I have read on posts here that you can't get tickets for Japanese baseabll games unless you can do magic. I am planning a trip to Japan (first trip) w/my baseball player 14 yr old son in April 2005 and am wondering if I can get tickets to ANY baseball. I would adjust our itinerary for that in a minute (truth is we have no itinerary at this point, are just starting the process). I did a search for "japan baseball" here but posts are pretty old. Any updated info on where to go to get into decent games, the inside poop?
Thanks very much.

Sure, you can get tickets to games. I've read that it is difficult to get tix to Yomiuri Giants games because they are the most popular team.

I went to a Yokohama Bay Stars game. Got a field level ticket at the window for a weeknight game. I'd say the ballpark would fit somewhere between AAA and MLB. It was half empty, but fun. Also saw a game at the Hawk Dome in "Hawks Town" in Fukuoka. This is more like an MLB park. Got a seat in the outfield at the window. Great fun.

The third game I saw was in Kanazawa, I think, with both teams being on the road. The ballpark was a AA field with the typical enthusiastic jball fans.

You won't have that much trouble getting to see some games. Finding good, reliable, current info in English on the web about Japanese baseball is more difficult.

Take a look Jim Allen's Japanese Baseball Page and elsewhere on the web.

Thanks mrwunrfl, the previous post (it was from 1998!) also mentioned the Yokohama Baystars. I am looking forward to fitting in at least two games and will check out that site.

Type just the word "baseball" into the "search this forum" box above. Scroll down the "and/or topics" list, select Japan, and press Find. That will get you some (relatively) more recent posts. There were a couple of posts from katkat who was trying to get tickets to a game for her husband. Depending on how well your son can communicate in Japanese, the links she posted might help.

At japanesebaseball.com the 2004 schedules are not yet listed.

There is some good info at the link below, including directions to getting to the games. Note that the schedule info is from 2002, but it will give you an idea of how often the games are, where they are played, etc.
http://ww1.baywell.ne.jp/fpweb/drlat...me/seegame.htm

NO PROBLEM. Two teams are Tokyo based, three others around Tokyo. Three in Osaka-Kobe area. They draw more crowds in April, but still you should not have difficulty getting a ticket at the gate, especially on the visitor?s side, except some weekends or Yomiuri Giants games. When you are ready to visit a ball park, ask someone for a recommendation.