As the nation’s premier high school baseball tournament, Koshien showcases the passion, determination, and unforgettable moments that have made it a beloved summer tradition for more than a century. Because of its popularity, tickets for major matchups, especially the opening ceremony, quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship game, often sell out quickly. Thus, it is important to plan ahead if you want to experience the tournament in person.
This year, Koshien will be from August 5 until August 22. Some games may be postponed, depending on the weather. If you have decided to include watching Koshien in your itinerary when you visit Japan, this guide can help you buy tickets smoothly.
When Do Summer Koshien Tickets Go on Sale
Online ticket-selling for the Summer Koshien opened on July 16, 2026, and will be on sale depending on which website you purchase from or until the tickets are sold out in advance. Take note that the tickets sold at the moment are only for games from August 5 to August 12. Tickets for August 13 to 16 have been open since July 23 until the day of the matches or when they sell out.
For tickets for quarterfinals and beyond, tickets will be sold from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM the day before the match.
Where to Buy Summer Koshien Tickets
You can purchase tickets in advance from Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, Asa Ticket, and Koshien Ticket. It can be tricky for foreigners to buy tickets on Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and Asa Ticket, so I will focus on buying tickets through Koshien Ticket.
If you are already in Japan, you can buy tickets at convenience stores like Lawson and 7-Eleven.
Same-day tickets will also be sold at the venue if there are seats still available from advance sales. These tickets can be purchased at the Hanshin Koshien Stadium ticket office when the gates open, and payment is cash only. If advance tickets are sold out, no tickets will be sold at the venue.
What Are the Types of Seats Available
There are different types of seats you can buy, so you can choose which ones you prefer. Fans can choose between reserved seats and special seats. However, the special seats can only be purchased on Ticket Pia and Lawson Ticket, so it can be difficult to buy for many tourists.
Reserved Seats
All seats are reserved, so you don’t have to worry about not having a seat during the game. You also do not have to line up early to secure your seat, since it is printed on your ticket. There are four types of seats you can choose from.
The central reserved seats are divided into lower, middle, and upper levels. The 1st and 3rd base reserved seats are also divided into lower, middle, and upper levels. There are also the 1st and 3rd base stands. The last type is the right and left outfield reserved seats, which are divided into upper and lower levels.
Special Seats
There are other types of seats available, but they are only sold either on Ticket Pia or Lawson Ticket. These seats are not sold at convenience stores or the Koshien ticketing office. Getting these tickets can be difficult for foreigners since you need to have an account on those ticketing websites to purchase tickets. These are the special seats and are more expensive than the reserved seats.
Pair Seats
The pair seats are comfortable, cushioned two-seater seats with a counter. There are two types of pair seats: the central pair seats and the third base pair seats. The central pair seats have 10 seats located at the top of the central reserved seating area, while the third base pair seats consist of 6 seats at the top of the third base reserved seating area. Each seat can accommodate two persons. These seats have a counter table equipped with a small monitor, so you can eat and drink comfortably while watching the games. These seats are only available on Ticket Pia and not sold at convenience stores or the Koshien ticket office.
First and Third Base Box Seats
The first base and third base box seats are group seats, so if you are watching in a group, this is a good option. These seats are located in the upper level of the 1st and 3rd base reserved seating area. They feature a sunken seating area with a table and can accommodate 4-5 people. A small monitor is installed at the top of the pillar.
Keep in mind that in some areas, the view in the infield can be obstructed by the shadows of the silver canopy pillar. However, these are the only seats where you can watch the real-time replays and players’ expressions while watching the games on large monitors installed on the pillars.
Box Seats
These box seats are located in the upper section of the 1st and 3rd base reserved seating area and are suitable for families and groups of 5-6 people. The floor beneath the seats is fully cushioned and has no steps, so you will need to remove your shoes to keep the area clean. The view can also be obstructed due to the shadows of the silver canopy pillars.
Central Box Seats
The central box seats are semi-private seats that are located in the top row of the central reserved seating area. These seats offer a superb view from the center behind the backstop. They also feature electric reclining seats and a built-in monitor, so you can watch the games comfortably. However, you cannot buy a ticket for just one seat. The 3-seat central box seat is for 3 people, while the 4-seat central box seat is for 4 people. The ticket price is not per person.
Third Base Terrace Seats
The third base terrace seat is located at the top of the third base reserved seating area. This is a group viewing seating area with a large table, so it is comfortable to eat and drink while watching the games. The bench-style sofa is upholstered with high-quality leather. Each ticket for the terrace seats is for 4 people or 5 people and not per person.
Wheelchair Accessible Seating
There are wheelchair-accessible seats in various sections of Koshien Stadium. If you are using a wheelchair, the tickets are sold on Ticket Pia in advance. They are also sold on the same day of the games if there are still available tickets. There is a wheelchair accessible ticket counter where you can buy the tickets.
Alps Box Seats
The Alps Box Seat is a group box seat located in the middle section of the 1st and 3rd base stands. It has a table, so you can eat and drink comfortably while watching the match. This seat can accommodate up to 4 people. Buying the Alps Box seat is only available through Lawson Ticket.
Alps Deck Seats
The Alps Deck Seats are two adjacent sections located at the top of 1st and 3rd base stands. Each section can accommodate 16 people. If you are a big group, this is an ideal section where you can watch the games together. The Alps Deck has a table, so you can eat and drink comfortably.
How Much Do Summer Koshien Tickets Cost?
High school baseball is an educational activity, so the tickets are priced reasonably to ensure many fans can enjoy watching the games without spending a lot. The ticket prices vary depending on the seats. Also, take note that the games from August 7 to August 12 will be divided into two sessions: the morning session and afternoon session.
For the morning session, there will be one game, and once the game concludes, all the visitors will be asked to leave the stadium. If you buy the ticket for the morning session, you will be only allowed to watch the game in the morning. The ticket price for the morning session is cheaper than the afternoon session.
For the afternoon session, there will be three games. You will not be allowed to enter the stadium early or while the first game is ongoing. You will have to wait until the visitors from the morning session have left the stadium. The ticket price for the afternoon session is more expensive than the morning session.
If you are planning to watch all the games held between August 7 and 12, you will need to purchase the morning and afternoon session tickets. Also, if you will watch the morning session, you still have to leave the stadium once the game ends and then enter the stadium again using your afternoon session ticket.
Here is the schedule for the summer Koshien. The ticket pricing is divided into two categories. Category A is for the morning session while Category B is for the afternoon session.
| Schedule | Session | Category | Start time | Number of matches | |
| Wednesday, August 5th | Day 1 of the tournament | B | 16:00 | Opening ceremony, 1 match | |
| August 6th (Thursday) | Day 2 of the tournament | B | 16:00 | 2 matches | |
| August 7th (Friday) | Day 3 of the tournament | Morning session | B | 8:00 | 1 match |
| Afternoon session | A | 13:30 | 3 matches | ||
| Saturday, August 8th | Day 4 of the tournament | Morning session | B | 8:00 | 1 match |
| Afternoon session | A | 13:30 | 3 matches | ||
| August 9th (Sunday) | Day 5 of the tournament | Morning session | B | 8:00 | 1 match |
| Afternoon session | A | 13:30 | 3 matches | ||
| Monday, August 10th | Day 6 of the tournament | Morning session | B | 8:00 | 1 match |
| Afternoon session | A | 13:30 | 3 matches | ||
| August 11th (Tuesday) | Day 7 of the tournament | Morning session | B | 8:00 | 1 match |
| Afternoon session | A | 13:30 | 3 matches | ||
| Wednesday, August 12th | Day 8 of the tournament | Morning session | B | 8:00 | 1 match |
| Afternoon session | A | 13:30 | 3 matches | ||
| August 13th (Thursday) | Day 9 of the tournament | A | 13:30 | 3 matches | |
| August 14th (Friday) | Day 10 of the tournament | A | 13:30 | 3 matches | |
| Saturday, August 15th | Day 11 of the tournament | A | 8:00 | Third round: 4 matches | |
| August 16th (Sunday) | Day 12 of the tournament | A | 8:00 | Third round: 4 matches | |
| Monday, August 17th | rest day | ||||
| August 18th (Tuesday) | Day 13 of the tournament | A | 8:00 | Quarterfinals: 4 matches | |
| Wednesday, August 19th | rest day | ||||
| August 20th (Thursday) | Day 14 of the tournament | A | 8:00 | Semifinals: 2 matches | |
| August 21st (Friday) | rest day | ||||
| Saturday, August 22nd | Day 15 of the tournament | A | 10:00 | Final: 1 match, closing ceremony | |
*All dates are tentative and subject to change.
Ticket Price for Category A
These are the ticket prices for the reserved seats. Category A is the afternoon session where three matches are held. This ticket price also applies to the games from August 13 until the championship game, which is on August 22.
For Category B, this is the morning session and only applies to games for August 5-6 and August 7-12.
The tickets for the special seats are more expensive than the reserved seats, and they are only available on Ticket Pia and Lawson Ticket.
How to Buy Tickets on Koshien Website
Buying tickets on the Koshien website is the easiest way for foreigners if they want to watch Koshien. Since Ticket Pia and Lawson Ticket are domestic websites, creating an account is difficult because you need to have a Japanese phone number. For the Koshien website, you just need to sign up using your email address. Here are the steps to buy a ticket on the Koshien website.
First, go to Koshien QR Ticket Store website. The website is in Japanese, but with the use of Google Translate, navigating it can be easy. Once you open the link, you will see something like this:
Then, click the left box to buy the ticket. You will be redirected to another page showing the dates for the Koshien games. It will look like this:
At the moment, tickets are still available for all the games, but some seats are already unavailable. As the dates get closer, more and more seats become unavailable. Once tickets are sold online, no more tickets will be sold at the venue.
Once you decide which date you plan to watch the game, click the blue button. Again, for games from August 7-12, the games are divided into two. So choose if you want to watch in the morning or in the afternoon. After clicking your preferred date, you will have to choose the type of seat you want. It will look like this:
This is a screenshot of the seats available for the after session on August 12. You can see that some of the seats are already unavailable. After choosing your seats, another page will load where you need to choose the number of tickets you want to purchase. The first box is for the number of adults and below it is the option for the number of children. The child ticket is applicable for children aged 4 to junior high school. You can purchase up to 6 tickets per transaction.
After choosing the number of tickets, you need to tick the small box on the left to proceed to the next step. On the next page, you will see the generated ticket information. It will show your exact seat like this:
Then, once you confirm that the ticket details are correct, scroll down a bit and you can see three buttons below like this:
Click the first button, and on the next page, you need to provide your personal information. You can use Google Translate to fill in the details needed easily.
You can type your name as is, and for the telephone number, just put 10 zeroes. The important part is the email, so you need to provide a working email. For the password, just use any password that you like.
Then, scroll down until the end, and you will see a box that you need to tick. Once you tick the box, click the button below it to proceed to final confirmation. If you confirm all the details and do not need to make changes, click the right box to proceed to payment. The next page will show the payment method.
Choose the first option for credit card payment. JCB, VISA, and Mastercard are accepted, so if you have those, you can use them for payment. Then, scroll down a bit and provide your credit card information. You can also use Google Translate in this part. If you scroll down again, you will see that you need to provide a telephone number and mobile number. Since you don’t have a Japanese number, choose the second one.
Then, you can just put ten zeroes again for the telephone number and then put your mobile number next, including your country code. At the end of the page, tick the box to process your payment. Once successful, you will receive an email confirming your purchase.
This was my ticket when I watched Koshien in 2024. This email contains the purchase confirmation and the QR code for your ticket. You can exchange it for a physical ticket, or you can just have your QR code scanned at the entrance.
To check your QR code, you need to access the website again and this time, click the right button.
You will need to log in using the email address and password you provided, so do not forget those details to access your QR code. That’s it! You finally have a ticket, and you can watch Koshien when you arrive in Japan.
Some Important Things to Keep in Mind
Here are some things that can be useful when you watch Koshien.
- You need a ticket to enter the stadium, so do not forget to exchange your ticket when you arrive at the venue or keep the QR code accessible on your phone to avoid delays.
- Your ticket is valid only on the day indicated on your ticket, so check the date on your ticket carefully.
- All seats are reserved, so once you are inside the stadium, make sure that the seat you are occupying is correct. You are not allowed to sit anywhere you want, and you may be asked to leave.
- Re-entry is not allowed.
- Smoking is also prohibited inside and around the stadium.
Final Thoughts
Planning ahead is important when attending Summer Koshien, especially because popular games and the later rounds can sell out quickly. It’s better to purchase your tickets early to give you a better choice of seats and help you avoid last-minute stress on game day. With the right preparation, watching Summer Koshien in person can become one of the most memorable experiences of your trip to Japan.