Thinking about going to Japan to watch baseball

[seanofjapan]

I live in Japan (and have spent 13 years of my life here) so I can probably offer some tips.

Viewing games live here is a great experience, but quite different from the US.

If you want the "full" Japanese experience, my recommendation would be to get seats in the right field bleacher seats. These are where the home team`s supporter`s club (Ouendan) sit. Sitting with them is an experience nothing like in the US. You are surrounded by the most intense baseball fans in the world, with volunteers waving gigantic flags, playing instruments and engaging in organized cheering throughout the game. They are some colorful characters out there, half of them look like they are members of the Yakuza, but if you are a baseball fan willing to root for the home team then you are welcome.

This is what it looks like, though the video doesn`t do it justice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9qnhtcJ8C4　

If you are the type who just wants to sit and quietly watch the game, then the infield seats are for you, but I do recommend trying right field sometimes (if you are rooting for the visiting team, the left field bleacher seats are reserved for their supporters club).

The best stadium by far to watch a game is Koshien, home of the Hanshin Tigers (located in the suburbs between Osaka and Kobe). Its a pre-war stadium that has been recently renovated, but maintains all of its old-school charm. It still has the all-dirt infield that all Japanese stadiums used to have. Jingu Stadium in Tokyo (home of the Yakult Swallows) is the only other stadium of historical interest still in use, and it is also worth checking out but isn`t as nice as Koshien.

If you are a traditionalist like me, one downside of watching games elsewhere is that half of the teams play in ugly domes (Giants, Dragons, Hawks, Lions, Fighters) which....I just hate. Stadium construction is just now catching up to the US trend from the 90s of retro ballparks, Hiroshima just opened the first such stadium in Japan and it looks like a nice place to see the Carp play (I`ve never been to a game there, but have seen it from the window of bullet trains as I pass through the city sometimes).

[prestigecollectibles]

If you go to Japan and plan to travel around the country be sure to buy the Japan Rail Pass which allows unlimited travel on the JR Lines including most Shinkansen (bullet trains). The pass must be purchased online before entering Japan. I am going to Japan in November to look for vintage baseball collectibles.

Most of the great US tours to Japan were played at Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo and Koshien Stadium in Osaka. Koshien also has a nice baseball museum.

The Hall of Fame and Museum is located at the Tokyo Dome. I have spent many hours in their library researching vintage sports publications.

[Griffins]

I"m just researching a trip there next year. I came across this site that can help with tickets if you don't want to do it yourself.

http://www.japanballtickets.com/works.html

[baseball tourist]

Enjoying a game or two while visiting Japan is def on my bucket list! Go for it and pls report back.

[bbcard1]

I would like to go to Cuba on a baseball sabbatical. Sadly my wife has no interest in going to Cuba. Were I ever in Japan, hell yeah I'd go to a game.

I remember once driving though the hinterlands of Virginia on my way to a client meeting (FarmVille VA as I recall) where they had radio broadcasts of the local little league. I found myself listening despite the fact that I knew none of the players or very little about the town for that matter. That is when I knew I was probably over the edge as a baseball fan. Common little Jimmy Flora, you're due, dammit!

[Leon]

Great info, thanks for sharing!!

Originally Posted by seanofjapan

I live in Japan (and have spent 13 years of my life here) so I can probably offer some tips.

Viewing games live here is a great experience, but quite different from the US.

If you want the "full" Japanese experience, my recommendation would be to get seats in the right field bleacher seats. These are where the home team`s supporter`s club (Ouendan) sit. Sitting with them is an experience nothing like in the US. You are surrounded by the most intense baseball fans in the world, with volunteers waving gigantic flags, playing instruments and engaging in organized cheering throughout the game. They are some colorful characters out there, half of them look like they are members of the Yakuza, but if you are a baseball fan willing to root for the home team then you are welcome.

This is what it looks like, though the video doesn`t do it justice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9qnhtcJ8C4　

If you are the type who just wants to sit and quietly watch the game, then the infield seats are for you, but I do recommend trying right field sometimes (if you are rooting for the visiting team, the left field bleacher seats are reserved for their supporters club).

The best stadium by far to watch a game is Koshien, home of the Hanshin Tigers (located in the suburbs between Osaka and Kobe). Its a pre-war stadium that has been recently renovated, but maintains all of its old-school charm. It still has the all-dirt infield that all Japanese stadiums used to have. Jingu Stadium in Tokyo (home of the Yakult Swallows) is the only other stadium of historical interest still in use, and it is also worth checking out but isn`t as nice as Koshien.

If you are a traditionalist like me, one downside of watching games elsewhere is that half of the teams play in ugly domes (Giants, Dragons, Hawks, Lions, Fighters) which....I just hate. Stadium construction is just now catching up to the US trend from the 90s of retro ballparks, Hiroshima just opened the first such stadium in Japan and it looks like a nice place to see the Carp play (I`ve never been to a game there, but have seen it from the window of bullet trains as I pass through the city sometimes).

[DeafSports]

Thanks for all great inputs. I simply can't wait to make this happen. I was able to find a great hotel with wifi here at Malapascia Island, Philippines to check this post and starting making plans for my Japan trip.

Im hoping to do all 12 parks in two weeks. Gonna be tough but nothing is impossible

Hope to find baseball card store or show there. Would love to pick up a vintage stuff to remember my time down there.

You guys are the best, period.

Best,
Danny

[seanofjapan]

Originally Posted by SirGabel

Thanks for all great inputs. I simply can't wait to make this happen. I was able to find a great hotel with wifi here at Malapascia Island, Philippines to check this post and starting making plans for my Japan trip.

Im hoping to do all 12 parks in two weeks. Gonna be tough but nothing is impossible

Hope to find baseball card store or show there. Would love to pick up a vintage stuff to remember my time down there.

You guys are the best, period.

Best,
Danny

If you are looking to visit some card shops, take a look at Dave`s blog posts from when he did a tour of Tokyo baseball card shops, there is some useful info there (some might be a bit out of date since it was in 2013, but it makes for interesting reading anyway):

http://japanesebaseballcards.blogspo...l/Card%20Shops