JAPAN BASEBALL INSIDER
The always-current companion page for the book. Prices and procedures in Japan change — this page keeps up, all season long.
Quick updates since the current edition
Koshien’s famous jet balloons return in 2026 after seven seasons away — pump-inflated style only. Buy the official ones at the stadium; old-style balloons are not allowed.
Sendai’s ballpark is now Rakuten Mobile Saikyō Park Miyagi (renamed January 2026). Same park, same gyūtan.
The high-school nationals run August 5–22. All seats are reserved, date-specific tickets sold online from mid-July — outfield seats from just ¥300–1,000.
The services readers actually need
📶 Stay connected: eSIM
Don’t hunt for airport SIM counters. Install an eSIM before you fly and land with working data — you’ll need it for QR tickets, transit apps, and menus. Compare Airalo (the biggest eSIM store; Japan plans from a few dollars) and Klook’s eSIM (often the best value if you’re also booking activities).
🎟️ Game tickets & experiences
Try the DIY routes in Chapter 3 first — they’re the cheapest. When a Tier 1 game defeats you, or you want a guided experience, Klook lists baseball tickets, stadium tours, and airport transfers with English checkout.
🏨 Hotels near the ballparks
Our rule from Chapter 9: stay in the stadium’s own city on game night. Booking.com covers every NPB city. Search hints: “Kannai” for Yokohama games, “Umeda” for Koshien nights, “Sapporo Station” for Escon Field trips.
Disclosure: some links on this page are (or may become) affiliate links — if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only list services we’d tell a friend in the stands to use.
Free extras
- Point-and-show Japanese phrase cards (printable PDF) — coming soon
- The 12-stadium cheat sheet (printable PDF) — coming soon
Found an error or a changed price? Email info@onikohshi.com — corrections make the next edition better.
Get the book
Japan Baseball Insider: Buy Tickets Like a Local, Cheer Like a Local — available on Amazon in Kindle & Kindle Unlimited. (Store link coming as soon as Amazon finishes processing the new edition.)