch – every crew has a particular custom, just like the Tokyo Swallows’ umbrella dance or the Hanshin Tigers’ “Rokko Oroshi” chant.
Look out for the ouendan, fan teams on the left and proper outfields. Choose your aspect and be a part of the cheers – left is for the visiting crew, proper is for the house crew. Don’t fear in case you don’t know the phrases – simply comply with the gang! Get pleasure from totally different chants and songs for groups and gamers. Cheer loud when your crew is up, however maintain it quiet once they’re on the sector.
All through the whole sport I attended, there was chanting and singing for nearly each cause; an out, a brand new participant got here as much as bat or a steal. Then got here the banging collectively of plastic baseball bats in rhythm with the singing. And when a participant scored a run, the gang waved tiny open umbrellas. It was enjoyable!
Bear in mind, in case you’re seated on the house crew’s reserved aspect (or vice versa), keep away from carrying the opposing crew’s colours and merchandise on that a part of the stadium, as it may be seen as disrespectful. And as for heckling? Depart it on the door. Japanese baseball tradition values sportsmanship and courtesy, so maintain the cheers optimistic and the boos non-existent.
Attending to the Tokyo Stadiums
Attending to Tokyo Dome
Attending to Tokyo Dome is a cinch! It might take you a fast 3-minute stroll from both Korakuen Station (through the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi or Namboku subway line) or Suidobashi Station (on the JR Chuo Sobu Line/Subway Mita Line).
For those who’re taking the Subway Oedo Line, you may get off at Kasuga Station (6-min stroll). Alternatively, go to Iidabashi Station (additionally 6 minutes), the place totally different traces just like the JR Chuo Line, Chuo-Sobu Line, Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, Yurakucho Line, Toei Oedo Line, and Tozai Line join. Whichever means you go, Tokyo Dome is true there, and it’s a straightforward stroll from totally different elements of town!
Attending to Jingu Stadium
Jingu Stadium is tremendous straightforward to succeed in with varied public transportation choices. If you need a fast and fairly journey, take the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line to Gaienmae Station (Exit 3). From there, it’s only a peaceable 5-minute stroll by Meiji Jingu Gaien Park to get to the stadium. Or, in case you take pleasure in a barely longer stroll, go for the Toei Subway Oedo Line to Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station (Exit A2) and take a 12-minute stroll by the park to the stadium.
For prepare lovers, you possibly can choose JR Shinanomachi Station (Exit) or JR Sendagaya Station, each providing relaxed 12- and 15-minute walks respectively by the neighborhoods earlier than reaching Jingu Stadium.
One of many coolest issues to do in Tokyo is go to a Japanese baseball sport. You may really feel the thrill as the gang cheers, the crew’s cheerleaders dance, and everybody joins in through the seventh-inning stretch. It’s not only a sport; it’s an opportunity to expertise Japan’s love for baseball up shut. With the gang cheering and the gamers swinging their bats, it’s a surefire method to have a tremendous time.