Anime Events

World's biggest anime event


Do you know about the biggest anime and doujin event in Japan? We called it Comic Market!!! The best and most popular event in Japan! Comic Market are held in Tokyo Big Sight every twice a year (August & December). If you are coming at this season, You have to join this event!!! There are many things you should know about this event so I'll tell you guys here! (I have join this event more than 10 times hehe)

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU REALLY WANTs S TO BUY, GO TO TOKYO BIG SIGHT VERY EARLY LIKE 4AM. (If you have early ticket no need to go early)
Table of contents
    How to Comic Market (Click or tap for each section)
    1. 01 Basic information of Comic Market
    2. 02 Ticket for Comic Market
    3. 03 Reading, making maps and finding Doujinshi for Comic Market
    4. 04 Recommended Doujinshi & Goods
    5. 05 What you need for Comic Market
    6. 06 Transportation & Hotel For Comic Market
    7. 07 Others (Advices and more)

Where this event are held

Basic information of Comic Market

©2015 丸戸史明・深崎暮人・KADOKAWA 富士見書房／冴えない製作委員会
Comic Market is the world's biggest doujinshi event. Depending on the times held, it is also shortened to C102. Comic Market is held twice a year, in summer and winter (year-end), and this summer is on 12th & 13th of August.

In C101 and C100, which used to be a ticket system, there was no need to be in line early, but from this C102, which is now partially a ticket system, you probably need to be in line early.
(Details are in section of Ticket）Don't stay up all night, it's prohibited.

Ticket for Comic Market


In Comic Market 102, C102, some of tickets became wristband partially. There are 4 types of wristbands and tickets. Early Entry tickets, Cosplay Early Entry tickets, AM Entry wristbands / tickets, PM Entry wristbands.
There are 2 areas for early tickets. East tickets and South & West Tickets. You can move south, west, or east once you enter first, just the first entrance is different. But if there is something you want to buy first, buy that direction. Choose the area you interested from list of categories bellow (all information is from Official website) ↓

  • East hall 1~3
  • East hall 4~6
  • West hall 1&2
  • West＆South hall 3&4

DAY 1

Doujinshi

Vtuber

DAY 1

Doujinshi

Umamusume, Kancolle

DAY 1

Doujinshi

Touken Ranbu, BL & Otome games,

DAY 1

Doujinshi

Square Enix qnd RPG

DAY 1

Doujinshi & Games

Games (Others)

DAY 2

Doujinshi

Toho Project

DAY 2

Doujinshi

Original (R18)

DAY 2

Doujinshi

Trains, Travels, Military

DAY 2

Digital

Miku and more

DAY 1

Music

Western Music, Direction, Male Idol

DAY 1

TV

TV, Film, Entertainment, Tokusatsu

DAY 1

Doujinshi

TIGER&BUNNY, Gundam

DAY 1

Accesory

Handmade accesory

DAY 1

Doujinsji

Bishojo and others, Original (BL)

DAY 1

Doujinshi

Shonen, Bishojo, and more

DAY 2

Doujinshi

Novels (18plus too)

DAY 2

Doujinshi

Lovelive, Idolm@ster, Gal game

DAY 2

Doujinshi

Critisim+info Doujinshi

DAY 1

Doujinshi

Type-Moon

DAY 1

Doujinshi

Mobile game (Blue Arcive, Genshin and more)

DAY 1

Doujinshi

Azur lane

DAY 2

Doujinshi

Original (Shonen and Shojo)

DAY 2

Doujinshi

Manga from univeristy club

DAY 2

Doujinshi

Cosplay book or video

DAY 2

Digital

Digital technologies

DAY 1&2

Oficial

Company Stores & Booth
Companies scheduled to participate are Here. (Need Login)



IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU REALLY WANT TO BUY GO TO TOKYO BIG SIGHT VERY EARLY LIKE 3AM. (Except if you have early ticket no need to go early)

Early tickets (All sold out)


Early Entry tickets is a tickets that you can enter from 10:30. It is the most expensive ticket of 4 types but, if you have the thing that you wanted, we recommend buying Early Entry tickets. Tickets will be exchanged for wristbands at the admission desk. Those who wants to cosplay can register (￥500) in the changing rooms on the day of the event. Also, Ticket Pay currently (As of Jun 30th) supports non-Japanese phone numbers for registration1(list is in below).

Availability : lottery only (via Ticket pay)
Lottery applications : Jun 27th ~ Jul 4th
Results announcement : Jul 7th (payment and ticketing is until Aug 11th)
Ticketing location : FamilyMart, multi-copy machines
Price : ¥5,000 + ¥330 (interest)
Entry reception : 8:00~10:00
Entry starts : 10:30

Early Entry tickets are ALL SOLD OUT

Cosplay Early tickets (All sold out)


Cosplay Early Entry tickets is a tickets that you can cosplay from the time entry starts. You can use the Changing Room after 09:30. You cannot leave South Halls 1 and 2 until 11:00, but you can take cosplay photos in the South Hall 1 & 2 until 11:00. You can also use the changing rooms in the East Hall when you're going home. Tickets will be exchanged for wristbands at the entry reception. Also, Ticket Pay currently (as of Jun 30th) supports non-Japanese phone numbers for registration1(list is in below).


Availability : lottery only (via Ticket pay)
Lottery applications : Jun 27th ~ Jul 4th
Results announcement : Jul 7th (payment and ticketing until Aug 11th)
Ticketing location : FamilyMart, multi-copy machines
Price : ¥3,000 + ¥330 (interest)
Entry reception : 9:00~
Entry starts : 11:00

Cosplay Early Tickets are ALL SOLD OUT

AM Entry wristbands


AM Entry wristbands is a wristband that allows you to enter at 11am. This is recommended for those who missed the Early Entry tickets or don't want to spend that much money on tickets or wristbands. They can buy one from some shops, such as Animate and more2. If you are outside Japan and difficult to get wristbands, you can buy e-tickets from eplus. Those who wants to cosplay can register (￥500) in the changing rooms on the day of the event.

Availability : At shop (booth)2, e-tickets3
Sales starts : Jul 15th~（Numbers are limited, Online starts from July 6th）
Prices : ￥1,210 + (interest for e-tickets)
Entry reception：None
Entry starts : 11:00
Only one kind of Ticket. No Specific Area ticket like Early one.

For Day1, buy one from here!!
For Day2, buy one from here!!

For those living abroad, apply from here (eplus) !!
(You can apply from 7/15, 12:00(JST))


PM Entry wristbands


PM Entry wristbands is for those who want to relax, see the atmosphere of the venue, cosplay and handmade goods. They can buy one from some shops, such as Animate and more 2. Those who wants to cosplay can register(￥500) in the changing rooms on the day of the event.

Availability : At shop (booth)2, at venue
Sales starts : Jul 15th~（Numbers are limited, Online starts from July 6th）
Prices : ￥550(at shops), ￥500(at venue)
Entry reception：None
Entry starts : 13:30
Only one kind of Ticket. No Specific Area ticket like Early one.

For Day1, buy one from here!!
For Day2, buy one from here!!

Note

1. Currently(as of Jun 30th), you can apply ticket using a phone number from the list of countries below at Ticket Pay. (Only for Early tickets and already all sold out)

USA, Canada, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, UK, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia, Australia, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Myanmar

2. Wristbands will be available on Toranoana online shop

Day1 (8/12) AM Entry wristbands
Day2 (8/13) AM Entry wristbands

Day1 (8/12) PM Entry wristbands
Day2 (8/13) PM Entry wristbands

Also some Real store like animate and online. (Toranoana does ship to overseas)

3. e-tickets (eplus) is for people who are outside of Japan. Apply from here (eplus) !!

Reading, making maps and Find Doujinshi you want to buy in Comic Market


The Comic Market venue is so vast and crowded on the day of the event that beginners often get lost. This section explains how to read and make a map.

Check Map and Doujinshi Cricles from Official web Here.(Need Login)

How to read Comic Market Map


When you're looking for circles(people who sell Doujinshi & some stuff), you often see some text like "日曜日(or 日)東タ-22a" This means that

日＝Sunday
東＝East hall
シ＝"シ(Shi)" Block
22＝22th table

There are two circles in one table so, they separate like a & b. But for popular circles, they use one table.

Check Map, Doujinshi from Official web Here.(You need to register with + login)

In addition, circles and groups located differ by venue

Circles
Circles wil be located in East hall 1~6 and West hall 1&2 .

East A to East シ ("A" to "シ" Block)is East hall 1~3
East ス to East ヲ ("ス" to "ヲ" Block)is East hall 4~6
West あ to West ち ("あ" to "ち" Block) is West hall 2 (1st floor of south & west hall)
West つ to west め ("つ" to "め" Block) is West hall 1 (1st floor of south & west hall)


Company booth and store
Company booth will be located in West hall 3&4 and South hall 3&4. Details of company booth is not open yet. We will update the page if there are any updates for information.

West hall 3&4 and South hall 3&4 is in 4th floor of south & west hall.


Cosplay
Cosplay area will be located in East hall 7, South hall 1 and Rooftop exhibition area. For changing room, you can use East hall 8 and South hall 2.

South hall 1, East hall 7 is inside the building
Rooftop exhibition area is in outside
East hall 8 and South hall 2 is changing room.
Circle location : East hall 1~3, West hall 1&2
Company location : West hall 3&4, South hall 3&4
Cosplay Area : South hall 1, East hall 7, Rooftop exhibition area
Cosplay changing room : South hall 2, East hall 8

Words for Comic Market (Map ver)


壁サー(Kabe sa-, Wall Circle)
Omission of 壁サークル (Circles located beside the wall). Where famous or popular circles are located. In Comic Market 102, C102, 壁サー is located A&シ Block in East hall and あ&め Block in West hall.

シャッター前(shutter mae, Infront of shutter)
Or called シャッター(Shutter). Circles that are more popular than 壁サー. Due to its popularity, there is often a waiting line outside. You can see on the map whether circles are in front of a shutter.

島(Shima or tou, island)
The other name for block. At Comic Market, tables are arranged in a rectangular shape, like islands, which is why they are called 島. 島 is separated by genre.

誕生日席 (Birthday Seat)
Circles that are located at the corner of 島. Some circles that might make long line are located.

Check Map from Official web Here.



It is easy to get lost at your first Comic Market, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. Also, although you can view the map on your smartphone from the official website, the wifi on the day of the event is poor, so if you are new to Comic Market or don't know much about the area, we strongly recommend you to make your own map. There are three general ways to make a map.

①Get gold membership
The method of becoming a gold membership ( ¥660/month) at the Comic Market Web Catalogue, registering circles you want to visit as favorites and printing them. This method costs money, but you can create and print a map simply by adding the circles you want to visit to your favorites. You can also display circle cuts (illustrations drawn by illustrators) on the map so you can visually understand where they are. This method is highly recommended, especially if you are a first-time participant. Gold membership also allows you to make use of the map on your smartphone (not very useful on the day due to poor wifi). Get gold membership & make Map from official web Here.


②Print blank maps
This is a method of online printing by officials, which may be published later, or printing third-party venue maps and marking them yourself. This also costs money, but may be cheaper than a gold membership.

③Make map inside your brain
This is a method for putting the map in your brain and noting down the location of the circle. This method is for people who know the area or have a good memory. It is not recommended for beginners.


List of my favorite circle from official website.


Making route (and also correction)


You will use a lot of power in Comic Market. Therefore, you better make a route or order of circles you're going to so that you can save your power. For example, you want to go to EastA-66 (highest priority), Eastス-66 (third priority), Westめ-51 (second priority) and Westあ-21 (fourth priority) on Sunday. If you go round like

EastA-66 → Westめ-51 → Eastス-66 → Westあ-21,

you will have to go a very long way round.Therefore, you can efficiently buy doujinshi and other goods by going around in the following order

EastA-66→Eastス-66→Westめ-51→Westあ-21.



Also, you never know what will happen on the day of Comic Market. Therefore, in addition to making the route (the order in which you go around), it is important to correct the route in real time. The following are tips for making and correcting routes.


①Going to the top priority first
Whatever you want most, go for it first.

②Make one way route
It is exhausting and inefficient to create a route that takes you back the way you came, many times (especially as east and south&west are far away from each other). Therefore, it is good to make a route so that, at the end of the day, those entering the east are in the south-west and those entering the south-west are in the east.

③Keep updating information
Circles participating in Comic Market announce their stock status and other information on Twitter. When you have time, like while waiting in line, check it and if it is sold out, correct your map by eliminating it from your route in real time.

④To give up
At Comic Market, inefficiency in register, plus the popularity of circles, can lead to very long lines. Take a look at an example of this: a circle called Takebouki (founder of Type-Moon) in C100. Takebouki was extremely popular, and for some reason there was even a half queue in the whole East Hall when only people with dark tickets (circle tickets sold on the internet) had entered. Therefore, a friend of mine, who started entering at 11:00 and was at the front of the line, was only able to buy a doujinshi at around 14:00, and was unable to buy any popular doujinshis except for Takebouki. As soon as I saw the line, I immediately headed to a different circle. Maybe because of this, I was able to buy almost all doujinshis I wanted, except for Takebouki. Thus, at Comic Market, it is sometimes important to give up and switch to a different circle or route.

Recommended Doujinshi & Goods



What you need for Comic Market


Summers in Japan are very hot, and the heat can be so intense that heat stroke patients and deaths occur every year. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to take measures against heat stroke, especially at Comic Market. Below is a list of what you need for C102 and summer Comic Market.

What you need in C102 (Summer)


Transportation & Hotel For Comic Market


This section explains the major transportations and accommodation facilities (hotels) nearby that you will be using on the day of the Comiket.

Train


First, about the trains that most people use on the day of the Comic Market. There are three stations close to Tokyo Big Sight, the venue of the Comic Market: Kokusai Tenjijo Station, Tokyo Big Sight Station and Ariake Station, and people basically use one of these three.



Kokusai Tenjijo station（Rinkai Line）
This is the station most people use when it comes to Comic Market, due to its easy access to the JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, JR Saikyo Line direct connections, JR Keiyo Line and the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line. Therefore, if you are beginner, we recommend using Kokusai Tenjijo Station.

Ariake Station（Yurikamome）
One of the station that is close to the Kokusai Tenjijo Station. In the previous C101, the waiting area for East Hall entry was the Symbol Promenade Park Flower Plaza in front of the Tokyo Bay Ariake Washington Hotel. If you exit the station gates and go in the direction of the left exit, 1A or 1B, you can reach Tokyo Big Sight and the Symbol Promenade Park Flower Plaza.

Tokyo Big Sight Station（Yurikamome）
Station closest to Tokyo Big Sight(3-minute walk). You can reach Tokyo Big Sight by going to South Exit 2A or 2B.


Bus


There are several bus stops near Comic Market venue where people can take buses to Tokyo Big Sight. Some express buses also go from Osaka and other cities to bus stops near Tokyo Big Sight. You can also check the boarding and alighting points for each bus stop on the map below. (Extra buses will be available on the day of Comic Market. We will update this page as soon as the information has been updated).



BRT
Buses run between Shimbashi Station and Tokyo Teleport Station. Bus stops are located at the rotary in front of Kokusai-Tenjijo Station. Official route maps and timetables are available here!!

Toei Bus
There are five bus routes available for boarding and alighting near Tokyo Big Sight: 都05-2, 東16系統, 門19, 急行05 and 急行06 which run only on weekends and public holidays.

Official route maps and timetables are below!!
都05-2 (Tokyo Station Marunouchi South Exit ~ Tokyo Big Sight)
東　16 (Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit ~ Tokyo Big Sight)
門　19 (Monzen Nakacho Station ~ Tokyo Big Sight)
急行05 (Kinshicho Station ~ Nippon Kagaku Miraikan, only on weekends and holiday)
急行06 (Morishita station ~ Nippon Kagaku Miraikan, only on weekends and holiday)

JR bus kanto
There are two types of express buses operated by JR, one running between Tokyo Station and Tokyo Port Ferry Terminal and the other running from Sannomiya Bus Terminal (Hyogo) - Osaka Station JR Express Bus Terminal - JR Nara Station - JR Kyoto Station - Shinkiba Station: Seishun Eco-Dream and Grand Dream.

Official Tokyo Station and Tokyo Port Ferry Terminal route maps and timetables are here!!
Tokyo route maps and timetables of Seishun Eco-Dream and Grand Dream are here!!



Other Transportation


Taxi
Compared to buses and trains, taxis are more comfortable and are not restricted by open time of station, making it easier to get around compared to the other transportation options described. However, taxis in Japan are expensive, so we do not recommend using them if you cannot afford them or want to spend more money on doujinshi. Also, if you don't have a phone number in Japan, use the hotel reception or an app to call a taxi.

Water bus
Recommended for those who want to use a different transportation option to the others. There is a water bus service by TOKYO CRUISE near Tokyo Big Sight, but unfortunately it is not operating at the moment (as of Jun 30th). As soon as information is updated, we will update this page.

IC card
IC cards such as Suica, Pasmo and etc for buses and trains. It is so crowded on the day of Comic Market that you don't have time to buy tickets. We recommend to charge about ¥2,000.


Hotel around Comic Market Venue


We will introduce hotels around the venue.



The map and list above is a map of all the hotels in Ariake. Regarding hotel accommodation costs, the dates of Comic Market are during Japan's holiday period, and accommodation facilities prices are increasing all over the place. Therefore, the hotels listed above are particularly expensive due to their location, and even at the moment (as of Jun 30th), if you stay three days from 11 Aug, it will cost at least ￥23,000 per room and per day. If you want to save money, we recommend using a hotel or capsule hotel outside Ariake (Tokyo Ariake BAY is already booked up...) or an internet cafe (the closest one to the venue is Aplecio Urban Dock Lalaport Toyosu).

←Click or tap for reservation!
This is the biggest and the most popular travel company in Japan!! You can reserve hotel at reasonable price!! Cannot understand English? don't worry!! There are English, Thai, Korean and Chinese version for Rakuten!! You can switch it from language. If you're using Smartphone, change website to PC version and switch the language to your language.

Others (Advices and more)


About staying up all night
Staying up all night is officially prohibited at Comic Market for reasons of health, safety and disturbing neighbours. However, this was just a formality and until the ticket system was introduced, there were large numbers of those staying up all night. With relaxation of the number of participants and the removal of the partial entry reception by the wristband in C102, there is a high possibility that those staying up all night, which did not exist in C100 and C101, will return, especially in the AM entry. Therefore, if you are reading this page, try not to stay up all night by staying at accommodations nearby or coming on the first train.

About register
In Comic Market, price of Doujinshi and goods are incremented by ¥500. In addition, most circles do not accept credit cards or digital payments. Therefore, when you participate Comic Market, bring a large amount of 500 yen coins or 1,000 yen bills.

Line end
When you start lining up for the circle, you may be given something that looks like a square board. This represents the end of the line and is passed to the person in line behind you to hold up so that others can see it. By doing this, you let people know where you are at the end of the line. This is often done at 壁サー.

About forming the line
At Comic Market, the line form before entry starts. After the line has formed, you can leave your luggage and other items (as a marker) and go somewhere else. There will also be a piece of paper at the front of the line, asking you to return to the line by a specific time. Those leaving the line to go to the bathrooms or convenience stores should make sure they return by the specific time.
About 1限 (ichi gen)
Some circles are so popular that they set a limit on the number of goods that can be purchased. For 1限 (one limit), you can buy up to one item. For 2限 (two limits), you can buy up to two items. The number of limits is often announced on Twitter or other media during the Comic Market.

About signature
In some circles, artists will sign your doujinshi. Basically, it will be mentioned on Twitter or in the Oshinagaki whether sign is available or not, so please check!

What is Oshinagaki
Oshinagaki is a list of doujinshi & goods that they are going to sell. Some of them include whether they can sign or have the number of limits on goods and doujinshi.

What is circle cut
In comic Market, they set something like icon (Picture drawn bt illustrator) . That is called circle cut.

About convenience store
On Comic Market Day, the Lawson Kokusai Tenjijo shop is so crowded that it has the highest sales in Japan.　Convenience stores near Tokyo Big Sight are not as busy, so use them if you have nothing urgent to do.