The cultural appetite for music is one of the many things to behold about Japan. Little wonder, then, that the country boasts many state-of-the-art music venues where local and international artists hold well-attended concerts.

 

As Japan continues to be a favorite among musical acts to perform in, music tourism in the country is alive as ever. If you’re curious to know where you might watch your favorite artists in the country, here are five big domes — which primarily host sports events like baseball games — in Japan where top local and international acts stage their performances. Plus, discover nearby places that you can visit before or after a concert!  

 

Photo Credit: TOKYO DOME CORPORATION

1. Tokyo Dome

Inaugurated in 1988, Tokyo Dome is an indoor multi-purpose stadium in Bunkyo, Tokyo with an all-seating capacity of around 43,500 (for baseball games) to 55,000 (for concerts), depending on the configuration. This dome is so iconic as the sacred place for entertainment that it has become a size reference in Japan. For example, a size of an area might be said to be “twice as big as Tokyo Dome”.

 

Many notable acts have performed in the stadium, including The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, and Michael Jackson the first non-Japanese artist to perform there in 1988. Other artists who have graced its stage include Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and Coldplay. Bruno Mars made history in Japan with his ten-concert series in Tokyo Dome in January 2024, after an initial three-date run in October 2022. K-pop groups BTS, TWICE, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, and more have marked milestones in their careers by performing at Tokyo Dome.

 

Japanese groups such as heavy metal band BABYMETAL, rock band ONE OK ROCK, and many groups from STARTO ENTERTAINMENT have also previously held concerts at the venue.

 

Upcoming performances at the Tokyo Dome this year include K-pop girl group aespa this August as well as Japanese pop duo YOASOBI — who sung for hit anime series like Oshi no Ko, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End — will be there in November.

 

Tokyo Dome City. Photo Credit: TOKYO DOME CORPORATION

 

In addition to its stadium, Tokyo Dome is also a part of a bigger entertainment complex called Tokyo Dome City, which means there are many other attractions to check out in the area. In the complex, you’ll find an amusement park, which features a roller coaster and a hubless Ferris wheel. The complex also houses an onsen (called Spa LaQua), various restaurants and shops, and video game centers. If you’re looking for bonding activities with your family or friends, there are areas for bowling, roller skating, as well as an indoor playground that you can check out.

 

Close to the complex is a lush 17th-century garden, the Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, which features a Chinese-influenced aesthetic. Other notable nearby locations include the Yasukuni Shrine and the Imperial Palace, so you can definitely do some sightseeing before or after a concert!

 

2. Kyocera Dome Osaka

 

Photo Credit: Kyocera Dome Osaka

 

Kyocera Dome Osaka, sometimes also known as Osaka Dome, is located in Nishi Ward, Osaka. Though built as a baseball stadium with a seating capacity of 36,220 for games, it is also a preferred venue for concerts and other events, for which it can accommodate 55,000 people.

 

Osaka Dome opened its gates in 1997 and has served as the location for many concerts over the years. Western artists such as the Backstreet Boys, Justin Bieber, and Bruno Mars have made tour stops here. Meanwhile, K-pop idols Blackpink, Twice, G-Dragon, BigBang, Super Junior, and others have brought their music to the venue. The Queen of Japanese Pop Namie Amuro, who sang several songs for the anime series One Piece as well as the 1996 hit “Don’t Want To Cry”, performed at the Osaka Dome (as well as at the other domes on this list).

 

Some upcoming concerts in Osaka Dome include K-pop boy group TOMORROW X TOGETHER in July and J-pop duo YOASOBI in October. If you’re also interested in attending any K-pop music awards, the 2024 THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS will be happening here in September and is expected to be attended by popular K-pop acts.

 

Ota Road Nipponbashi Anime District. Photo Credit: ©Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau

 

About 3 kilometers from Osaka Dome is the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, where a collection of 6,000 works from the mid-19th century to the present is housed. A little further out is the shopping district Nipponbashi, where one can find stores catering to otaku interests such as anime, manga and electronics.

 

Popular areas such as Dotonbori, Namba, and Shinsaibashi are also merely a few train stations away from the dome.

 

 

3. Sapporo Dome

 

Photo Credit: Sapporo Dome

 

Sapporo Dome is located in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Opened in 2001, it was used primarily as a football and baseball stadium for many years. As such, it boasts the world’s first “hovering system”, a unique feature where its surface retracts and slides, changing the field depending on the sport to be played.

 

As a concert venue, Sapporo Dome has hosted many concerts by local and international artists alike with a maximum capacity of 53,820. Japanese groups Arashi, AKB48, and King Gnu (who sang "SPECIALZ" from Jujutsu Kaisen), have previously held concerts in Sapporo Dome, as well as K-pop group BigBang.

 

 

Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill

 

The stadium is equipped with a 53-meter-high observation deck, from which you can enjoy views of Sapporo, including its mountains and other natural features. On the grounds is an area called “art grove,” where 25 sculptures by local and foreign artists are located. Also found within the dome is a range of restaurants and souvenir shops, as well as a children’s play area.

 

If you want to view Sapporo’s cityscape, the Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill is just a bus ride away from the dome. Planning to shop ‘til you drop? Head over to Mitsui Outlet Park Sapporo that’s merely 30 minutes away.

 

 

4. Nagoya Dome (Vantelin Dome Nagoya)

 

Photo Credit: NAGOYA DOME CORPORATION

 

Nagoya Dome, which renewed its name to Vantelin Dome Nagoya in 2021, is located in Higashi Ward, Nagoya. It first opened in 1997 and has served primarily as a baseball stadium, with a capacity of 36,398 for sporting events. When used as a concert venue, however, it can accommodate 50,000 people, making it an ideal location for bigger productions.

 

Nagoya Dome has hosted international superstars such as Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, and Queen + Adam Lambert. Japanese acts that have played in the stadium include Yuzu (sang the heart-wrenching songs “Reason”, “Nagareboshi Kirari”, “Hyōri Ittai” from Hunter x Hunter) and Exile ("The Next Door" from Street Fighter IV). Namie Amuro also famously kicked off her 2018 farewell tour at the venue. Meanwhile, K-pop idols Twice, BTS, Seventeen, and NCT 127 have serenaded fans with their tunes in the dome. 

 

Tokugawa Art Museum

 

Next to Nagoya Dome is the shopping center Aeon Mall, which features a state-of-the-art planetarium in addition to various restaurants and shops. Not too far out is the Tokugawa Art Museum, which houses some 12,000 items, including swords, armor, furniture, Chinese and Japanese ceramics, ceramics, and paintings, among others. But if you plan to visit around late May to mid-June, you don’t want to miss out on the famous lilies that bloom in Chikusa Park.

 

5. Fukuoka Dome (PayPay Dome Fukuoka)

 

 

Fukuoka Dome, also known as Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, is located in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka. Inaugurated in 1993, it is primarily a baseball stadium with a maximum seating capacity of around 40,000. It also boasts a retractable roof, allowing visitors to enjoy their time at the dome whether it rains or shines.

 

As a music venue, Fukuoka Dome has played host to some historic events such as the final public performances of Frank Sinatra on December 19 and 20, 1994. Michael Jackson also performed four times in the dome: twice in September 1993, and twice more in December 1996, all sold out.

Other performers of note in Fukuoka Dome include Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Super Junior, Blackpink, and BTS to name a few. Bronze casts of the hands of some of these performers can be seen around the edge of the stadium.

 

As for Japanese acts who graced the stage at Fukuoka Dome, these include SEKAI NO OWARI — the voices behind "ANTI-HERO" for Attack on Titan and "Habit" for the live-action film of xxxHOLiC — and AKB48.

 

K-pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER is set to perform at the dome in September, as part of their Act: Promise in Japan tour.

 

If you want a “backstage” tour of the dome, you can sign up for a guided tour. This will take you through the large field and into limited-access areas such as the players locker rooms and dugouts.

 

Ohori Park. Photo Credit: © Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association

 

Fukuoka Dome is just by Jigyohama Beach, a quiet seaside area in the otherwise bustling Fukuoka metropolis. Other nearby attractions are Ohori Park, Fukuoka Tower, and Momochi Seaside Park.

 

Will you be heading to Japan for a concert soon?

 

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