So, I have wanted to buy a ticket to a concert through Pia, but registration requires phone number verification, and my phone plan doesn’t include calls. I know another foreigner who does have a working phone number, and since you can get physical tickets (and buy multiple at the same time, if you want) I asked them to buy it for me since it’s a paper ticket, anyone can use it. Now the issue is, the ticket has their name on it. I assumed this wouldn’t be the case, since if one person can buy multiple tickets why would they all be in their name?
Since then we have discovered that I could have simply registered using his number, but we weren’t sure if that was allowed at the time so we opted for this “safer” option, but apparently on about half of all concerts they do actually check if your ID matches the ticket. My question is, in your experience how likely is it that I’m fucked and I’ll basically be turned away at the entrance? Should I not have my hopes up? I have been to a few conventions with paper tickets and they never checked anyone’s name, but I’ve never been to a local concert yet.
11 comments
They never check IDs at concerts. I’ve been to a few concerts in different size venues and it never happened. Bought resale tickets many times as well with Japanese names on them and was still able to get in just fine. Usually no one cares.
If the ticket pickup goes through the konbini you might have to have your friend pick it up (to verify the name) but other than that it doesn’t matter.
If you buy several tickets for friends they all have the name of the purchaser. I think they just do this to track egregious scalping but in the end it doesn’t matter. Friends routinely pass around tickets and give to friends of friends so it’s not a problem. Just say that you got it from that person but they never ask (at sports events with similar Pia bought tickets anyway…).
My wife has bought tickets in her name (Tanaka Yukiko) for me when I’ve been out and tickets went on sale later in the morning, and I (John Brown) have used them — so clearly not the same person — without any issue. However, as others have said, not for “insanely demand show”.
The one time they checked after I bought a ticket on yahoo Japan auctions that had a different name, I told them my host sister had bought it for me and pretended I didn’t know much Japanese. They told me not to do that again and let me through.
When in doubt, play dumb.
As other have said, it really depend on the artist whether they want to enforce ID check or not. Have been to concerts that did, and concert that didn’t.
> I assumed this wouldn’t be the case, since if one person can buy multiple tickets why would they all be in their name?
For concert that do check, the entire group must enter together with the main buyer.
Festivals check at times
Depends. If it’s a Vkei live they never check. People buy and sell frequently their tickets online too.
I’ve been going to concerts in Japan for 10 years and they’ve never checked my ID to the ticket holder name once. Even when I as a foreign male bought the ticket from a Japanese female. Might be different if you’re going to a limited fanclub only live show, but in general you do not need to worry.
Depends on whoever is managing the event/artist but I have never had to provide ID in almost 10 years of going to see concerts in various-sized venues throughout Tokyo and some other nearby parts of Kanto. Then again, I stick to small to mid-sized venues and rarely see “big name artists” so your milage may vary.
The few times I got tickets with someone else’s name on them (pre-2020), I got in no problem but again, those were mid-sized venues for mid-level artists.
Revealing who you’re intending to go see might open up the discussion more?
If in doubt, if you can use the “gaijin card” use it to smash your way in there?
I have never been checked for ID in order to enter concert, live, event.
But there was one time, those who went to both noon and afternoon session can get some limited signed poster, and there was ID check for that to make sure nobody borrowing anyone else’s ticket(s).
If the tickets was bought on ぴあ then maybe it can be shared – or 分配. Name on the ticket will change but you will need a ぴあ account for that…..