It is the dream of any overseas OORer to see the band in their home country, but getting tickets can be next to impossible if you don’t know how to navigate around Japan’s confusing ticketing system. This guide gives you a quick rundown of the Japanese concert scene and how ticketing works.
(last updated April 28, 2026)
Requirements
So you wanna see ONE OK ROCK in Japan, huh? Believe me, that plane ticket to Japan is the easy part.
While ONE OK ROCK has been kind enough to offer overseas lotteries recently, that is the one and only chance at tickets for overseas fans. If you want to increase your odds of landing a ticket without using a ticket proxy service, you will need the following in order to apply for tickets: an address in Japan, a Japanese phone number, and in many cases, a smartphone and/or Japanese credit card. If you live in Japan then these won’t be major hurdles (except maybe the credit card part), but if you are hoping to catch a concert while on vacation or are planning a trip specifically for a concert, then you will need to put in some extra effort.
It is not recommended to use third-party websites to buy tickets! Not only will they probably cost more than the face value of the original ticket, but should you run into any trouble with the tickets, you will not receive any support from the seller.
If you need a Japanese phone number to register for a ticket site, you can use services such as Mobal or Anyfone. (Don’t forget that your phone must be unlocked!) These services provide you with a Softbank phone number that can then be used to verify your ticket account. 050 VoIP numbers will not work for verification. You must have a phone number that starts with 070, 080, or 090. Usually for verification they will either send you a code via SMS that you need to enter on the site, or give you a phone number that you need to call from the phone number registered on the account. Once you call the designated number, it will automatically hang up and then your account will be verified. Keep in mind that the website could possibly ask for verification at a later time, such as when you want to update account details or are logging in from an unknown location. If it requires verification again and you no longer have access to the phone number then you will be out of luck.
Ticket Services
There are three major ticket services in Japan: Ticket Pia, Eplus, and Lawson Ticket. ONE OK ROCK utilizes all three services. The band has also used LINE Ticket and d ticket in the past.
Ticket Lotteries
Unlike overseas concerts where tickets are put on sale and it’s a free for all, ONE OK ROCK (and most other artists) use ticket lotteries to sell their tickets. There are generally several rounds of lotteries on each of the different ticket services. You can put in entries at all the ticket services to increase your chances of getting tickets.
Each ticket service may have different dates for their lotteries, though sometimes they might be the same. You must put in an entry during the application period, and then the lottery results are announced at a later date, usually a few days or a week after the application period ends.
If you are a member of PRIMAL FOOTMARK, you will have access to member-exclusive ticket lotteries. These lotteries are people’s first shot at concert tickets because they occur before any non-member lotteries, and they are your best chance at tickets to ONE OK ROCK concerts. Find out more about PRIMAL FOOTMARK here.
Aside from PRIMAL FOOTMARK and general lotteries, there are also sometimes lotteries through paid services such as Amuse Mobile, SOGO TOKYO (Kanto area only), and Yumebanchi (Osaka only). Each require monthly paid memberships, but you can just sign up only for the month(s) that the lottery is active. The actual lottery entry will go through one of the major ticket services.
It is best if you can get tickets through a ticket lottery so you don’t need to fight with the system during general sales. Of course, the lotteries are all about luck though. If you are lucky enough to get tickets through a lottery, be sure to pay for them!
Payment Methods
Scored tickets to a concert? Congrats! Now it’s time to pay for them. There are generally three payment methods you can use for tickets: credit card, convenience store payment, and net banking.
Credit card is obviously the easiest since it doesn’t require any action on your part. Your card will be automatically charged when you win tickets, and in some rare cases, you can find out that you’ve won tickets before the lottery results officially come out based on the charge on your credit card statement. The hardest part about credit card payments is that the credit card must have been issued in Japan. Ticket services do not accept foreign issued credit cards and if you try with one, you will just get an error. Getting a credit card in Japan can be difficult for some. I recommend Epos Card since they don’t seem to decline anyone. You can apply for an Epos Card at Marui department stores in Japan. They will give you a card the same day.
Convenience store payments are just that, payments made at the convenience store. This is the best choice for people who don’t have a Japanese credit card. If you choose this method, you will be given a code that you need to use at the convenience store to pay for your tickets. There will also be a payment deadline date. Make sure to pay for your tickets by this date or else you will lose them! Once the payment deadline passes, there will be no chance for you to pay for the tickets or get back the tickets that you won. Which convenience store you can pay for your tickets at will depend on the lottery. The information should be clearly detailed during the lottery process so be sure to read all the instructions. In general, tickets won from Pia can be paid for at 7-11 or Family Mart, Eplus tickets at any of the major convenience stores (7-11, Family Mart, Lawson, or Mini Stop), and tickets from Lawson Ticket can only be paid for at Lawson or Mini Stop.
Last is net banking (falls under “e-context” for Eplus). Using the Pay-easy module, you can pay for tickets either at an ATM or online through your bank’s website or mobile app. You will be given a couple codes that you need to enter which will bring up the info for your ticket payment.
The accepted payment methods may be different with each lottery. Some only accept credit card so if you are living in Japan then I highly recommend applying for an Epos Card.
Overseas Lotteries
In recent years, ONE OK ROCK has opened up an overseas lottery for fans outside Japan. The lottery will generally be through either Pia or Eplus, and there will be no requirement for a Japanese phone number or an account on either of the services. You can enter your local phone number and credit card info. It is recommended to write your name as it is written on your passport in case any trouble arises. Payment is only by credit card and your card will be automatically charged if you win tickets.
The tickets will be paper tickets that you print out at a convenience store in Japan, usually at either 7-11 or FamilyMart (check the instructions for information). The tickets won’t be available for printing until a few days before the concert date. All the information should be in your lottery win email so keep that email safe until you have your tickets in hand.
As of this writing, there has only ever been one round of overseas lottery per tour.
General Sales
After all the rounds of ticket lotteries, there will be a general sale where tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis. You can try to get general sale tickets either online or at a convenience store (Family Mart for Pia, 7-11 for Eplus, Lawson or Mini Stop for Lawson Ticket). For tickets online, you will need to go to the ticket service’s website, and for tickets at a convenience store, you will need to use the ticket terminal at the store. Some general sales may be limited to online only.
With general sales, be prepared to get error messages all the time and lots of pages timing out. The server will be overloaded due to the increased traffic of people trying to get tickets. Even if it says tickets are sold out, you may still want to continue trying for at least an hour since sometimes tickets are re-added to the pool.
Receiving Your Tickets
Whoo hoo! You’ve paid for your tickets! But how the heck do you receive them? Tickets for general sales are available to be picked up immediately after you’ve paid for them. If you got them through the ticket terminal at the convenience store then you just need to bring your receipt to the cash register to have the cashier print them for you. If you did the general sale online then you will need the code given to you after you’ve completed your payment and bring it to the convenience store to get your ticket. At 7-11, you just need to show the code to the cashier and they will do everything for you. At all other convenience stores, you will need to print a receipt at the ticket terminal and bring that to the cashier.
For tickets won through lotteries, ONE OK ROCK now primarily uses electronic tickets. This is where the smartphone requirement comes in because you can only download your tickets through a smartphone. Which app you need may depend on where you won your tickets.
The ticket apps may only be available to download in the Japan region. If you are unable to install the app, you will need to go to the ticket help booth at the concert venue on the day of the concert. Bring your passport and explain to the staff that you cannot download the app because you don’t live in Japan. They will ask you for your phone number (the number on the account that won the tickets) to look up your ticket information, and then match the name on the account to the name on your passport. Once they are able to confirm this information, they should print out physical tickets that you can show at the venue entrance to gain entry to the concert. The lines for the ticket support booth can get long, especially as the concert time draws near, so be sure to allow yourself enough time to get everything done.
When entering the venue, you will need to show the staff your ticket. For electronic tickets, they will need to confirm the ticket on your phone by pressing a button so you will need an active internet connection. A screenshot will not work. If you received a physical ticket through the overseas lottery or the ticket support booth, just hand your ticket to the staff and they will remove the stub and hand you back the remaining half. of the ticket.
Combating Scalping
Ticket scalping has become a huge problem in Japan in recent years, so much that they passed a law banning scalping. That’s right, it’s against the law to resell tickets for profit in Japan. How much this law will be enforced is anyone’s guess. ONE OK ROCK tickets are of course often scalped. To combat this, stricter standards have been put in place to combat it, and unfortunately this has also made it more difficult for foreigners to get tickets legally.
Registering for any of the ticket services is already a chore if you don’t live in Japan. In order to activate your account, you must enter a code sent by SMS to verify that the phone number you entered is valid, or you may be required to call a specific phone number from your registered phone number within x number of minutes. This makes it so that people can’t create multiple accounts to cheat in the lotteries, and you can’t apply for any lotteries until your phone number has been verified.
Names are printed on all tickets. You are obligated to show a valid ID to venue staff should they ask you, and if the name on the ticket does not match your ID, you may be refused entry without any refund. Some ticket proxy services offer to write you some kind of letter saying that they give you permission to use the ticket, but there is no guarantee that venue staff will accept such letters. This is the risk you accept when using proxy services or try to enter the venue with tickets not under your name. The up side is that it’s not too likely that the names on tickets will be checked since there are literally tens of thousands of people trying to get in. (They did check every single person’s ID for the ELLEGARDEN concert though!)
Seating
Unlike overseas concerts where seating can be chosen beforehand or are first-come-first-serve, ONE OK ROCK concert seating is all random. The only choice you will have, depending on the venue, is between arena, seating in the stands, or annotated seats. Standing tickets behind the stands may be available at certain venues, but generally these tickets are the last to be released and aren’t announced until the later rounds of ticket lotteries.
The arena arrangement can vary by tour, so some tours may have a seated arena where others may be all standing. With a seated arena, you will just find your seat number in the area block listed on your ticket. If the tour is arena standing, there will be no chairs and you will enter the arena by your block number and ticket number with lower numbers entering earlier. You will only be allowed into the block that you are assigned on your ticket, and you will need to be ready to enter by the venue open time (usually 2 hours or so before the start of the concert) or risk entering later and not getting as good a spot. Arena tickets will have a block number (usually a letter and a number) and another number. The arena is separated into different blocks, starting with A1 on the left. B block is behind the A block, C behind B, etc. The other number determines the order you get to go into the block, with lower numbers going in earlier. The way the arena is divided depends on the venue and the tour’s stage setting. Small children are generally not allowed on the arena floor for standing concerts.
Seating in the stands is pretty straight forward. Your ticket will have a row number and seat number. Certain venues, especially very large ones, may also include a door number which will tell you the closest entrance to your seat. Seating in the stands is good for short people like myself since the seats are built on an incline where each row is higher than the previous one.
Lately, the band has been selling what are called annotated seats. These seats may have a limited view of the stage, such as equipment in your line of sight, or being parallel to the stage. These seats are less desirable but may offer a better chance of winning them in a lottery due to less competition. Sometimes you can get lucky and be close to the stage, but be at an awkward viewing angle.
Which kind of seating is better depends on your preference. If you want to mosh then the arena is your only choice since you can’t do that in the stands, assuming the concert has a standing arena. Arena standing tickets give you a chance at being close to the stage, but if you draw a block in the back or have someone tall in front of you then it may be hard to see. Of course, there’s also the chance you might be really close to the sub-stage if there is one. Stand seating allows you to be more relaxed and you don’t have to worry as much about tall people in front of you due to the rows being built on an incline. You can also enter the venue more leisurely with stand seating because no one is going to steal your seat. With arena standing tickets, everyone goes inside in order of their block and number so you’ll want to go in right away when your block is called or else you might be at the back of the block.
Keep in mind that even if you choose a seat in the stands, you’ll probably be standing the entire concert anyway because no one really sits down while the band is performing. Some venues don’t allow moshing or diving so make sure to see if there are any restrictions at your particular show.
Tour Merch
Of course you want some tour merch to show the boys your support! Tour merchandise can be purchased at the concert venue before, during, and after the concert, but the easiest way to get your hands on them is by pre-ordering from ONE OK ROCK’s official store. In some cases this may not be an option depending on when tour merch is announced and such, but if you have the opportunity to order the merch online and receive it before the concert, take it. It’s not fun lining up at the venue and that should really only be a last resort.
Concert Etiquette in Japan
Tickets, check. Seating, check. Tour merch, check check check! Now how do you blend in and enjoy yourself at the concert? First off…
PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING IS PROHIBITED AT CONCERTS IN JAPAN.
This is the biggest difference between ONE OK ROCK concerts in Japan and overseas. They do not allow you to take photos or record video or audio at concerts in Japan. That’s why you don’t see anyone with their phones out in Japanese concert footage. Please be respectful and follow this simple rule. Unless Taka specifically tells the audience it is OK to record, keep your phone in your pocket.
It’s not uncommon overseas for everyone to sing along with Taka throughout the entire song, but in Japan, the audience generally only sings during certain parts. This isn’t so much a rule, but in the interest of not annoying all the people around you, you should really only sing when everyone else is singing. If you’ve seen video of their previous concerts in Japan then you probably already have a good idea of when the crowd sings along. That said, when it’s time, go ahead and sing your heart out!
You should always respect the space of those around you. That is, try to be aware of how high you’re raising your arms or how widely you’re swinging them. You don’t want to block the view of those behind or beside you. If you are in the stands, in general, you shouldn’t raise your arms too high over your head. It’s better to stretch your arm out forward instead of upwards, and only raise it slightly above your head. If you are in the arena, you shouldn’t bring any bulky items in with you. You will want to keep large items in a coin locker or in the cloak area, both so you don’t bump into people with it or have people tripping over it, and so you can move around more easily. These aren’t really rules either, but it’s nice to be considerate of those around you. If you are in the stands then there will be some room for things such as a small backpack under your seat.
Please dress appropriately, especially if you are in the arena and it’s a concert with a standing arena. Ladies, you don’t want to wear heels which can be painful both for you and for anyone you might accidentally step on. You’ll be jumping and moving around a lot while you enjoy yourself (I hope) so comfortable clothing and shoes are a must. Wearing deodorant and showering beforehand is also appreciated.
If you have any trash, be sure to take it with you when you leave. OORers have unfortunately been given a bad reputation, especially after Nagisaen, due to all the trash they leave behind. There should be plenty of trash cans around the venue and at the train station where you can throw away anything you no longer need.
If you ever start feeling unwell during a concert, don’t hesitate to get someone’s attention, whether it be a venue staff or a stranger next to you. Fans take care of each other. That said, help out people around you too if you see someone in need. Things can get pretty crazy especially in the arena.
This guide isn’t meant to detail every single thing about ONE OK ROCK concerts in Japan, but hopefully most points have been covered and you find it useful. If you are able to attend a concert in Japan then please have a great time!
