*Last reviewed: October 26, 2026*
Tickets for Japanese VTuber events are rarely sold the way concert tickets are in many other countries. Instead of one on-sale moment, you will usually find several overlapping windows: a lottery, a general sale, and sometimes an official resale. This guide explains what those windows mean and how to read an actual ticket page, using the ticket schedule for the hololive x Tokyo Joypolis “SHINY PARTY” meet-and-greet as an example. For streaming and archive options, see our broader guide to watching VTuber concerts from overseas.
The usual order of sales
A Japan-based ticketing guide from Fun Japan describes four stages, roughly from easiest to hardest to win. Fan club pre-sale lotteries come first, and require a paid membership. Next is an official pre-sale that anyone can apply to through a designated site. Third is a pre-sale lottery run by a ticket agency such as Lawson Ticket, Ticket PIA, eplus or Rakuten Ticket, which only needs a free membership. Last is general sale, where tickets go on sale at the same time across agencies, often in small numbers on a first-come basis. Two other routes exist: official resale, where holders return tickets at face value, and day-of-event tickets, which are not guaranteed.
A worked example: the SHINY PARTY meet-and-greet
The Tokyo Joypolis event page for “hololive x Joypolis SHINY PARTY” shows how these terms appear in practice. The event runs from October 16 to December 27, 2026, with the four holoX members Hakui Koyori, Takane Lui, Laplus Darkness and Kazama Iroha. Its paid meet-and-greet, called Holo x Match, costs 8,500 yen (tax included) per session and gives one minute of conversation with one talent. Here is how to read the page:
- Which venue and which code. Hokkaido, Kansai and Tokyo each have their own sessions and their own Lawson Ticket code (11831, 55666 and 33040). The code identifies the exact performance series, so check you are on the right one.
- Presale and general sale. Tickets are sold by Lawson Ticket lottery presale. The page states that if the presale sells out, there is no general sale. Sale dates listed for the Hokkaido sessions, for example, include a general sale on September 5.
- Resale windows. Each talent and date has its own resale application period with a results date. For the Tokyo session with Hakui Koyori on November 21, applications run October 22 to November 17, with results on November 20.
- Specified-performance tickets. The page says tickets are for a specified performance, that buyers must register their name and contact information, and that transfer is prohibited except through official resale.
- Limits and inclusions. One ticket per person per session. The ticket includes entry, an A5 clear file and one random voice card.
- Changes. Sessions have fixed capacity, and the schedule and content may change without notice.
Notice that the same event contains several different products, each with its own rules. The closing “Bakuon” screening on December 26 and 27 at Tokyo Joypolis, for example, has its own presale (October 24 at 17:00 to November 8 at 23:59) with results on November 13, a limit of two tickets per session, and a general sale on November 27 only if the presale does not sell out.
Getting the ticket: convenience-store pickup
Many lottery tickets are paper tickets issued at a convenience store. The Bakuon page describes payment and paper-ticket issuing at a Lawson or Ministop Loppi terminal between November 13 and 23. Fun Japan explains the general process for Loppi and FamiPort machines: you enter the number from the confirmation email, then pay a handling fee at the register. Other events use electronic tickets that require an organizer app and SMS verification with the phone number used in the lottery.
The overseas problem
Fun Japan notes that fan clubs and ticket agencies mainly serve people living in Japan. The common barriers are a Japanese address for registration and paper ticket delivery, a Japanese mobile number for verification, and a Japan-issued credit card, since some sites restrict overseas cards. Lawson, eplus and PIA have English sites, and some sites do accept overseas cards and foreign phone numbers. The Joypolis page itself does not say whether overseas buyers can enter the lottery, and it directs all questions to Tokyo Joypolis by telephone. Check the organizer before relying on a lottery entry, and be careful of resellers offering tickets at inflated prices.
A short checklist
- Find the lottery application period, results date and payment deadline, and note them all in JST.
- Check whether a general sale exists, or whether it only happens if the presale does not sell out.
- Look for name registration and transfer rules.
- Check how the ticket is issued: paper at a convenience store, delivery or an app.
- Confirm whether you need a Japanese phone number, address or card.
FAQ
What is a presale? A sales window before general sale, usually run as a lottery, per the Fun Japan guide.
Can I resell my ticket? Only through the official resale channel; the Joypolis page prohibits other transfer.
Does winning the lottery mean paying right away? No. On the Bakuon page, results come first, followed by a separate payment and issue window.
Related guides
- How overseas fans can watch VTuber concerts: tickets, streaming and archives
- How to Buy and Watch a Japanese VTuber Concert Stream: SPWN and Streaming+ Explained
- How to Attend a VRChat VTuber Concert From Outside Japan
Sources
- hololive x Joypolis SHINY PARTY (Japanese) – Tokyo Joypolis
- The Complete Guide to How to Buy Concert or Live Music Performance Tickets in Japan for Beginners – Fun Japan
Reviewed by WVR Inoue on October 26, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Thumbnail: 【MV】サキミダレアッパレード♪ / さくらみこ by Miko Ch. さくらみこ on YouTube. Shown via YouTube; all rights belong to their owners.
