Experience of seeing a Kpop concert in Japan (TXT MOA CON)

Had a Japan trip planned and TXT’s MOA CON Kobe shows worked out timing wise and I really wanted to go see them! Wanted to share my experience and tips and info about Japanese concerts (pertains to TXT and mostly HYBE groups as they have similar processes). Other groups and companies will have different processes so keep that in mind.

1. Getting Tickets
Probably the biggest hurdle for most international fans is getting tickets to concerts in Japans. Often you need Japanese fanclub membership, Japanese phone number, and/or Japanese address to enter ticket lotteries. TXT and I believe most HYBE groups don’t require the phone number or address part. You can get a JPN membership as a foreigner. I got most of my info on the process from XHS since Chinese fans commonly go to Japan concerts. The hurdle for intl fans is payment options. For fanclub round 1, you can only pay for tickets through Lawson connivence stores in Japan so intl fans either pay a proxy or use someone they know. I have a friend living in Japan that was able to help me. For subsequent lottery rounds and sales, they allow credit card payment, but intl cards are hit or miss (some intl cards do work). Not an issue for me since I was able to use my friend’s Japanese credit card for the premium upgrade lottery.

HYBE groups often have separate global fanclub lotteries but keep in mind that you will get worse seats than the Japanese ones. This has been the reported experience by many fans. So keep expectations low and that you will be in the back. Winning TXT’s global lottery for their regular dome concerts isn’t hard but MOA CON was arenas so it was much harder to get tickets for these. I didn’t win the global lottery but did for the JPN fanclub round 1 for the day 2 show and then later won the lottery for premium upgrade (upgrade to closer seats).

If you want the best seats possible and best chances of winning then Japanese fanclub is a must as vast majority of tickets are only for them. If there’s still lots of tickets left, many groups have started selling tickets on the Trip website which makes these shows accessible for international fans. Note again the seats will likely be in the back so keep expectations low. I’ve seen TXT, Enhypen, Illit, LSFM, TWS, BND, IVE, Monsta X, etc. If it’s highly in demand, it’s likely not going to be sold here. TXT’s MOA CON was not sold here despite their past dome concerts being up there since the venues are so much smaller. For reference, for TXT’s past dome tours, getting tickets is not hard. Many fans can get tickets to all the shows they want. However for MOA CON, fans reported only winning one show during the round 1 lottery.

How to get your concert ticket:

1. You did Japanese fanclub lottery or bought general sale on Lawson, you get a QR code and pick up physical tickets at any Lawson store in Japan a few days before the concert. This is where you find out where your ticket seat is.

2. Global lottery or Trip, you have to pick up the ticket at the venue.

Overall summary of TXT’s general ticket system:

1. JPN fanclub lottery round 1 (best general tickets would be here) and winning would let you be eligible for the premium upgrade. You cannot with later rounds.

2. JPN fanclub lottery round 2

3. Lawson credit card lottery

4. Lawson general sale

5. JPN fanclub additional sales (applicable if there are still tickets left, happened with some MOA CON dates but not Kobe)

6. JPN fanclub equipment seats (if applicable, would be a day before the concert. Seats found that won’t be blocked once the stage is actually set)

Global methods: Global membership (only 1 round and then there would be a separate premium upgrade lottery) or Trip

2. Resale Tickets

Yes resale is illegal in Japan but there are sites. Popular site is Ticket Jam and that’s how I bought my day 1 ticket. There are two types of tickets parent (001) and child (002) tickets. The purchaser’s name is on the ticket. For regular tickets, ID check is random and they do not check everyone. If it’s premium tickets, for TXT they checked everyone. The “safe” way to buy resale is to buy 002 tickets as those aren’t supposed to required ID verification, but it’s getting stricter now. You’re supposed to enter with the 001 ticket holder and if you don’t, they might not let you in if you’re asked for ID. I went in with the ticket seller who was 001 and we weren’t asked but you never know. People risk buying 001 tickets hoping they don’t get ID checked. If you fail to show ID then they will take your ticket and put an X so other entrances won’t let you in. So keep this in remind especially if you can’t pass to be Japanese or that would make you an easy target to be checked.

3. Soundcheck and Hi Touch Opportunities

Getting a premium ticket usually only means a better seat and some merch. Unlike other countries, in Japan everything is a separate lottery. You have to buy albums through a lottery to win soundcheck or hi touch. The hi touch lottery seems to be truly random as some fans won with very little but some bought a lot and didn’t win. I’ve seen fans say they bought 50 albums and didn’t win. An album is 2300 yen so they paid over $700 USD for nothing. This is why many Asian fans don’t think American VIP prices are crazy. TXT’s send off VIP ticket was $900 USD and soundcheck VIP was $500 but at least those are guaranteed in the ticket. I’ve went to a fair amount of their American concerts and there’s always a good amount of Chinese and Japanese fans there for those perks.

4. Buying Merch

For TXT and in general HYBE groups, I believe they do the pick up system so you can’t go to the venue and directly buy merch. They open it at a specific time (ex. 1pm) and then it’s a race to purchase it and choose a pick up time. There is a QR code that you show the staff that they use. Note if you want any popular merch (in my case the clothes or tote bag), as a foreigner you’re likely not going to get it. Merch is in limited quantities and Weverse has faster purchase methods for Japanese people compared to foreigners where you need to enter all your credit card details.

5. Membership Photocard Pick Up

For TXT, it’s MOA Zone and unlike Korea and America, there is a reservation system so you need to book a time and can only pick it up during that time. Later slots go very fast when the reservations open so you might need to get to the venue early just to get the photocard. Note that day of, there might be later slots opened as people choose to come earlier to the venue and change their slot to an earlier one. Fans did this for TXT as they got to the venue early to line up for the capsule game.

You need Japanese fanclub membership for this. If you’re a global lottery winner, your global membership won’t be accepted.

6. Concert Atmosphere

Yes indeed Japanese audiences tend to be quite tame. Even when the guys were telling us to jump during hype songs, they did not lol. (Won’t stop me haha). I know some people feel uncomfortable going against the crowd so keep that in mind. You’ll be standing the whole time, but Japanese fans mainly just do the fan chants and wave their lightsticks.

Something I’ll admit was a surprise was the large amount of “auntie” or “mom” fans as there’s a lot of them for TXT. Someone I sat beside me told me her 21 year old daughter went to the prior cities for MOA CON. In hindsight makes sense as Japan’s idol culture is known to have a lot of older fans and seems to apply to Kpop too. But might also catch others off guard who are used to younger audiences in western concerts.

7. Concert Recording

Japanese concerts mostly prohibit any recording and Japanese people listen and truly do not record. Most clips you see online are taken by foreigner fans. Do not risk doing this if you are on the floor as there are many staff walking around and they’re watching. But if you’re in the back, you’ll mostly get away with it. Another foreigner fan I met had recorded a lot since they were in the last row of the venue and the staff didn’t seem to care. They only walked up the stairs of her section once. But it’s all at your own risk as if you get caught, expect to be kicked out.

Overall, super happy to have made it work and see MOA CON in Japan during my trip! Especially since TXT aren’t touring this year so I’m happy I saw them another way. And I loved seeing the Japanese songs live as I do genuinely love those a lot! If anyone has questions about my experience or some processes, happy to help! But note again that this is all very specific to TXT and somewhat HYBE. I do not know how it works for other groups or companies. If you’re interested in Japanese concerts, it will require a lot of research like I did. Honestly, everything I learned was through shared fan experiences (XHS mostly) as my friend living in Japan couldn’t help since he’s not into Kpop.