TOKYO GIG GUIDE TICKETS
Some tickets are available to buy on Tokyo Gig Guide in English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean or Portuguese. You can buy them in Japan or from overseas. Check which gigs we have tickets for here. Tickets to more gigs will become available in the near future!
BUYING TICKETS IN JAPAN
For smaller or less famous artists, you can just buy tickets from the venue on the day of the show. For shows that might sell out, or to save about 500 yen, you can get tickets in advance. The details for each gig in this gig guide will often include info about where tickets can be bought from, usually from the venue, the bands/promoters, or from ticket agencies like Lawson, Pia or e+. The numbers next to 'Lawson' or 'Pia' are the code numbers you can use to find the event on the ticket machines. If the place where tickets can be bought is not indicated, check the venue, promoter, or artist's website to find out.
LAWSON TICKETS
Most tickets to larger gigs are sold from Lawson (also called l-tike or LawTicke) within Japan. A convenient way to buy these tickets is from the Loppi machines in the ubiquitous Lawson convenience stores. First you will need to find out the L-code. You will find it on the Tokyo Gig Guide listing, the venue or promoter's page, or search for it on the Lawson ticket website. For concerts in the Tokyo/Kanto area, the L-code usually starts with 7. If you cannot understand much Japanese, print these instructions out and bring them to the store. Ask the clerk for help if you get stuck.
There is an English guide to using the machines on the L-tike site: http://l-tike.com/guide/loppi_english.html
TICKET PIA
Tickets will often be available at Ticket Pia agents around Japan. The website lists the locations of the shops in Japanese. Machines selling Pia tickets can often be found in Family Mart convenience stores. The procedure for buying tickets is similar to the machines in Lawson stores as described above. Otherwise, look out for the little shops displaying the Pia sign. Tell the clerk what concert you want to buy tickets for. It will help if you write down the artist/tour/concert names, the venue and the date on a piece of paper and hand it to the clerk.
There are some Ticket Pia counters in Shinjuku: 1st floor of Keio Department Store, 7th floor of Marui (0101) City, 8th floor of Marui (0101) Young, 2nd floor of Isetan Department Store New Building, and on the 5th floor of Seibu PePe.
In Shibuya: on the 1st floor of Bunkamura, 1st floor of Tokyu Bunka Kaikan, 8th floor of Marui (0101) Young, 10th floor of West Wing of Tokyu Department Store, 2F of 109 building at Ticket Port, and one in Book 1st.
At Narita Airport: There are Ticket Pia counters at Narita Airport so you can get tickets as soon as you arrive in Tokyo. In Terminal One, there is a Ticket Pia in the North Wing on the 1st floor. In Terminal Two, there is one in the Main Building on the 1st floor (Arrivals). They are open from 10am to 8pm. Info. There is also a Lawson convenience store at Narita Airport in Terminal 1, Central Bldg, 5th Floor.
VENUES
The clubs/bars/live houses themselves will sometimes sell tickets in advance. Find directions to the venues on the Live Houses page. Tell the person at the door what concert you want to buy tickets for. If you can't speak Japanese, it will help if you write down the artist/tour/concert names and the date on a piece of paper and hand it to the clerk.
RECORD STORES
The artist, venue or promoter's website will indicate whether tickets are available from certain record stores. Tell the clerk what concert you want to buy tickets for. It will help if you write down the artist/tour/concert names, the venue and the date on a piece of paper and hand it to the clerk. Gigs promoted by Smash usually have tickets available at Ganban in Shibuya.
EPLUS AND OTHERS
There are a few other agencies such as eplus (e+). For help buying tickets from eplus, check out this post on the Tokyo Gig Guide blog. Other agencies are Rakuten Tickets, CN Playguide and JCB Ticket. A knowledge of Japanese will be necessary to order the tickets by internet or telephone from most agencies.
BUYING TICKETS FROM OVERSEAS
Tickets are sold online through Japanese agencies like Lawson, Pia and eplus, but it's only available in Japanese and requires a Japanese address for the tickets to be sent to. If you know someone in Japan, ask them to help you.
Tickets to some events are available from overseas through Tokyo Gig Guide Tickets.
Many tickets to large events are sold on Yahoo Auctions (in Japanese). You could ask a service like Japan Concert Tickets, FDJP, BuySumoTickets or Japonica Market to help.
For smaller events for Japanese artists, just email the band or live house and they will usually be able to put your name down.
ARRIVING AT A GIG
Gigs in Japan start early! Usually about 6:00. The good thing about this is that they finish before the last train. Club events, on the other hand, often start at 11pm or midnight and go until the first train. There are usually two listed times; the opening time when people are admitted, and the start time when the first band or DJ starts. At some shows, particularly larger ones, ticket numbers are called out at opening time and people are admitted in order of ticket number. So the further in advance you buy your ticket, the earlier you can get in. If you can't understand Japanese numbers, show your ticket to the person calling out the numbers and they will help you. If you don't have tickets, arrive early so you can buy them at the door before they sell out. When you arrive at most shows, you will have to pay another 500 yen (or more) for a drink ticket on top of the door price, even if you have an advance ticket. Bring the drink ticket to the bar inside and exchange it for a drink. Upon arriving, you may be asked which band you came to see. Then you are given a handful of flyers. You will often find lockers somewhere inside where you can put your bags and stuff.