Jingu Stadium: in-depth
Updated Feb 20th (Content revised for 2024 season)
Completed in 1926, this is one of the four MLB/NPB stadiums remaining where Babe Ruth once played.
With the stadium lacking any luxury boxes or even enough toilets when the seats all fill up, a new and more modern stadium is scheduled for completion around 2031-32 at the site of the Rugby Stadium next door. The plan calls for the current Jingu Stadium to be demolished once the new field is ready.
The Tokyo Swallows team, along with the collegiate Tokyo Big 6 League regularly use the field. The amateurs have the priority during the day, so the Swallows usually play a night game starting at 6pm.
Unlike most American stadiums, bringing outside food is permitted. However any drinks in cans or glass bottles are not allowed and must be thrown away before entering. There will be a bag inspection at each gate.
Bringing large items should be avoided as the legroom is limited in this stadium. There are coin operated lockers near gates 4/5, 10 and 16 and also at the adjacent rail stations.
GETTING TICKETS
Opening day for 2024 will be on March 29th and games are scheduled through the end of September. Games on the weekend (especially the rare day games), and important games toward the end of the season will likely sell out so purchase them in advance from their English ticketing site. https://www.yakult-swallows.co.jp/en/
The English site does not allow you to designate a seat, only the choice of seating area is provided. You will have to pick up the physical ticket at any Seven-Eleven store within Japan. (With the Japanese ticketing site, the user can designate seat and have a QR code sent to their smartphones)
For weekday games, tickets tend to be left over (except during the summer school break from late July to end of August). Tickets can be purchased on game day at the office next to gate 8 if they are still remaining.
The Japanese website provides better information on the different type of seating - there are a total of 32 different seating types on sale!
A view of each of the seats are available on the Japanese ticketing site.
https://ticket.yakult-swallows.co.jp/contents/pages/seats.html
Towards the bottom of this page, you will see pricing based on the section and the option for a 3D view which should assist you with your choice.
For the 2024 season, the ticket price will be tiered to four different price categories depending on expected demand, "Super Value", "Value", "Standard" and "Premier".
”CREW価格” refers to the discount given for members of the Swallows fan club ("Swallows CREW")
For example, S Reserved will be 5,200 JPY on the Super Value days, but 6,400 JPY on the Premier days, such as the opening day.
In addition, there is dynamic pricing meaning that the same tickets could increase substantially as availability becomes limited.
While I understand the club wants to maximize its profits, this has resulted in less transparency in the pricing and has discouraged me from going to Jingu at the last minute.
STADIUM TICKET OFFICE
There is also a ticket office at the stadium where you can buy both advance and same-day tickets. Advance tickets are sold at the office next to gate 9. They open only on days when there is a home game, from 11am until 20 minutes after the game finishes. Same-day tickets can be purchased from a separate office next to gate 7 (for infield) or next to gate 17 (for outfield). These offices will not open in case the tickets completely sell out in advance.
HOME GAMES AWAY FROM JINGU
Like many other clubs, the Swallows will host a few home games outside of the Tokyo area. The dates are: Apr 9 (Kagoshima) and May 14-15 (Matsuyama). In case of a rainout, it will be rescheduled at Jingu later in the season.
MY FAVORITE SEATS
Day games are rare, but the third base side will be in the shade for most of the afternoon thanks to the buildings behind the third base side. The following are specific areas I like to sit when watching.
The S2 Reserved seats give a really good view of the overall action (numbered ③ and marked in purple on the seating chart)
I usually like to sit above row 37 so the protective netting does not get in the way
(At Jingu, the nets extend all the way across the infield to the foul pole).
Closest entry is from the 4/5 gate for the first base side, gates 9/10 for the third base side.
The A2 Reserved seats (⑧ for first base, ⑨ for third base) are also seats with a good view, though a little bit further from the infield. They are around 1,000 Yen cheaper than the S2 seats.
The entry is from the 2/3 gate for the first base, 11/12 for the third base.
Using the other infield gates (anywhere between 2 to 12) is ok, but gates 1 and 13-18 are for the outfield. Due to the structure of the stadium, you cannot go between the infield and outfield seats.
Panorama Roof A (④) and Roof B (⑤) is in the upper deck behind home plate. This is the only section covered by a roof and would be ideal during the rainy season or in the summer when there is the occasional thundershower.
The pillars can obstruct the view and the aisle seats from rows 5 and beyond are likely to have this problem.
SITTING IN THE OUTFIELD
The outfield is where the more faithful fans sit and it will be a great opportunity to make friends with perfect strangers. As with most Japanese stadiums, the home team Swallows fans sit on the right field side, and most of the left field is reserved for fans of the visiting team. It will be awkward to be wearing any Swallows merchandise if sitting in the visitor fans section, and in most cases the staff will ask you to remove them.
Sections of the outfield used to be non-reserved prior to the pandemic. Since the 2020 season, all seats at Jingu Stadium are reserved and the non-reserved seating no longer exists.
The area that is numbered ⑯ on the above seating map is where the most faithful will gather and sold as Outfield Reserved B. They happen to be the area where the seats are more like benches with no seat back (the area covered in yellow in this satellite view)
Beware that rows J, K and L on the right field side and rows M, N and O of the left field side have an obstructed view of the opposite side of the outfield due to the batter's eye.
※A screenshot from the Swallows ticketing site indicating the obstructed view seats next to the batter's eye.
If you want to sit closer to the fans but also want a little more civilized environment, the Outfield C Reserved seats ⑰⑱⑲ are a great option. If you don't want the protective nets getting in the way, choose row 45 or higher. Note that seats in area ⑲ don't have a seat back and are the most inexpensive section.
What's good about this section is that the seats have a little more width and legroom compared with the other seats. Also they are set at an angle so that they face the infield.
To the contrary, the Infield B Seats (⑩and ⑫ for first base, ⑪ and ⑬ for third base) face the completely wrong direction of the field so my neck will be aching by the end of the game. These seats give a good view of the action in the bullpen but unless you are a fan of one of the relievers, they are best if avoided.
ACCESS TO THE STADIUM
The Gaienmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line is the closest, about 5-6 minute walk. There are some convenience stores and other food/drinks available on the way. Being the oldest subway line in Tokyo with limited capacity, the trains can get extremely crowded on game day.
It's also possible to use the Sendagaya or Shinanomachi Station on the JR Sobu Line, about 15 minutes north of the ballpark. From these stations, it is a quick ride to Shinjuku.
The Aoyama-ichome Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line is also within walking distance, about 15 minutes. The longer walk results in fewer people using them, so I personally use anything other than the Ginza Line to go home.
Catching a taxi from near the stadium can be difficult after the game. Walking down to the Aoyama Dori Avenue (where the subway station is located) you should have a better chance of finding one.