So, you made the decision to go to SWCJ, but are a bit nervous about Japan. Why though? I feel that much of it stems from the country being presented as exotic and notoriously inaccessible, difficult to navigate on your own due to the language and other quirks. Which, in the words of our lord and savior Eli Vanto, is krayt spit. Japan may not be available to everyone, financially or otherwise, but it’s definitely doable on a budget. Let me help you with this guide.

Why do I claim to know? I’m doing my PhD in Japanese Studies, have lived and worked there, coaching expats and travelers to and from Japan, and I’ve been exploring the country on the cheap for 15+ years. However, I am not all-knowing or in Japan right now, so please contact me for corrections, additions, questions!

Another disclaimer: As I myself am not going to SWCL, this is a Japan/Tokyo guide first and foremost. It’s still made by a fan, for fans on the way to SWCJ, but for con-specific info, I’d recommend you look elsewhere.

<aside> 🈲 Please do not copy or repost things from this guide - link back instead, so everything is up to date.

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So, what do we need to consider?

Before we get into it:

<aside> 🚨 If you plan to bring any kind of medication (or 🍃medication🍃) to Japan, check the “Taking medication to Japan” section below before you plan or book anything.

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Things you’ll need to cover at the very least are tickets, flights, accomodation, transportation and food. I will not be able to give you exact figures, as they will vary wildly depending on where in the world you’re from and what you want out of your trip. I’ll still take these as our subsections because if anyone needs a clear structure, I do.

If you’re thinking “yes, a guide sounds nice but I’m not reading all of this!”…. yes, it’s long. For a super short primer, go watch a video like this one that covers the very basics to your first hour in the country. Anything beyond that, maybe just skip ahead to a section that seems interesting. There are chapter marks to your right.

💸Money

As this is a guide for everyone and the exchange rates are ever-changing, i am not going to list €$£ equivalents, but Japanese Yen when i give specific prices.

In my head, I usually strike through the last two digits and then think of that as the Euro/Dollar equivalent, with a bit of leeway as exchange rates change. So, 1000yen = roughly 10€/$. That's not 100% accurate though, as the current exchange rate is way more favorable than that (closer to 6€). Of course this can and will change, but in March 2025, it looks like this:

For more currencies check this link.

🎟Tickets

Check the official page here. As of March 2025, tickets for adults and kids have sold out. Check for resale options, but beware of scalpers and other scammers who might try to resell for a much higher price. I don’t know the event’s official policies, but know that this is illegal in Japan and might lead to your tickets getting invalidated. (I’ve seen this happen for concerts in Japan.)

✈Flights

Where to fly to?

Makuhari Messe is in Chiba, one of the neighboring prefectures of Tokyo. It is however easily accessible from Tokyo - to the point where even one of Tokyo’s two international airports actually is in Chiba. So when searching for flights, you can either pick Narita (NRT, in Chiba) or Haneda Airport (HND, in Tokyo). Or you can just input the IATA code TYO for Tokyo, which will give you results for both. This is also what I’d recommend if you’re setting up a notification on Google Flights or elsewhere.

You could also fly into Osaka (KIX) and then take the train or bus, but that’s time consuming and not very fun when jetlagged. So I’d only suggest to do so if you absolutely can’t find flights elsewhere, or you’re planning a longer trip through Japan anyway.