2023 Main Tour

A Sampler of the Japanese Baseball Experience

September 16-24, 2023: 9 Days, 6 Ballparks, 6 Cities

Our Main Tour has been a hallmark of international baseball travel for 20+ years, and we promise that it will be the trip of a lifetime!

Experience a taste of it all: six of NPB’s big league ballparks, stops in six of Japan’s world-class cities, delicious Japanese food and drink, the camaraderie of fellow baseball adventurers, and so much more.

We added Kyoto as a stop on this year’s tour because it is Japan’s cultural hub. This tour stops in the top three cities in the world for travelers, according to Condé Nast’s 2021 rankings! Baseball highlights include games at Japan’s oldest ballpark, Koshien Stadium (built in 1924, home of the Hanshin Tigers), JapanBaller-favorite Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium (home of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp), and the world-famous Tokyo Dome, home of the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants.

We’ll meet up in Tokyo and then right away head to Nagoya for our first game (at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, home of the Chunichi Dragons). We then continue to work our way south to Osaka, and then NPB’s two southernmost cities, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. In Hiroshima, we will pay our respects at the Hiroshima Peace Park. We’ll then work our way back north with an optional stop in Kyoto (Japan’s cultural center) before wrapping up in Tokyo.

This tour can be combined with the South Korea Tour, Tokyo Pre-Tour, and Northern Add-On. To better visualize the tour dates, click here to download a calendar version of our Japan and Korea schedules.

Note: we recommend arriving to Tokyo at least one day early for two reasons:

1.) To reduce the chances of missing the group’s departure to Nagoya on the morning of September 17 (in case of any missed airline connections or other delays) and

2.) To give your body more time to adjust to the time change. We would be happy to reserve your hotel for additional nights on the front end and you’re also welcome to join any portion of the Tokyo Pre Tour if you want to catch more ballgames!

This tour may be very physically demanding for some guests due to our frequent travel and Japan’s heat and humidity in September. We will change hotels six times via sometimes long train rides. It is required that all guests must be able to carry/roll their own luggage during train transfers for about 1/3 mile (including up and down flights of stairs), and also lift their bags to the overhead space on trains. If you expect to have any difficulties with these requirements, then we recommend that you consider the Tokyo Main Tour.

Japan has Covid-related travel requirements. Guests will likey need to either be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or present a negative Covid test, amongst other requirements. Visit the website of the US Embassy in Japan for current information.

*Itinerary

Fri. Sept. 15: Depart U.S.A., cross international date line in-air (You may want to consider leaving earlier – see note above)
9/16: Arrival to Tokyo and welcome reception
9/17 Nagoya: morning bullet train to Nagoya, Carp @ Chunichi Dragons (2:00 PM)
9/18 Osaka: BayStars @ Hanshin Tigers (2:00 PM)
9/19 Osaka: Marines @ Orix Buffaloes (6:00 PM)
9/20 Hiroshima: BayStars @ Toyo Carp (6:00 PM)
9/21 Fukuoka: Marines @ SoftBank Hawks (6:00 PM)
9/22 Kyoto: sightseeing (optional – can also proceed straight to Tokyo)
9/23 Tokyo: Carp @ Yomiuri Giants (2:00 PM)
9/24: Depart Tokyo or continue to Northern Add-On Tour

*Itinerary is subject to change.

What's Included

Price

$TBA double occupancy

$TBA single supplement

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Sign up if you’re interested in attending but aren’t quite ready to commit. The no-obligation list simply allows us to plan better and assures your spot on the tour. You’ll begin to receive trip information emails, and if you find you cannot go on the tour, no worries.

Questions?

We had thought of it as a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but now we want to go back and do it again. Maybe one of these years. Thanks for a fabulous tour!

Loreen and Bryan

Hayward, CA

It is already a month since the trip and am still sky high. Thanks for the great trip!

Chris

Pleasanton, CA

We knew the trip would be interesting, but we NEVER expected to meet such a terrific group of people from all parts of the country. Yes, it was a tour group. However, your low-key and relaxed approach to travel and accommodations made the experience so much more personal to each one of us.

Molly and Patty

Nashville, TN

Great time. I met terrific people as both tour guests and the Japanese we met along the way. And the baseball was a hoot.

Paul

Toronto, ON

The baseball…the unique culture…Hiroshima…the good group of fellow travelers. You were right, your tour attracts nice people. Great trip! I really enjoyed it.

Vinny

Boston, MA

I have worked and attended thousands of sporting events over the past four decades in the United States, England, and Ireland, but none of that compared to my first professional baseball game in Japan. It was an incredible and unique experience. The players were just as talented as their counterparts in the USA and the fans just as passionate. I felt it an honor to be at the game. The service from JapanBall was impeccable. I hope to return again in the future.

Scott

Glendale, CA

Your idea to combine baseball and travel in Japan is more than just a tourist adventure. You provide travelers an insight that they simply couldn’t otherwise get without your expertise and enthusiasm.

Michelle

Chicago, IL

The trip to Japan far exceeded my expectations. Your efforts to plan and execute the logistics of everything we did was flawless. Where do I begin to thank you? I feel as though you gave me a gift. You opened a door and helped me experience a place and people in a way that I might not otherwise had the opportunity to do without you.

Nancy

Southampton, MA

Just a note to let you know that we made it home in one piece. Well, actually, more than one piece since we both took a large bit of Japan home with us in our hearts.

Tom and Maria

Ossining, NY

This trip exceeded our expectations. If you’re a baseball fan and want to broaden your experience overseas to Japan, Korea, Europe and the DR, check out JapanBall. ⚾️⚾️⚾️

Steve

Whittier, CA

Can’t thank you enough for a great trip. What you do is truly remarkable. I had a blast. Spent my extra days after the trip walking about Tokyo and really seeing a lot since by doing the tour with you first I learned how to get around. It’s a trip I’ll never forget.

Dennis

Lexington, VA

I live in Japan. I loved the trip. It was fabulous. You took all the hassle and stress out of doing such a thing. Even after living here for a number of years, this sort of tour is not something I’d do on my own. Many thanks.

Ken

Fussa City, West Tokyo