Getting your hands on NPB baseball tickets before visiting Japan is not always an easy task. I would be lying if I said that getting tickets to some games can be nearly impossible before you get to Japan. For most visitors to Japan, the first stop is Tokyo. If you have a few days, I’ll walk you through buying Yakult Swallows tickets that you can watch at the historic Meiji Jingu Stadium in Shinjuku City near Harajuku.
Going to an NPB baseball game in Japan is an incredible experience. The Tokyo Yakult Swallows have one of the most loyal fan bases in the country, and experiencing a game at Meiji Jingu Stadium should be on every baseball fan’s bucket list. This guide will explain exactly how you can buy Yakult Swallows tickets before you even set foot in Japan.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows Baseball Team History
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows are one of two NPB teams based in Tokyo, with the other being the Yomiuri Giants. They were established in January 1950 as the Kokutestu Swallows under their then-corporate owners, the Japan National Railways. How did the team end up being called the Swallows? At the time of their inception, Japan National Railways operated the country’s fastest express train called the Tsubame, which is the Japanese word for the bird swallow.
In 1965, the team was acquired by the Sankei Shinbun, which is a daily national newspaper in Japan. The next season, Sankei Shinbun changed the name of the team to the Sankei Atoms. At the time, the company was a major advocate for nuclear energy, and the cartoon Astro Boy was very popular. Astro Boy would eventually become a part of the team’s logo!
Just five years after acquiring the team, Sankei Shinbun sold the Atoms to Yakult Honsha in 1970. Yakult kept the “Atoms” name until 1973, but in 1974, due to pressure from the public, the team name was switched back to the Swallows. In 2006, Yakult officially added “Tokyo” to the team name, making them the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows Pennant History
It wasn’t an easy start for the Swallows franchise. The team did not record a winning season until its eleventh year in the league in 1961. The Swallows haven’t had the most storied history, especially compared to their cross-town rivals, the Giants.
But there have been pockets of success at Meiji Jingu Stadium. The Swallows have won the Japan Series on six different occasions, with the most recent being in 2021. The team has also won the Central League Pennant on nine occasions and made the NPB playoffs seven times.
In 2021, the Swallows defeated the Orix Buffaloes in the Japan Series by a score of four games to two. In the regular season, the Swallows won the Central League Pennant after posting a record of 73-52-18. Swallows slugger Munetaki Murakami won the Central League MVP award after hitting 39 home runs and 112 RBI.
How to Buy Yakult Swallows Tickets Before Going to Japan
When it comes to buying Yakult Swallows tickets before going to Japan, the team has made it really easy for foreigners. Unlike with other NPB teams, the Yakult Swallows do not force you to sign up for a membership or have a team account to buy tickets.
The problem with creating an account on a Japanese website is that they often ask for names to be in Kanji and Katakana, as well as a Japanese phone number and address. Although you can usually use your hotel address and phone number, it can be inconvenient if the site needs to confirm your account through SMS.
The Yakult Swallows have made it incredibly easy to buy tickets before going to Japan. All you need to do is head to the English Yakult Swallows website and hit the red Purchase button at the bottom of the screen.
On the next screen, you’ll be able to choose which game or games you are interested in attending. The Yakult Swallows tickets site will only list games being played at home.
Please note that the Yakult Swallows release tickets throughout the season, so the game you are interested in may not have tickets for sale yet. During the season, Yakult Swallows tickets will go on sale about a month ahead of their scheduled date.
Where To Sit at Yakult Swallows Games
Once you have found the game you want to attend, click on it to choose your seats. The Yakult Swallows site has made it easy for you to choose the right tickets and seats for your viewing preferences. Here are some of the choices you can make when choosing seats:
- To watch the game near the players!
- To watch the game from the seat behind the plate!
- To watch the game viewing the entire stadium!
- To root for the Swallows with the traditional “cheering umbrella”!
- To root for the visiting team!
Depending on which of these options you choose, the site will recommend certain sections of the stadium. Each section has a different price for the tickets. The closer to home plate and the field, the more expensive the tickets are. The cheapest Yakult Swallows tickets are those in the section supporting the visiting team.
The best place to sit at Yakult Swallows games is a subjective topic. Obviously, the best views of the action are going to be right up close in the SS and S sections. These are also the most expensive and most locals will tell you it isn’t where the diehard Swallows fans sit. As with most baseball stadiums, you will find the most boisterous fans in the outfield bleachers.
There aren’t many bad seats at Meiji Jingu Stadium. The last time I went to a game there, I sat right up close in the SS section along the first baseline. It was an incredible view and an experience I will never forget!
How to Pay for Yakult Swallows Tickets
Once you have selected the area you want to sit in, you can choose how many tickets you want to buy. Through the regular site, you can only purchase 12 tickets, and you are not guaranteed to be sitting together.
Now that you know how much you will need to pay for your Yakult Swallows tickets, it’s time to pay! Making online payments on Japanese sites is not always an easy thing to do from abroad. Luckily, the Yakult Swallows have made paying for tickets very easy!
Once you hit the red payment button at the bottom of the page, you can use either Google Pay or Apple Pay to complete the order. No account necessary, no Japanese credit cards, and no address or phone number required. Simply use the credit card associated with your Google Pay or Apple Pay, and you can purchase your Yakult Swallows tickets with the click of a button. It’s that easy!
Even better, you can add your Yakult Swallows tickets directly into your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. No printouts or QR Codes to show when you get to the stadium. Just open your preferred wallet and scan right into the game!
Of all of the NPB games I have bought tickets for over the years, the Swallows was by far the easiest process, especially from abroad. If you are a baseball fan visiting Tokyo, going to a Swallows game is a no-brainer!
Other Ways to Buy Yakult Swallows Tickets
There are several other ways to buy Yakult Swallows tickets online. I will note that these methods are easier for people who are already in Japan. You can use any of the convenience store ticketing sites like Ticket PIA, Seven Ticker, or Lawson Ticket. There is also the option to use the Japanese Swallows site. I have read rumours online that people think the Japanese site offers better ticket selection than the English Swallows site.
I’ve been to several Swallows games over the years and haven’t found this to be the case. I have always been able to get great seats through the English site, including front-row seats behind the plate.
Finally, if you are already in Japan, you can also head to Meiji Jingu Stadium and buy tickets directly from the ticketing office. Two box offices are open throughout the day on game days and even after the game has started. These are located at Gate 7 and Gate 9.
How Much Are Yakult Swallows Tickets?
This is a tricky question to answer. The Yakult Swallows institute dynamic ticket pricing, which means that games that are in higher demand will have more expensive tickets. Tickets are more expensive for weekend games or rivalry games against teams like the Yomiuri Giants or the Hanshin Tigers.
This is the set rate for tickets according to the Yakult Swallows English Ticketing site:
Note the “Swallows Fans Only” sections prohibit fans from wearing the jerseys or shirts of the opposing team. Generally, at NPB games, there is a section in the outfield dedicated to the visiting team’s fans. Like most other NPB stadiums, it is the left side of the outfield bleachers at Meiji Jingu Stadium.
Tickets must be purchased for children over the age of four years. The “child” rate applies to children from four years old to Junior High age.
How to Get to Meiji Jingu Stadium
Meiji Jingu Stadium is located close to Meiji Jingu Shrine in the heart of Shinjuku City near Harajuku and Aoyama. Honestly, on a nice summer day, the stadium is only a 20-minute walk from Harajuku JR Station. I mention this station as the JR Yamanote Line is the most recognizable for most tourists and visitors to Tokyo.
If you’re taking the train into the area, you have a couple of options. By rail, the easiest way is to take the JR Chuo-Sobu Line (Yellow) to Shinanomachi Station (JB 13). The stadium is about a 10-minute walk from this station. You can easily catch this train from major stations like Shinjuku JR Station, Akihabara, or Yoyogi.
Another option is to get off at the Sendagaya Station, which is also on the JR Chuo-Sobu Line. It’s a bit of a further walk from Sendagaya, but on a nice day, it’s worth the few extra minutes. It will take you about 15 minutes to walk from Sendagaya to Meiji Jingu Stadium.
If you want to take the Tokyo Metro Subway to Meiji Jingu Stadium, you have a couple of options. The closest station is Gaiemmae Station (G03), which is on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. Once you come out of this station, the Stadium is just a three-minute walk from Exit 3.
You can also take the Toei Subway Oedo Line and get off at Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station (E25). Leave from Exit A2, and it will be about a 10-minute walk to the stadium from there.
Note that you cannot use the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) with the Tokyo Metro System, but you can with the JR Rail lines.
Is it Worth Going to a Yakult Swallows Game in Tokyo?
Yes! Going to a Yakult Swallows game is one of the things I look forward to the most when visiting Japan in the summer. If you are a baseball fan, there are few better places in the world than Meiji Jingu Stadium to watch a professional baseball game. Of the stadiums I’ve watched an NPB game at, Meiji Jingu and Koshien Stadium in Osaka are my two favourites.
Considering how easy it is to get tickets to a Yakult Swallows game before going to Japan, there is no excuse not to go if you love watching baseball. Even if you don’t, it is such a unique experience that it should be on everyone’s list of things to do when visiting Japan.
I hope this guide answered some of your questions about buying Yakult Swallows tickets for your Japan trip. Hope to see some of you at the ballpark someday!
FAQs
Do Yakult Swallows Games Sell Out?
Yes! Even if the team is not doing well, Yakult Swallows games will still sell out, especially on weekends or against a rival team. Yakult Swallows fans are fiercely loyal, like most NPB fan bases. If you are planning to go watch a game, I recommend buying your Yakult Swallows tickets ahead of time.
Can I buy Yakult Swallows Tickets Before I go to Japan?
Yes! The Yakult Swallows’ English ticket website is very user-friendly. You can purchase tickets before you go to Japan and add them to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
Where Do the Yakult Swallows Play?
The Tokyo Yakult Swallows play their games at the famous Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. It is the oldest baseball stadium in the NPB league and has been used for Swallows home games since 1926.
How Much Do Japanese Baseball Tickets Cost?
Ticket costs will vary by team. Yakult Swallows tickets can be as cheap as 2,000 Yen or even cheaper on the day of the game. The Swallows use dynamic ticket pricing so that as demand for a certain game rises, so too will the prices of the tickets.
