Are you thinking of going to a baseball game in Tokyo with kids but want a little more info before committing?
I get it – so here it is!
My boys (ages 11 and 8) wanted to see a soccer game and a baseball game while we were visiting Tokyo, but baseball won out due to the schedules.
My boys love soccer but they were also pumped to see a Japanese baseball game. As longtime Seattle Mariners fans (go Ichiro!), we really wanted to see a game. We weren’t going to be in Osaka to see the Orix Bluewave / Buffaloes (Ichiro’s old squad), so we decided to find a game in Tokyo.
In short, we had a blast! I researched as much as I could, and took notes for you and future me.
If you’re thinking about heading to a baseball game in Tokyo with your kids, I hope our experience will help you make a decision and enjoy your time at the stadium!
Choosing a Team in Tokyo
We wanted to stay in central Tokyo, so our choices were:
Yomiuri Giants
- Play in Tokyo Dome (covered)
- Like the NY Yankees of Japan
Yakult Swallows
- Play at Meiji Jingu Stadium (outdoor)
- Known for having a fun fan atmosphere
Good To Know: If you’re down to travel a little further out, there are other teams in the greater Tokyo area, including the Yokohama DeNA Baystars, the Chiba Lotte Marines, and the Santana Seibu Lions.
Both teams had games during our stay, but I ended up buying Yakult Swallows tickets because I was able to get online within a few hours of ticket sales opening up for one of the series.
Buying Tickets for the Game
I know there are a few ways to get tickets, but was going for simplicity and less stress. Meaning… I wanted to buy our tickets online and have online delivery. No middlemen, and no picking them up at Lawson or from a kind stranger in a dark alley.
Both the Swallows and the Giants have English language ticket sites.
The season’s tickets aren’t released all at once. The sites show the dates tickets will go on sale for certain series. For example, for the Yakult Swallows vs. Chunichi Dragons series on April 3, 4, 5, I was able to purchase tickets on February 21st. The Giants tickets were on a similar timetable.
Bummer for Planners: If you’re 6 months out and planning your Tokyo travels down to the day/hour, going to a baseball game may not be the best choice for you. You kind of have to ‘hold a space’ for the game and hope you’re able to get tickets. If you really want to go, have a backup plan for that time (or just wander Tokyo!).
I paid ¥29,120 for 4 tickets on the 3rd baseline. Exact seats: Gates 9/10, Row 21, Seats 65-66-67-68. Guess where my 8 year old sat? Yes, 6-7. You can get tickets for much less, and if we go back, I will. I didn’t realize how small Meiji Jingu is and that all of the seats are great seats.
Good To Know: The Giants’ ticket page also has options to purchase through official agents. I looked at some of these for games that were basically sold out (we couldn’t get 4 seats together on the teams’ sites) and while these agents did have tickets available, they were about 10x the cost of buying through the regular Giants ticket sales page. Yikes.
Good To Know: Everything I read online said not to buy from 3rd party sites (which I do use for USA sports event tickets). So, I only looked at official team sites (which had the official 3rd party agents I mentioned above).
Here are the links for the teams. You can navigate to the tickets:
Yomiuri Giants – official webpage
Yakult Swallows – official webpage (scroll down for ticket info)
My confirmation email from the Yakult Swallows included the option to download the tickets to my phone. This made scanning the QR code at the stadium entrance easy on game day. The Yomiuri Giants also have the QR code option.
Game Day – Tokyo Baseball with Kids
Our Game Day Details:
Who – Yakult Swallows vs. Chunichi Dragons
Where – Meiji Jingu Stadium (outdoors, home of Yakult Swallows)
When – 2:00pm
Transport
We were coming from another area of Toyko and we arrived in the area by metro. The metro was crowded, but manageable. We had lunch at a metro station during our trip and went shopping for ponchos since it was raining and it was forecast to rain at the game.
Good To Know: We purchased inexpensive ponchos at a metro station pharmacy, but you can also get team ponchos at the stadium team shop.
We arrived at the Gaiemmae Station and walked the 8-10 minutes to Meiji Jingu Stadium.
Team Gear
On the walk, we stopped at the Yakult Swallows Official Team Shop (here) between the metro station and the stadium. It’s a small, 2-story shop with trinkets, towels, little umbrellas (used during the games after runs are scored!), trinkets, ponchos, t-shirts, jerseys (including kids jerseys), other clothing, baseballs, and more. We left with two baseball hats.
We saw more team merchandise at the entrance to the stadium (including merch for the opposing team).
Entering Meiji Jingu
At the stadium entrance, there are food stands, team clothing and gear, and opposing team merchandise for sale.
We entered the stadium at 2:05pm and there were no lines. We scanned our QR codes and I had my backpack checked (food and drinks okay, as long as drinks are in PET plastic bottles). We were given free gifts at the door (although I can’t figure out what they are… similar to carabiners in a swallow shape) and a little bag with tissues.
On our way up to our seats, we passed concessions with food and drinks. I wished my belly wasn’t already full of ramen.
Our Seats at Meiji Jingu & Watching the Game
We sat on the 3rd baseline. We were in seats ‘Gate 9/10, Row 21, Seats 65-68.’ We had a fantastic view of the home dugout and the players on the 3rd baseline.
We weren’t in a chanting/cheering area, meaning our area cheered for good plays but wasn’t standing up like superfans. Those fans are in the outfield. The away team (plenty of them!) were mostly in left field, and the home Swallows super supporters were in center and right field.
It was a rainy day, and the stadium is uncovered, so most people were wearing ponchos or rain gear.
It was an exciting game with a lot of action. The score ended up being 11-6 (Swallows!) and there were multiple homeruns.
Besides the lively chants by the supporters in the outfield, there’s plenty of singing and chanting done by the ‘regular’ fans in seats throughout the stadium. The Swallows fans have mini umbrellas that come up twirling after a run. There are dancers on the field and games during breaks in play.
I walked around and checked out the food options inside. Let’s just say, you won’t go hungry! There is warm and cold food for sale, plus vending machines w simple things like apple juice. You can also bring food in. If you bring drinks, remember you can only have plastic PET bottles.
At the end of the game, the crowd leaves in an orderly way, and everyone takes their trash to the waiting staff and bins at the stairs.
On the way back to the metro station, we stopped in at the Japan baseball store. It’s worth a stop for fans – don’t miss the upstairs area and the work they’re doing breaking in gloves on the bottom floor.
Good To Know: I didn’t see any strollers, but I did see plenty of babies in baby carriers. There were a ton of kids, and it was an extremely family-friendly atmosphere. No yelling, swearing, or rude behavior (of course, we are in Japan). I would feel comfortable bringing a baby or toddler to a Yakult Swallows game. I would pack some reliable snacks and drinks (PET bottles only). You can always leave early if the game is long, and you can take a taxi back to your hotel if little legs are too tired for walking and public transport.
Our Favorite Parts of the Day
11-year-old: Getting a YS hat; seeing so many home runs
8-year-old: The free trinkets and kleenex on entrance; the little umbrellas when they scored a run
My mom: Watching the other spectators
Me: The chants and little umbrellas; the kindness of everyone; checking out the food options; watching my boys get so excited; sitting so close to the field and players
Would We Do It Again?
Yep! I’d purchase the tickets to see the Yakult Swallows again because I loved the vibe. However, I realized after purchasing tickets that Swallows games can get rained out or postponed since Meiji Jingu stadium is outdoor. To play it safe, buying Yomiuri Giants tickets may be a better option.
I hope this has helped clarify what going to a Tokyo baseball game (in this case, a Yakult Swallows game) with kids is like. Enjoy Meiji Jingu, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year!
Looking for more on travel to Japan? Check out
9 Reasons to Visit Japan with Kids
Packing List for 10 Days in Japan with a 9-Year-Old
10 Days in Japan with a 10-Year-Old – Our Itinerary
Souvenirs from Japan – What We Brought Back
Japan Souvenirs – Regrets & Favorites (1 Year Later)
Things to Do in Tokyo with a 10-Year-Old
Where to Stay in Tokyo with Kids – Areas & Hotels
How to Get Glasses in Tokyo – In One Day
Going to a Tokyo Baseball Game with Kids
A Day at Universal Studios Japan – Our Experience
Tokyo Disneysea with Kids – Quick Tips
Staying in a Ryokan in Kyoto
Airalo vs Ubigi for Japan ESIM
