You've found a show. The listing says something like ADV ¥2,500 / DOOR ¥3,000 +1D. There's no "Buy tickets" button. Now what?
At most underground shows in Tokyo, an advance ticket isn't something you buy online. It's a hold: your name on a list at the door, at the cheaper advance price. In Japanese this is a 取り置き (torioki, literally "keeping aside"). This guide covers how to get on that list, and the other three ways shows sell tickets.
If you've never been to a live house, start with What Is a Live House? for the basics: the drink ticket, show timing, and why bands care who you came to see.
Reading the price line
- ADV / 前売り (maeuri): the advance price, with a hold or a pre-bought ticket
- DOOR / 当日 (tōjitsu): the door price if you just turn up, usually ¥500 more
- +1D / ドリンク代別: plus one drink ticket, paid at the door (usually ¥500–700)
- 要予約 (yō-yoyaku): reservation required. Don't count on walking in
- 予約受付中 / 取り置き受付中: holds are being taken
- SOLD OUT / 予約終了: no more advance spots. Sometimes door tickets are still sold
- 整理番号 (seiri bangō): the entry number on a pre-bought ticket. You enter in number order
The four ways a show sells tickets
1. A hold with the venue (取り置き)
Many live houses take holds directly, through a reservation form on their schedule page or by email. You give your name, the number of people and the band you're coming to see. On the night you say your name at the door, pay the advance price plus the drink ticket in cash, and you're in. Nothing is paid upfront.
2. A hold through the band (バンド予約)
Some shows, especially local bills with five or six bands, take holds only through the bands. Each band keeps its own list, because the venue counts how many people each band brought (see the norma system). In practice you message the band, usually by Instagram or X DM, and they add you to their list.
3. A ticket platform
Bigger shows, and most overseas tours, sell numbered tickets through platforms such as e+ (イープラス), チケットぴあ (Ticket Pia), LivePocket or TIGET. These can be hard to use from abroad: the forms are in Japanese, and some ask for a Japanese phone number or collection at a convenience store. Some tours set up a separate page for buyers outside Japan, and the show listing usually links it.
Platform tickets carry an entry number (整理番号). At many shows, numbered tickets go in first, then the hold list, then door sales.
4. Door only (当日券のみ)
Some shows don't take advance sales at all. Turn up, pay the door price, done.
How to tell which applies: the show's listing (on our show pages or the venue's site) usually says. Look for 予約 (reservation) with an email or form link, a platform name, or バンド予約 / 各バンド (through the bands).
What to write
You don't need fluent Japanese. A short, clear message works. This one is for a venue's email or reservation form:
件名：【取り置き希望】〇月〇日 イベント名
〇〇（会場名）ご担当者様
〇月〇日（〇）「イベント名」の前売り取り置きをお願いします。
・名前：〇〇〇〇（ローマ字：〇〇〇〇）
・人数：〇名
・お目当て：〇〇（バンド名）
海外から観に行く予定です。英語でご返信いただいても大丈夫です。
よろしくお願いいたします。
Meaning: "I'd like to reserve advance tickets for [event] on [date]. Name, number of people, the band I'm coming to see. I'm coming from overseas; it's fine to reply in English. Thank you."
For a band, a DM is enough:
〇月〇日の〇〇のライブ、取り置き〇名お願いできますか？
名前は〇〇〇〇です。海外から観に行きます！
Meaning: "Could you hold [number] for your show on [date]? My name is [name]. I'm coming from overseas!"
お目当て (o-meate) means "who you're here for". Fill it in even if you like the whole bill. It credits the band you name, and many live houses ask for it.
At the door
Give the name exactly as you wrote it. If you sent katakana and romaji, either should work. Staff tick you off the list. Pay the advance price plus the drink ticket in cash, swap the drink ticket at the bar, and you're set.
If your plans change
Cancel. Send a one-line message to whoever took your hold. An empty spot on a band's list can cost that band money under the norma system. In Japanese:
〇月〇日の取り置き（〇〇〇〇）ですが、行けなくなったのでキャンセルをお願いします。すみません。
Meaning: "My hold for [date] under [name]: I can't make it, so please cancel it. Sorry."
Timing
Earlier is better. Many venues stop taking holds the day before or on the day, and popular shows fill. Once you know your dates, reserve as soon as the show is listed.
Find the shows first
Not sure what's on during your trip? Send your dates and taste to Trip Alerts. It's free: we watch the venue calendars for your dates and email up to two personal picks when something fits.