Sports & Sumo · Gaienmae / Aoyama

Meiji Jingu Stadium (Yakult Swallows Baseball) 明治神宮野球場

Babe Ruth played here in 1934: the open-air home of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, where fans wave tiny umbrellas and sing through every inning, Tokyo's most charming place to watch pro baseball.

About

Opened in 1926 in the Meiji Jingu Gaien outer gardens, Jingu Stadium is one of Japan's oldest ballparks and far more atmospheric than the domed stadiums. The Yakult Swallows' supporters have one of the league's great rituals: after each run they pop open little plastic umbrellas and sing 'Tokyo Ondo', bouncing them in time. Outfield non-reserved seats are cheap and put you in the thick of the cheering sections (home fans in right field, visitors in left), beer is sold by 'beer girls' carrying kegs on their backs, and summer evening games with the skyline beyond the outfield are a Tokyo classic. The stadium also hosts the university baseball league. It is slated for eventual rebuilding under the Jingu Gaien redevelopment, so enjoy the old park while it lasts. The NPB season runs late March to late September/early October.

Highlights

• Historic 1926 ballpark where Babe Ruth played
• Swallows fans' umbrella dance to 'Tokyo Ondo'
• Cheap outfield seats among the cheering sections
• Beer sellers with kegs on their backs
• Open-air night games under the Tokyo skyline

Tips

• Buy tickets on the Swallows' official site or at the stadium box office; avoid resale sites
• Sit in the right-field outfield (home side) and buy a mini umbrella to join in
• University (Big6) league games on weekends are cheap and lively
• Season ends around early October, outside it, the stadium may host other events only

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo AvenuePhoto Spot · 150 m away
• Japan Olympic MuseumMuseum · 180 m away
• Sushi MasashiSushi & Seafood · 340 m away
• DenRestaurant · 420 m away
• Japan National StadiumLandmark & Tower · 440 m away
• Hope-ken SendagayaRamen & Noodles · 480 m away
• Sushi RyujiroSushi & Seafood · 500 m away
• Watari-um, The Watari Museum of Contemporary ArtArt & Exhibits · 540 m away