jphripjah reviews Japanese baseball stadiums
Jun 14, 2017, 11:40 am
#46
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
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Most teams' ticket purchase websites that I have used lately have indicated the home team's side, but not necessarily in English.
Jun 14, 2017, 12:19 pm
#47
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Here's an article in English about the seating etiquette:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2...nese-baseball/
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2...nese-baseball/
Jul 4, 2017, 12:27 am
#49
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco
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We went to a Yomiyuri Giants game a couple of days ago. It was against the Yokohama Baystars. Most of of the third-base side of the stadium was filled with Baystars fans. This surprised me, since I had read online that Giants games are mostly Giants fans, but for a few select visitor seating sections.
We sat on the third base side, upper deck, about halfway between third base and the left field foul pole. There was only a smattering of Giants fans around us. Which was too bad, since we wore our SF Giants gear and were hoping to be part of the crowd. On the other hand, it was a blowout by the Baystars, so we got most of the cheering action around us.
All in all, the game was great fun and we were really glad we went. Nothing like an American game as far as the crowd is concerned.
We sat on the third base side, upper deck, about halfway between third base and the left field foul pole. There was only a smattering of Giants fans around us. Which was too bad, since we wore our SF Giants gear and were hoping to be part of the crowd. On the other hand, it was a blowout by the Baystars, so we got most of the cheering action around us.
All in all, the game was great fun and we were really glad we went. Nothing like an American game as far as the crowd is concerned.
Jul 5, 2017, 2:43 pm
#50
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NorCal
Posts: 658
We went to a Yomiyuri Giants game a couple of days ago. It was against the Yokohama Baystars. Most of of the third-base side of the stadium was filled with Baystars fans. This surprised me, since I had read online that Giants games are mostly Giants fans, but for a few select visitor seating sections.
We sat on the third base side, upper deck, about halfway between third base and the left field foul pole. There was only a smattering of Giants fans around us. Which was too bad, since we wore our SF Giants gear and were hoping to be part of the crowd. On the other hand, it was a blowout by the Baystars, so we got most of the cheering action around us.
All in all, the game was great fun and we were really glad we went. Nothing like an American game as far as the crowd is concerned.
We sat on the third base side, upper deck, about halfway between third base and the left field foul pole. There was only a smattering of Giants fans around us. Which was too bad, since we wore our SF Giants gear and were hoping to be part of the crowd. On the other hand, it was a blowout by the Baystars, so we got most of the cheering action around us.
All in all, the game was great fun and we were really glad we went. Nothing like an American game as far as the crowd is concerned.
Jul 24, 2017, 2:58 pm
#53
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
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Posts: 2,355
First, what great sight lines. We sat right behind the Tiger's bullpen. Can't believe how close you are to the field.
Second, what a small small stadium. The outfield wall should be a monster wall to adjust for the size of the stadium. - that being said, it was pretty funny to see Randy Messenger hit a home run. Pitcher's should be able to do that so easily.
Third, bathrooms. I have seen bathrooms in China that were better designed. They need to do an upgrade. The lineup for the women's bathroom was so long that my wife missed two innings.
Fourthly, what crappy food selections. They should create some iconic food specific to the team. Tiger's okonomiaki. Giant BBQ, Yakult milk duds..... something. (and no, Tiger's Koshien curry does not count)
Lastly, the Tiger fans seems to have taken over more than half of the stands. Atmosphere was less noisy than Koshien but it felt like a home game.
Japanese baseball, while at times pretty bush, still is a great way to spend an evening. Now have to decide which stadium to visit next.
Jul 24, 2017, 5:52 pm
#54
Join Date: Aug 2008
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At one game I saw some fans gulping down a platter of hot dogs (sans bun) Just a heap of wieners slathered in ketchup and mustard. I think they were selling KFC as well.
No wonder so many fans stop for food on the way to the game (on the walk from the subway station to the stadium there are all kinds of opportunities plus vendors selling bento boxes).
Aug 2, 2017, 5:00 pm
#56
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
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Posts: 2,355
Kyocera Osaka Dome
We went to the annual "Coming of Age" promotion game between ORIX Buffaloes and Softbank Hawks. Lower third base side (visitors) and sections of the visitors and home outfield is complimentary.
First, as a baseball stadium. It was very comfortable. Indoor, air conditioned, fairly modern designed bathrooms that can absorb the mad rush. The sight lines were decent. We had two foul balls land near us. One row in front and one two rows behind.
That being said, it did lack a bit of atmosphere. Maybe because we were sitting in the complimentary area, we had less committed fans but it really lacked something that both Kosien and Jingu stadiums had. I saw many reading email, playing games and many left after the 9th inning even when we were obviously going into extra innings.
Second, the food offering was much better. It had Mos Burger, Bento dinners, standard stadium concession however they also had a couple of Buffaloes specials that were a step in the right direction. The "toribo" is their team special snack. It is very similar to the KFC "chicken fries" concept. Battered, fried, chicken meat shaped like a stick and heavily salted. This item must help beer and cold drink sales.
The other interesting food item is their foot long hot dog. It was more like a European wiener slathered with mustered and ketchup in a hot dog bun but I appreciated the fact it felt like ball game food.
Of note, the Aeon Mall next door has a 5 hour free parking with 2,000 yen purchase. Not a bad deal considering the ridiculous parking prices nearby.
Thirdly, transportation was very good. Near the JR Taisho station and the Hanshin Stadium station, people can get to and away fairly easy.
The walk off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning was an interesting way to end the game.
First, as a baseball stadium. It was very comfortable. Indoor, air conditioned, fairly modern designed bathrooms that can absorb the mad rush. The sight lines were decent. We had two foul balls land near us. One row in front and one two rows behind.
That being said, it did lack a bit of atmosphere. Maybe because we were sitting in the complimentary area, we had less committed fans but it really lacked something that both Kosien and Jingu stadiums had. I saw many reading email, playing games and many left after the 9th inning even when we were obviously going into extra innings.
Second, the food offering was much better. It had Mos Burger, Bento dinners, standard stadium concession however they also had a couple of Buffaloes specials that were a step in the right direction. The "toribo" is their team special snack. It is very similar to the KFC "chicken fries" concept. Battered, fried, chicken meat shaped like a stick and heavily salted. This item must help beer and cold drink sales.
The other interesting food item is their foot long hot dog. It was more like a European wiener slathered with mustered and ketchup in a hot dog bun but I appreciated the fact it felt like ball game food.
Of note, the Aeon Mall next door has a 5 hour free parking with 2,000 yen purchase. Not a bad deal considering the ridiculous parking prices nearby.
Thirdly, transportation was very good. Near the JR Taisho station and the Hanshin Stadium station, people can get to and away fairly easy.
The walk off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning was an interesting way to end the game.
Jul 2, 2018, 5:46 am
#57
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Bumping thread. I've added a few new photos, as my first visits to Koshien Stadium and Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium were during preseason games before half empty stadiums.
I re-visited both earlier this year for proper regular season games. I've also added some more info about seat selection at Yokohama Stadium, I think I've been there 6-7 times now. I just left Japan today and probably won't be back until the 2019 season.
I also ran across this very good recent overview of visiting various stadiums in Japan: https://thetruejapan.com/tokyo-baseb...-of-the-crowd/
I re-visited both earlier this year for proper regular season games. I've also added some more info about seat selection at Yokohama Stadium, I think I've been there 6-7 times now. I just left Japan today and probably won't be back until the 2019 season.
I also ran across this very good recent overview of visiting various stadiums in Japan: https://thetruejapan.com/tokyo-baseb...-of-the-crowd/
Jul 2, 2018, 6:19 am
#58
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
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Inspired in part by this thread and in part my pre-existing love of NPB games, in August, I'll be visiting the six main home stadiums for games that I've not been to before. That would be Lions, Marines, Hawks, Carp, Eagles, and Fighters, over a ~10 day stretch.
Jul 2, 2018, 7:17 am
#59
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One of these days I’d love to see a comprehensive step by step guide to how to buy tickets yourself for each and every team. The Lions Marines Fighters and now Carp have easy to use websites, I forget about the Hawks and Eagles.
Jul 2, 2018, 8:50 am
#60
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Smyrna, GA, USA
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The fighters game that I plan to attend is not yet (as far as I can find) selling tickets, but I have the other five purchased.
I think that making and maintaining that guide might be more work than it first appears. I'm not saying no one should do it, but the options have gotten pretty varied, and it seems to change/evolve frequently. Maybe a wiki at the top of the other currently active thread might make sense so that it can be updated as time goes on. And a simplifying assumption that the purchaser is currently outside Japan and has no Japanese phone number or in-place assistance to lean on would be in order to keep the number of possibilities manageable.
I think that making and maintaining that guide might be more work than it first appears. I'm not saying no one should do it, but the options have gotten pretty varied, and it seems to change/evolve frequently. Maybe a wiki at the top of the other currently active thread might make sense so that it can be updated as time goes on. And a simplifying assumption that the purchaser is currently outside Japan and has no Japanese phone number or in-place assistance to lean on would be in order to keep the number of possibilities manageable.