Concerts and Live Music in Japan: How to Get Tickets and Other Tips

In Japan, night markets and cafes operate late into the night, and even department stores close around 19:00 or 20:00. So, what do Japanese people typically do after work?

This article explains how to purchase and pick up tickets for live music shows in Japan and tips for navigating your first visit to a live house, a live music venue.

How to Get Tickets for Live Music Shows

Obtaining tickets for live music shows varies depending on the size of the venue.

At small venues (with a capacity of up to 300 people), you can often walk in and purchase same-day tickets. However, for larger venues, acquiring tickets typically requires participating in a lottery and purchasing tickets online. We outline the procedure below.

Getting Tickets for Small-Size Live Music Venues

Picture courtesy of @kai_19_0702_
If you're interested in Japan's indie music scene, attending a show at a smaller live house is essential. These venues typically accommodate around 100 to 300 people and are where many major artists begin their careers.

In Tokyo, we recommend SHIBUYA La.mama, which has been operating since the 1980s and has launched numerous artists who are now household names. Shimokitazawa Club 251 and Shimokitazawa ERA, both located in the artistic Shimokitazawa district, also host excellent shows featuring talented musicians.

In Kyoto, you can enjoy indie music performances at Kyoto MOJO. In Nagoya, CLUB UPSET is a must-visit. These venues are known for their careful selection of artists, ensuring quality performances.

We recommend checking the official website of the live house in advance to find a show you'd like to attend. There are three ways to get tickets:

1. Online Booking: You can reserve tickets through an online form on the live house's website, with payment made at the door on the day of the event.

2. Online Ticketing Services: Purchase tickets through services like eplus, TIGET, TicketPia, or Lawson Ticket. You'll need to register as a member first, and then buy your ticket.

3. Directly from the Artist: Contact the artist or band you want to see via their official website or social media accounts to book tickets. Payment is made at the door on the event day.

For some shows, not all ticketing options may be available; only certain combinations of the methods mentioned may be offered.

Other Tips Regarding Tickets

Ticket prices are typically listed in the format ADV/DOOR. This indicates that there are different prices for advance bookings and same-day purchases.

For example, if you see ADV/DOOR ¥3000/¥3500, this means that an advance ticket costs 3,000 yen, while a same-day ticket costs 3,500 yen.

Additionally, tickets for small live houses often include a drink ticket, which typically costs between 500 and 1,000 yen. This is noted as ドリンク別500円, meaning "separate fee for one drink = 500 yen."

If you're not interested in a particular show but just happen to be in town and want to enjoy some live music then it's worthwhile dropping by a live house and asking at the reception whether they can sell a ticket on the spot.

In most cases, you will have no trouble getting a ticket. It may happen, however, that the venue is booked for a private event, in which case same-day tickets may not be available. In this case, please understand and try your luck at another venue.

Getting Tickets for Mid-Size to Large Live Music Venues

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Mid-sized music venues have a capacity of 500 to around 2,000 people. Examples include Shibuya WWW or LIQUIDROOM in Tokyo.

Large music venues include all the concert halls that have a capacity of over 2,000 people, such as the ZEPP venues around Japan, arena halls, or Tokyo's Budokan Hall.

*Japan's music venues are categorized into at least six divisions based on size. In this context, we mentioned only three groups—small, mid-size, and large—because the ticketing system for all venues with a capacity of over 2,000 people is uniform.

Tickets for these venues are usually sold through online ticketing services like eplus, TIGET, TicketPia, or Lawson Ticket.

After registering as a member, you gain the right to participate in a lottery for ticket purchases. The lottery results determine whether you can buy your ticket.

However, obtaining membership on a ticketing site requires a Japanese mobile number, which complicates the process for international visitors who wish to enter the draw.

Once the lottery results are announced and payment is completed, you will receive an electronic ticket. This ticket also includes an entry order that specifies when you need to arrive.

Additionally, many live music venues may sell same-day tickets on-site if the tickets haven't sold out. So if you are free in the evening, it’s worth trying your luck!

Arrive Early! Get First Dibs on Merchandise and Drop Off Your Bags

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Regardless of the size and scale of the show, merchandise is usually available for purchase before the show starts.

At shows with an audience of up to 100 people, you can buy the merchandise after the show.

But at larger shows, it's better to arrive early and buy items like towels and T-shirts before the show as they might sell out quickly.

Since live music venues typically have no seating, it's best to travel light—just bring your phone and wallet!

However, if you've been shopping or just got off work and have a lot of stuff, don’t worry. Most live music venues offer coin lockers where you can store your belongings and enjoy the concert hassle-free.

Prepare Small Change! Admission Requires You to Buy a Drink

Picture courtesy of the official website of Shibuya WWW

As mentioned before a common rule at live music venues in Japan is that entry requires buying a drink, which usually costs no more than 1,000 yen.

Make sure to check the drink price and prepare enough small change (some places accept electronic payments but do not take large bills). Pay while waiting in line to get a voucher. Once inside, you can exchange the voucher for a drink at the bar!

Drink options typically include beer and carbonated beverages served in glass cups. You should finish your drink before the show starts and return the cup to the bar. Otherwise, once the atmosphere heats up and everyone starts moving to the music, you might worry about spilling your drink and won’t be able to fully enjoy the beats.

If the crowd is too packed to reach the bar after finishing your drink, you can hold onto the empty cup and return it before leaving.

Don't Rush to Leave After the Show! Take Photos with Your Merchandise

Shibuya Tsukimi Room Picture courtesy of @kai_19_0702_

After the event, if you participated in a signing or handshake session, please follow the staff's instructions to line up. There’s no need to rush to leave for those who didn't participate.

If there are no specific instructions against taking photos, you can take pictures with your merchandise inside the venue before you go!

Enjoy a Satisfying Musical Outing

Picture courtesy of Pixta

Listening to an exhilarating musical performance can relieve inner fatigue and recharge you. After reading this detailed guide, we hope everyone can enjoy various live music venues and concerts in Japan.

Main image by Pixta