YOKOHAMA STADIUM

#japantrip Have you been to a baseball game in Japan? ⚾️ We had so much fun on Sunday at the Baystars game against the Hiroshima Carp at the Yokohama Stadium! Fans aren’t just spectators in Japanese baseball. They’re dedicated cheerleaders, dancers, and musicians — and they’re vocal! Japan’s baseball vibe is like no other. You would think that baseball is baseball, no matter where it’s played. But in Japan, the culture is perhaps the equivalent of soccer/football internationally. It’s serious business! Every player has a song or chant that is sung by the fans when they're up to bat. There's a small band and "chant leaders" keeping the fans on track with songs and chants throughout the game. Our favorite part in the game was when the fans blew up long blue balloons, sang a special song and let go of the balloons all at once, sending all the happy balloons squeeling into the air and back down onto the fans! 😆 * see video posted previously Things you should know before attending a Japanese baseball game... 💺 Choose wisely where you sit, if possible, because home and opposing fans are not typically mixed together. If you’re unsure which team you’re rooting for, probably pick the home team and sit where many of their fans are. For the Yokohams Baystars games, you'll want to sit on the Bayside. 🌧 If it rains, the game could be cancelled and you can return to where you purchased your tickets and receive a refund. 🎟 We purchased our tickets at the 7-Eleven by the Womble Gate, a cashier walked me through the steps to securing tickets with their ticket machine and I paid for them at the register. 🧢 While Japan has adopted many of the rules of American baseball, not everything has carried over (yet) such as the pitching clock. That means the game could theoretically last longer than three hours and even go into extra innings. 🍦The food selection at the stadiums is a mix of different cuisines. We saw vendors walking the stands selling ice cream, and food booths selling shave ice with mandarin oranges on top. We also saw a burger joint just outside the stadium and food trucks. 🗑 Clean up after yourself. When the game ends, fans are diligent about taking their waste away with them. Some diehards will even have brought a garbage bag to collect all the trash they created. 🍺 Vendors will bring beers to you and pour them right on the spot. And you can easily spot the brand of choice by the color of the clothes the pourer is wearing. 🎒 It was okay to bring bags and backpacks into the stadium, but be sure to check with the ballpark before you go because each one might be different. We had a quick bag check before entering the stadium, not unlike anything in the US. 📍 Directions to YOKOHAMA STADIUM 🚆 Kannai Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku/Negishi Line 2-minute walk from the South Exit Kannai Station on the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line 3-minute walk from Exit 1 Nihon-odori Station on the Minatomirai Line 3-minute walk