A Sampler of the Japanese Baseball Experience
August/September 2024: Specific Dates TBA
Please note: This is a sample tour description based on the 2023 itinerary. 2024 tour itineraries and descriptions will be finalized circa December 2023. For an idea on what to expect, check out our 2023 Tour Recap.
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.
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 (in case of any missed airline connections or other delays) and
2.) To give your body more time to rest and 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.
*Sample 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
A guide to lead you through a detailed itinerary with an engaging combination of stadiums, teams, targeted sightseeing and outings, the result of which will give you a cost-effective and in-depth personal tour of the country like no other.
Business class accommodation with modern facilities.
All in-tour land travel (including the famous high-speed bullet train!).
Tickets for the best available seats for six NPB games.
Hosted welcome reception plus at least one meal and one happy hour.
Additional sightseeing at little or no cost to you.
Visits with local friends and/or baseball personalities.
Detailed airport arrival and departure instructions (in some cases, airport transportation may be included).
Scheduling flexibility. Want to come early or stay late? We can help you plan that. Many of our guests arrive a day or two early to acclimate to the time change and get their bearings. However, we do recommend doing most of your personal travel after our tour because we take pride in teaching our guests how to get around on their own, and that will make your personal travel more enjoyable.
Translation and travel desk services.
- Carbon offset: In order to mitigate the tour’s environmental impact, we will use our profits to purchase a carbon offset from Sustainable Travel International on behalf of each guest.
Not included: airfare and most meals.
Price
TBD double occupancy
TBD single occupancy
Booking not yet available – join our “no-obligation” tour list by clicking below.
Questions?

Jeremy P.

Paul

Tom R.

Dennis

Vinny

Scott

Nancy

Steve

Ken

Molly and Patty

Philip H.

Loreen and Bryan

Chris

Michelle
