So, You Want to go to Japan

By the end of Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay in the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 17, I had already convinced myself that I’d be in the Dome for the next Wrestle Kingdom. On a night that featured a match that instantly entered my all-time top 3, and the highly anticipated debut Mercedes Moné, my desire to experience Japanese wrestling up close shifted from a passive desire to a need. It wasn’t just NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom that piqued my interest. The entire week made me feel like a kid again, including Stardom Dream Queendom on December 29, 2022 where we saw the debut of Club Venus and a classic main event from Giulia & Syuri as well as NOAH New Year on January 1 when Shinsuke Nakamura returned to Japan for one night only to take on the Great Muta.

Fast forward to today, and I have a full tour of Japan under my belt and I am chomping at the bit for the next one. With the recent announcement of NJPW X AEW X CMLL X ROH X STARDOM Wrestle Dynasty in the Tokyo Dome and a revamped Wrestle Kingdom Week, I’ve gotten a lot of messages from folks interested in making the trip. This article will be an informal guide of things to keep in mind.

Travel/Accommodations

If you’re a person who wants to see as much wrestling as humanly possible, I recommend staying from December 28 through January 7. For my trip, I flew out on Dec 27, landed in Tokyo on Dec 28 to ensure I’d get to the Stardom show on Dec 29 and from then on, there were shows happening every day until New Year Dash on Jan 5, and I headed home on Jan 6. Keep in mind that this year with the addition of Wrestle Dynasty, New Year Dash is being pushed back to Jan 6 so if you’re into mystery vortex shows, definitely budget for an extra day.

If you’re more interested in exploring Tokyo and only hitting up some of the big shows from January 3-5, flying in after New Year's Day is fine.

The flight is pretty expensive, there’s no way around it. Depending on where you’re flying from, you’re looking at anywhere between $1500-$2200 USD if you’re trying to be present for the full slate of events. I recommend starting to save up at least 6 months in advance and/or use a payment plan. JustFly is a great resource for breaking up your flight into installments.

As ideal as it would be to stay near the Tokyo Dome, there’s really no bad place to stay in the city. I stayed in the Kameido district in one of the Hotel MyStays accommodations and it totaled to about $420 USD for 9 nights by myself. The public transit in Tokyo is so efficient and reliable that it’s pretty easy to get where you need to go from any point in the city. Aside from heading to and from the airport, I never used taxi/Uber. Walking and using the trains are your best bet.

Also, if you want to explore more of Japan outside of Tokyo, there’s a rail pass available for purchase that’s specifically for foreign tourists and will grant you unlimited train rides around Japan for 7, 14, or 21 days.

Vibes/Communication

As a native southern belle, I can confidently say that Tokyo gets an A+ for hospitality. Even some of the cheaper hotels will have robes and slippers ready for you. I am not fluent in Japanese at all, but before my trip, I looked up some YouTube videos of basic conversational Japanese and it helped a lot. Knowing how to say things like “Thank you” and “Excuse me” will go a long way. In my experience, the natives will appreciate you making a legitimate effort and will work with you despite the language barrier. I also recommend having translation apps on your phone but don’t be fully reliant on them.

If you’re planning to bring in the new year in Tokyo, don’t expect it to look like a typical celebration in America. There aren’t any big fireworks celebrations or things of that nature. Instead, you’ll see families having a big meal together and going to shrines to reflect on the past year and pray for good fortune. There was a lantern release ceremony at Tokyo Dome City Hall last year on New Year’s Eve that many people attended and it’s convenient for fans who are in accommodations near the Dome. Personally, I went to the AJPW December 31st show, went to an all-you-can-eat/all-you-can-drink restaurant, wandered around the Harujuku district, and capped off the night with a bottle of sparkling sake from 7-Eleven on my hotel balcony so the experience is truly whatever you make it.

While many places take cards/mobile payments, Japan still heavily relies on cash. The conversion rate of the US Dollar to Japanese Yen is very generous so when it comes to how much money you should bring (aside from flights/hotel), I tell people that the trip can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. Before making the trip, I watched old Jamie Hayter interviews where she talked about her time living in Japan and how she saved so much money because she could eat good food at 7-Eleven every day for next to nothing and be perfectly fine. She was right. Fresh meals are available everywhere from convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Family Mart, and New Days to ramen spots scattered on every other street. Depending on how long you’re staying, I recommend bringing at least $1000 USD for tickets, food, souvenirs, etc but like I said, this trip can be whatever you want it to be.

The Wrestling

This is certainly my favorite part of the experience. The coolest part about going to Tokyo during this time of year is that you can go see as little or as much wrestling as you’d like. For nearly two weeks, nearly every promotion in Japan will run a big show in Tokyo. The tentpole events will come from NJPW & STARDOM and the schedule for those events is as follows:

・Sunday December 29 STARDOM, Ryogoku Sumo Hall

・Thursday January 2 Pro-Wrestling Matsuri (Fan Fest), Bellesalle Haneda

・Friday January 3 Wrestle Kingdom 19 Kickoff venue TBA

・Friday January 3 STARDOM New Year Dream Tokyo Garden Theater

・Saturday January 4 Wrestle Kingdom 19 in Tokyo Dome

・Sunday January 5 Wrestle Dynasty in Tokyo Dome

・Monday January 6 New Year Dash!, Ota-ku Gymnasium

If you’re anything like me, you may want to use the opportunity to see as many promotions as possible. During my time in Tokyo, I saw Stardom Dream Queendom on December 29, AJPW Maniax on December 31, Pro Wrestling NOAH on January 2, DDT Grand Prix Final & the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom press conference on January 3, Ittenyon Stardom Gate and NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4, and NJPW New Year Dash on January 5. That doesn’t even include the promotions I didn’t get to see, such as TJPW, Dragon Gate, BJW, FREEDOMS, Marigold (which didn’t even exist in January of this year), etc.

Keep in mind that although I attended several shows just as a fan, I was also covering several shows as media so attending so many shows made sense for me but it may not make sense for you. My biggest advice is to make sure that you go to AT LEAST one show in the Tokyo Dome and one show in Korakuen Hall. Korakuen Hall is the greatest wrestling venue on Earth as far as I’m concerned and the vibes are immaculate. I’m so serious when I say this is a must. I saw DDT there and it was the most fun I’ve ever had at a wrestling show. Also, wrestlers typically do signings and other fan-friendly activities in there before or after shows. All of the bigger promotions run shows in Korakuen regularly so it’s fun to buy a lemon sour and walk around the building looking at all the posters on the walls while waiting for the show to start. Another convenient thing about Korakuen Hall is that it’s directly next to the Tokyo Dome so if you’re staying in that area, it’s a simple commute.

For some of the bigger promotions like NJPW and Stardom, a special link may be set up for international fans to buy tickets online in advance. For other promotions, your best bet is probably buying tickets on the day of the show in person. This process is typically pretty simple. Venues like Korakuen Hall and Ryogoku Sumo Hall tend to have a seat map/price map on the counter when you order so even if your Japanese isn’t perfect, you can point to where you’d like to sit.

The wrestling shows aren’t the only things worth visiting while in Tokyo. Toudoukan World is a must for any wrestling fan visiting Japan. It’s a giant emporium store with merchandise, DVDs, event programs, and more from dozens of promotions, including North American ones. They have everything you can think of, from the rows of ring-worn masks the likes of Jushin Thunder Liger and Ultimo Dragon to signed t-shirts from some of the biggest names in Puroresu. I managed to snag signed Hiroshi Tanahashi and Go Shiozaki t-shirts. Wrestlers also host signing events in the store as well. There are always cool things happening so be sure to set aside a decent amount of time. You’ll want to stay all day!

Another major wrestling tourist attraction that’s still on my bucket list is Ribera Steakhouse. Known for their shiny satin jackets and rows of wrestler photographs, this is a hotspot for wrestlers and fans alike in Tokyo.

Final advice

If you get to make the trip, cherish it. I truly believe this is the best week of professional wrestling on the planet. Any type of wrestling you can think of will be at your fingertips and people from around the world will be coming to experience it together. Keep an open mind, set a goal to make at least one new friend, and whether it’s with food, activities, or even giving new promotions a try, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. I look back fondly on my trip to Japan as the greatest experience of my life and I cannot wait to do it again. I wish those of you who make the trip have safe travels and a jolly good time. Sayōnara !