For a baseball game in Japan, I recommend buying tickets online through the home team’s official website. You can see which seats are available before planning your day around the game, and avoid traveling to the stadium only to find that it’s sold out.

When choosing a game, I suggest being flexible about the teams unless there’s one you particularly want to see. I think the singing and coordinated cheering make a game well worth including if you enjoy watching sport, so there’s plenty to look forward to even if you aren’t watching your favorite team.

In Tokyo, that means comparing the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium. Both have English booking options, and checking both teams gives you more dates to choose from. If you’re also planning time in nearby Yokohama, you could include the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in your search.

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Buying Baseball Tickets Online

Start by finding a game near where you’ll be staying. Japan’s main professional league is Nippon Professional Baseball, usually shortened to NPB, and you can reach its regular-season calendar through the NPB English website. The season generally runs from late March into early autumn, with postseason games following.

As you look through the schedule, check where each game is being played. A team may be playing away, and even a home game can take place outside its usual stadium. Once you’ve found a game that fits your trip, follow the home team’s official ticket link to its booking service.

Tickets may not be on sale yet, even if the game is already on the calendar. In that case, I recommend noting the release date and preparing to book when sales open, especially if you only have one possible date. Look for the general sale or the sale for overseas visitors, with the opening time given in Japan time. The Giants’ English ticket release schedule, for example, covers groups of games. If you’re arranging several activities, my guide to what to book in advance for Japan can help you decide which reservations to make first.

When tickets are available, use the seating chart to compare the view and price, including booking fees. If you’re going with friends or family, check that your seats are together before paying. You’ll also need to choose how to receive your tickets, so read the collection or electronic-ticket instructions before completing the purchase.

Will You Need to Collect Your Tickets?

Some tickets can be shown on your phone, while others need to be collected in Japan. Your confirmation email should explain what to do, but the confirmation itself may not be your entry ticket. Open the ticket link or collection voucher so you know what you’ll need at the gate.

With the Giants’ English booking service, you can choose a QR ticket to display on your phone or print. There’s also a 7-Eleven collection option with separate collection times. I suggest choosing the QR ticket if you can, since it saves you a stop at the store.

For the Swallows’ English ticket service, you’ll currently need Apple Pay or Google Pay to complete the purchase. The tickets are electronic, so you can display them on your device or print them without visiting a convenience store. It’s worth making sure you can pay through one of those services before spending time choosing your seats.

If you choose a ticket that requires collection, keep the voucher or collection number and use the store chain or counter named in the instructions. Check both the payment deadline and the collection deadline, as these can differ when you’ve reserved online and will pay in Japan.

Official Websites for Japan’s Baseball Teams

Use the team links below to find ticket information for the cities you’ll be visiting. Some lead to English pages, though the booking service may be on a separate site and isn’t always in English.

Team	Home City or Area	Official Website or Ticket Page
Yomiuri Giants	Tokyo	Giants English Website
Tokyo Yakult Swallows	Tokyo	Swallows English Ticket Information
Hanshin Tigers	Nishinomiya, between Osaka and Kobe	Tigers English Website
Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Hiroshima	Carp English Website
Yokohama DeNA BayStars	Yokohama	BayStars English Website
Chunichi Dragons	Nagoya	Dragons Official Website
Chiba Lotte Marines	Chiba	Marines Official Website
Orix Buffaloes	Osaka, with some games in Kobe	Buffaloes Ticket Information
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Fukuoka	Hawks English Website
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido	Fighters Ticket Information
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles	Sendai	Eagles Ticket Information
Saitama Seibu Lions	Tokorozawa, Saitama	Lions Ticket Information

For BayStars tickets, you can also use the English ticket link on the main ticket information page. This gives you another way to reach the English booking service if you have trouble finding it through the team overview.

Buying Tickets at the Ballpark

If you decide to see a game at the last minute, buying at the stadium can work as long as there are seats left. At Meiji Jingu Stadium and Yokohama Stadium, for example, there are no counter sales once advance tickets have sold out. For a game you’re especially looking forward to, I recommend reserving rather than leaving it until you arrive.

Before setting off, check the team’s same-day sales notice for availability and ticket-window hours. The opening time and accepted payment methods vary, so use the information for your particular game. If it’s sold out, try another date or opponent, or a nearby team, before rearranging the rest of your trip.

Choosing a Stadium in Tokyo or Yokohama

If several games fit your dates, the stadium can help you choose between them. Tokyo Dome lets you watch indoors, while Meiji Jingu and Yokohama are outdoor stadiums. Yokohama is a separate city south of Tokyo, so allow time for the journey there and back if you’re staying in Tokyo.

Tokyo Dome

For an indoor game, I recommend Tokyo Dome, home of the Yomiuri Giants. You can combine the game with time at Tokyo Dome City, where the surrounding attractions, shops, and restaurants give you somewhere to spend the afternoon or eat before heading inside.

If you’re hoping to see the Giants play the Tigers, check the sale schedule early, particularly when you only have one possible date.

Yokohama Stadium

A BayStars game is a good way to finish a day in Yokohama if you enjoy watching baseball. I suggest reserving once your date is fixed, so you can plan the rest of the day knowing you’ll have a seat. As it’s an outdoor stadium, keep an eye on the forecast and game announcements before you go.

Meiji Jingu Stadium

For an outdoor game without leaving Tokyo, consider watching the Swallows at Meiji Jingu Stadium. It’s a 5-minute walk from Gaiemmae Station on the Ginza subway line, so you can reach it by subway after spending the day elsewhere in the city.

Before You Go to the Game

I suggest arriving with time to find your gate and seat, then get something to eat before play starts. At Tokyo Dome, the food and entertainment include ramen, rice bowls, mascots, and performances between innings. Leaving some time to look around means you can enjoy the food without rushing to your seat for the first pitch.

Have your tickets ready before you leave, whether that means opening them on a charged phone or bringing printed or collected tickets. You’ll also want a way to pay for food and drinks. Tokyo Dome is cashless, so bring a supported card or another accepted payment method if you’re going there.

For an outdoor game, check the team’s announcements if rain is forecast. If the game is canceled, follow your ticket seller’s instructions for refunds, including any deadline for requesting one.