Comiket Cosplay Rules｜Changing Rooms, Fees, Photos, and Prohibited Items (C109, Winter 2026)

Cosplay at Comiket begins after you arrive at the venue and ends before you leave it.

The single most important rule is this: Do not come from your hotel or home in costume. The same applies when leaving. Change in the venue’s changing rooms. The official information says admission may be refused to people who do not follow this rule.

Japanese trains and buses do not accept passengers riding in costume. That is how the official information for the last event (C108) explained the reason. Put your costume in a bag and ride the train in ordinary clothes. Once you understand that, you can enjoy yourself fully inside the venue.

What Has Already Been Decided for C109

These items appeared in the official C109 information as of October 15, 2026 (the event runs December 29–31, 2026).

• After entering, anyone may use the changing rooms (a registration fee applies)
• Do not come from or return to your hotel or home in costume. Admission may be refused
• Changing in restrooms is strictly prohibited
• Changing rooms are in the Conference Tower and TFT Hall
• Changing-room hours are 10:30–17:30 on Days 1 and 2. On Day 3, December 31, they close at 17:00
• Cosplay areas include inside and outside East Hall 8, the Rooftop Exhibition Area, and the Garden. They are open until 16:30 on Days 1 and 2, and until 16:00 on Day 3

Details such as the registration fee still say to refer to the C108 version. The rules from the last event (C108) below may change for C109.

Cosplayers Also Need an Entry Pass

Cosplayers need the same entry pass (wristband) as everyone else. Being in cosplay doesn’t get you in for free.

For entry-pass types and how to buy them, see 02 Tickets and Wristbands.

Last time, there was also a “Priority Changing-Room Entry” pass for cosplayers. It was allocated by lottery and allowed entry to a changing room at 8:00 or 9:30, followed by entry to the halls from 11:00 (for C108, 3,000 yen plus a 385-yen ticketing fee). Whether C109 will have the same pass will become clear in the entry announcement planned for around early November.

Changing Rooms ― Change Only Here

The TFT Building (Tokyo Fashion Town), home to the other changing-room location, TFT Hall, is immediately beside Yurikamome’s Tokyo Big Sight Station (about 100 m on the station area map, confirmed during our October 2026 reporting).

The changing rooms operated as follows last time.

• The registration fee was 500 yen, paid at the entrance the first time you entered a changing room that day
• The paper received at registration served as your pass for reentry that day. Do not lose it
• Check-in for changing was open until 15:30
• At the TFT Building changing room, only people with Priority Changing-Room Entry could change into their costumes. Anyone could use it to change out of a costume before leaving (people without a priority pass changed into costume in the Conference Tower in the morning)

Photography is prohibited inside. Do not take selfies or use your phone camera as a mirror. Do not leave luggage unattended, eat or drink, or use power outlets in the changing rooms.

Even if you want to touch up your makeup, do not do it in a restroom. The official information clearly says that neither changing clothes nor applying makeup is allowed in restrooms.

Cosplay Areas

Official information lists the C109 cosplay areas as inside and outside East Hall 8, the Rooftop Exhibition Area, the Garden, and other locations. Because East Halls 4–6 are unavailable for C109 due to construction, the venue layout is slightly different from usual.

Last time, the Rooftop Exhibition Area and the area outside East Hall 7 opened in the afternoon. Check the venue map released closer to the event for the detailed C109 locations and hours.

To reach the Rooftop Exhibition Area, take the long escalator in the West Halls to the fourth floor, then go outside through the glass doors beyond the “西3・4／屋上展示場” sign (confirmed on an ordinary day during our October 2026 reporting). Follow staff directions on the event day.

At last winter’s event (C107), a cumulative total of about 13,500 people registered for cosplay.

Photography ― Ask Each Person for Permission First

The rules are the same whether you take photos or have your photo taken (information from last time).

• Ask each person for permission before taking a photo
• The person being photographed may say no
• If it becomes too crowded, staff will stop photography
• You may take photos outside the cosplay areas if the location is safe

You do not need to be confident in the language. Point to your camera and ask with your eyes. If the person nods, take the photo. If they say no, smile and move on. That’s all it takes.

Costumes and Props ― Check the Official English Page Before Flying

The information for the last event included rules about costumes you could not wear and props you could not bring.

• Costumes that expose too much are not allowed. The information gives guidelines for how much visible underwear is too much
• Weapon props that violate Japanese law (the Firearms and Swords Control Law) are not allowed
• Disassemble long props for transport. Last time, rules applied to items longer than 1 m or 2 m
• Remove ammunition, gas, and batteries from toy guns and carry them in a bag

Sword and gun props involve Japanese law. Do not decide for yourself whether your prop is allowed. Before packing, check the official English page, “Information for Cosplayers” (the C108 version from last time), for the length limits and exposure guidelines. When the C109 version is released, use that one.

Luggage ― Leave Large Items at Your Hotel

A bag containing a costume is bulkier than you might expect. For cold-weather preparation and other items, see 05 What to Bring in Winter.

Last time, paid luggage storage (cloakrooms) was available.

• Locations: seventh floor of the Conference Tower and second floor of TFT Building West
• Hours: 8:30–16:30 (until 16:00 on Day 2)
• Fee: 500 yen per item (800 yen for luggage over 120 cm)
• Available only while space remained

Once storage filled up, no more items could be accepted. The most reliable choice is to leave anything you do not need at your hotel. Staying near the venue makes this much easier too (see 04 Where to Stay).

Summary ― From Arrival to Departure

1. Ride the train in ordinary clothes (keep your costume in your bag)
2. Enter the venue with your entry pass
3. Pay the registration fee and change in a changing room (not in a restroom)
4. Go to a cosplay area. Whether taking or posing for photos, ask each person for permission
5. Change in a changing room and leave in ordinary clothes

Entry details are expected around early November, followed in stages by the detailed official cosplay rules.

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