Category: Anime & Otaku Japan

Winter Comiket is also a contest against the cold.

C109 runs from December 29 through 31, 2026. At Tokyo Big Sight, you may spend a long time lining up outside, and heating inside the buildings is not necessarily sufficient. The official information also says it is often very cold in winter.

On top of that, more than 100,000 people gather there each day. Phone and Wi-Fi connections become difficult, while station ticket machines and convenience stores develop long lines. “I will sort it out when I get there” does not work. Prepare everything before you arrive. That is this article’s single message.

Cold Weather ― Tokyo Mornings Are Around 2°C During the Three Event Days

According to Japan Meteorological Agency averages for 1991–2020, Tokyo’s morning lows from December 29 through 31 are around 2°C (2.1°C on the 29th, 2.0°C on the 30th, and 1.9°C on the 31st). Even the daytime high is around 11°C. The average low for December as a whole is 3.8°C, so the event dates are colder. The morning line forms in this cold. Even for PM entry, use around 11°C at midday as a guide.

The official information from last time asked visitors to wear warm coats.

• You may spend a long time lining up outside
• Air conditioning is limited even inside the buildings
• If you feel ill, tell someone nearby or a staff member immediately

We recommend layers that are easy to put on and take off. Temperatures also vary by day: at the last winter event (C107), the high reached 16°C on one day. Dress warmly in the outdoor line, then remove one layer inside a crowded hall. Small items such as gloves and disposable hand warmers should also help in the line.

Umbrellas are not prohibited, but the information from last time says to close them in crowded places.

Cash ― Prepare Coins in Advance

The official information from last time makes one clear request: do not use a 10,000-yen bill at station ticket or charging machines to make change. The stations may run out of change. It asks visitors to prepare small change for spending at the venue in advance.

Are Doujinshi Cash Only?

We cannot give a definite answer here. Do circles (the people selling doujinshi) accept only cash, or can you use cards and phone payments? We could not find this stated in the official information through the last event. It is safest to assume that payment methods differ by circle.

That is why we bring plenty of cash in 1,000-yen bills and coins. When you do not know whether cards will be accepted, cash is the most reliable option.

The venue map also shows ATM and convenience-store symbols (last time). However, some convenience stores were marked “closed” or “under construction” last time. During our October 2026 reporting, a Lawson inside the venue had an ATM. Even so, it is more reassuring not to rely on withdrawing cash at the venue on the day.

IC Card ― Add Plenty of Money Before Reaching the Venue

Add enough money in advance to an IC card such as Suica or PASMO (official information).

• There are not many places to add money near Tokyo Big Sight
• Station ticket machines and convenience stores become extremely crowded

The easiest option is to add enough for the return train at a station near your hotel.

For how to reach the venue and how to buy a ticket if you cannot use an IC card, see 01 How to Get There.

Phone ― Assume It Will Not Connect

The official information from last time says that phones and Wi-Fi often cannot connect at the venue because there are too many people.

So decide on a meeting place before entering in case you get separated. If you are going with friends, this may be the most important thing to bring.

You still need a phone during the rest of your time in Tokyo: for the route to the station, transfers, and the location of your hotel. Preparing an eSIM that works from the day you arrive in Japan gives peace of mind. Congestion inside the venue affects every eSIM. This is preparation for the trip to and from Comiket and for days without Comiket.

See our eSIM article for how to choose one.

Luggage ― Enter Light and Ship the Books You Buy

Storing Luggage

Tokyo Big Sight coin lockers cost 400 yen for small, 500 yen for medium, and 700 yen for large per day (in the Conference Tower and East, West, and South Halls; the Conference Tower also has smaller 300-yen lockers). However, East Halls 4–6 are under construction for C109, and we do not know whether all lockers will be usable or available on the day.

For the venue’s paid luggage storage (cloakrooms), see 03 Cosplay Rules. It appeared in the information for cosplayers, and we could not tell from that information whether non-cosplayers could also use it.

When we visited on a weekday in October 2026, both the lockers outside Kokusai-Tenjijo Station (cashless payment only, according to the Rinkai Line’s official information) and those inside the venue showed “満” (Full) around midday. It seems best not to expect lockers to be available on a crowded Comiket day. Plan on not using a locker: leave large luggage at your hotel or send it ahead. This is why your accommodation location matters (see 04 Where to Stay).

If you can use one: your IC card does not serve as the key for venue lockers. The QR code on the printed receipt is the key (according to the venue notice). Taking a photo of the receipt on your phone gives extra peace of mind.

Shipping

If the books you buy become heavy, you can send them using the delivery services at the venue. Last time (C108), counters were open from the afternoon until 17:00. None of the companies accepted cash at the venue.

• Yu-Pack: In principle, collect on delivery (the recipient pays the shipping) or cashless payment (credit card, electronic money, and other methods)
• Sagawa Express: Credit card or electronic money (no cash)
• Yamato Transport: In principle, collect on delivery (the recipient pays the shipping)

The C109 delivery-service locations, hours, and payment methods have not yet been announced. For how to think about sending luggage to a hotel or airport, see our luggage shipping article.

Food ― Buy It Before Boarding the Train

Stores near the venue become crowded around lunchtime. This is our recommended order.

1. The safest option is to buy food at a convenience store near your accommodation or a transfer station before boarding the train. Rice balls, bread, water, or tea. Food you can eat without heating is easiest.
2. If you will eat near the venue, avoid the noon hour and use stores along the route. Two buildings on the way from Kokusai-Tenjijo Station to the venue have stores (confirmed during our October 2026 reporting).
   • Ariake Park Building: McDonald’s, COCO’S
   • Ariake Frontier Building: Saizeriya, Caffè Veloce, FamilyMart (24 hours)
3. The last resort is a convenience store beside the venue. Assume it will often be crowded. The TFT Building near Yurikamome’s Tokyo Big Sight Station has a 7-Eleven on the first floor and a MINISTOP and Can Do 100-yen shop on the second floor (confirmed in the building directory). There is also a Lawson inside the venue.

The large shopping complex near the station, Ariake Garden, is not on the route to the venue (it is in the opposite direction from the station).

Store hours may change over the year-end period. Check with each store before you go.

Take your trash with you. One small bag in your day bag is useful.

Items You Could Not Bring Last Time

Three things travelers might accidentally do:

• Drink alcohol inside the venue
• Bring a large battery
• Ride on a rolling suitcase

There are also rules for fireworks, fuel, helium balloons, pets (assistance dogs are allowed), and other items. Baggage inspections may also take place. See all the rules in the official information (C108 カタログ英語抜粋).

And watch out for pickpockets. Keep your wallet and phone in front of your body.

Summary ― What to Prepare Before You Arrive

• Entry pass (wristband or ticket; for how to buy one, see 02 Tickets and Wristbands)
• A warm coat and layers that are easy to put on and take off
• 1,000-yen bills and coins (do not break a 10,000-yen bill at the station)
• An IC card with plenty of money added
• A working phone (eSIM) and a meeting place in case you get separated
• Compact luggage (leave large bags at your hotel)
• Food and drinks bought before boarding the train, plus one bag for trash

—

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.

—

Do You Need a Pass? ― One Per Person, Per Day

Everyone needs a wristband (a band worn around the wrist), or a ticket exchanged for a wristband, to enter Comiket. The same applies to cosplayers: you cannot enter without a pass (see below for free admission for children).

Passes are for one day. There is no three-day pass. If you go on two days, you need passes for two days. Wristband colors differ by day.

The 4 Types in One Table (Last Time, C108)

AM or PM?

If you are unsure, choose the PM wristband. Bought in advance, it cost 440 yen last time.

• At the last winter event (C107), advance AM wristbands sold out at almost every store before the event day.
• The Committee expects enough PM wristbands overall (although individual stores may sell out). You can buy one after arriving in Japan if it is in stock, but buy before departure if possible (see “Where to Buy” below).
• Last time, PM entry began at 12:30. Circle booths stayed open until 16:00, leaving three and a half hours.

If there is a book you want first thing in the morning, choose AM entry. For people living overseas, the eplus overseas e-ticket below was the easiest route last time (how C109 tickets will be sold has not yet been announced).

Where to Buy

Wristbands can sell out, so buy one before departure if possible. Here are the options in our recommended order.

Before Departure ― At a Store in Your Country, If Available

Last time, wristbands were sold at Animate stores in Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand (and, for C108, stores in Malaysia and the United States), as well as Toranoana and Melonbooks stores in Taipei. If you live in one of these places, you can buy one there before your trip. Check the official announcement to see which stores will sell them for C109.

Before Departure ― Online (eplus Overseas E-Ticket, AM)

Last time (C108), eplus sold an AM entry e-ticket for people living overseas (ib.eplus.jp). Quantities were limited and sales were first-come, first-served. Check the official announcement for C109, and if the system is the same, get one on the day sales open.

Last time, it was exchanged for a wristband near a Rinkai Line station from 8:00 onward on the event day. The official information said only “near a Rinkai Line station” and did not name the station. Because of the exchange start time, you could not join the very front of the AM line. If you arrived after 12:30, the exchange took place at the venue’s Entrance Plaza (under the inverted-triangle building, second floor).

If You Do Not Make It in Time ― At a Store After Arriving in Japan

In Japan, wristbands were sold last time at Animate, Toranoana, and Melonbooks stores and online. You can buy one after arriving in Japan if it is in stock. Ikebukuro has all three stores. Akihabara also has Animate and Melonbooks stores.

You can stop by a store on the morning of the event, but availability depends on its stock. Check each store’s year-end opening hours.

Last Resort ― At the Venue on the Day

Last time, the PM entry wristband was the only type sold at the venue on the day. It was sold at the Entrance Plaza (under the inverted-triangle building, second floor) from 12:30 for 1,000 yen. Expect a long line (same-day PM entry also took time at the last winter event).

When Do Sales Begin?

Last time (C108), sales began on July 11, about five weeks before the event.

Rules That Can Trip Up Travelers

The rules listed here are from the last event (C108). Check the announcement planned for around early November for the detailed C109 rules.

• There are no refunds or replacements.
• Resale is prohibited. Resold passes cannot be used. Do not buy from another person; buy from a store or eplus.
• Use your legal name for Early Entry. On the day, show the original of your passport or a photo ID issued by the Japanese government. A foreign driver’s license or student ID cannot be used.
• Do not choose PayPay to pay for Early Entry. PayPay is only for residents of Japan (and is different from PayPal). You cannot change the payment method later, and failure to pay results in cancellation.
• Print the Early Entry ticket on paper at a FamilyMart in Japan. Stores near the venue may run out of paper. Print it at a store near your hotel by the day before the event. The multifunction copier used for printing can switch among 11 languages, including English, Korean, and Traditional Chinese (confirmed at a store in Ichigaya during our October 2026 reporting).
• Put the wristband around your wrist when you reach the area outside the venue. Even if it tears, you can enter if you bring it with you.

If You Are Bringing a Child

Last time, one child of junior-high-school age or younger (15 or under) could enter free with each adult if they entered together. Children received their wristbands at the entrance. If the adult and child entered separately, the child also needed a pass.

Read next

• Once you have decided on a pass, plan your route → “01 How to Get There”
• If you are unsure where to stay, an area along the Yurakucho Line, such as Ichigaya, is convenient → “04 Where to Stay”
• If you plan to cosplay → “03 Cosplay Rules”
• Before departure, prepare for the cold and get cash and an IC card ready → “05 What to Bring in Winter”

There is only one destination: Tokyo Big Sight. The only question is which line to take and which station to use.

Start with These Two Stations

The station most people use is Kokusai-Tenjijo Station on the Rinkai Line, because direct trains come from the direction of Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro. At Kokusai-Tenjijo Station, leave through Exit B (the Tokyo Big Sight side). The Yurikamome is the line for people coming from Shimbashi or Toyosu.

You cannot come by car, motorcycle, or bicycle (there is no parking). The Committee also asks visitors not to use taxis. Come by train or bus.

Lining up from the previous day (staying overnight) is prohibited. Arriving before the first train does not mean you will get in earlier.

There Are Direct Trains from Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro

The Rinkai Line connects with the JR Saikyo Line. Some trains run from the direction of Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro directly to Kokusai-Tenjijo Station. On the Saikyo Line platform, look for a train that continues onto the Rinkai Line.

At Shinjuku, the Saikyo Line uses Platforms 1 and 2. However, Shonan-Shinjuku Line trains and trains continuing onto the Sotetsu Line also use the same platforms. The platform number alone does not tell you which train to take.

Check the departure board on the platform. In English, a train showing “RINKAI LINE” on the left and “SHIN-KIBA” as its destination passes through Kokusai-Tenjijo Station. Trains showing “EBINA” (Sotetsu Line) or “ZUSHI” do not enter the Rinkai Line (confirmed on the departure board at Shinjuku Station during our October 2026 reporting).

When we checked at around 13:00 on a Saturday, the 13:05 Shin-Kiba train was followed by one at 13:26. The interval is not always the same, so check the timetable for frequency. The 13:05 Shin-Kiba train was delayed that day. Allow extra time if you plan to take a direct train.

These are the travel times from Rinkai Line transfer stations to Kokusai-Tenjijo Station.

When transferring at Shin-Kiba, all Rinkai Line trains stop at Kokusai-Tenjijo Station, whether they leave from Platform 1 or Platform 2 (confirmed on a sign at Shin-Kiba Station during our October 2026 reporting). You can take whichever train arrives.

Can You Use a JR Pass?

Assume that the JR Pass does not cover the Rinkai Line or the Yurikamome.

The official JR Pass information says that when you use a section operated by a non-JR company, you pay that fare separately. The Rinkai Line (Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit) and the Yurikamome are both operated by non-JR companies. If you take a direct train from Shinjuku, only the section to Osaki is JR. You pay for the Rinkai Line section beyond it.

The adult fare from Osaki to Kokusai-Tenjijo is 340 yen (335 yen with an IC card, according to the Rinkai Line fare table). We could not find official instructions on how to settle the fare—which counter or whether to use a fare adjustment machine—so asking at the station is the most reliable option.

If you are coming from Haneda Airport, the JR Pass does cover the Tokyo Monorail (official JR Pass information). Take the monorail to Tennozu Isle, then pay only for the Rinkai Line section; Kokusai-Tenjijo Station is about 6 minutes away.

An IC Card Is Easiest

An IC card such as Suica or PASMO is the easiest option. The Committee also recommends IC cards. Add plenty of money before reaching the venue (see 05 What to Bring in Winter).

If you do not have an IC card, use a paper ticket. From stations on the Saikyo Line (from the direction of Kawagoe) or the Yamanote Line (Ikebukuro–Gotanda), you can buy a through ticket (connecting ticket) to your destination station. If that is not possible either, buy a JR ticket to Osaki Station and settle the difference at the station where you get off.

If You Take the Yurikamome

It is the closest station, about a three-minute walk from the venue.

You can also ride the Yurikamome using contactless payment with a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, or UnionPay; Apple Pay and Google Pay on a phone are also accepted, according to the Yurikamome’s official information). The fare is the same as a paper ticket. One thing to watch is that the reader is in a different place from the Suica reader (look for the “クレカ乗車” sign). Tap the same card when entering and leaving (confirmed during our October 2026 reporting).

You Can Also Go by Bus or Boat

The Committee asks Comiket visitors to use the special direct Toei buses and leave regular local routes available for residents. The special direct buses have limited service, and you may not be able to board if they are full.

From the Airports

• From Haneda Airport
  • About 25 minutes to Tokyo Big Sight by limousine bus.
  • By train, take the Tokyo Monorail to Tennozu Isle (covered by the JR Pass), then transfer to the Rinkai Line for about 6 minutes.
• From Narita Airport
  • About 60 minutes to Tokyo Big Sight by limousine bus. The time varies with road traffic.

→ If you are going to accommodation in the city first, see “From the Airport to the City by Train.”

From Your Hotel

If you stay near a station in Ariake, the area where the venue is located, you can walk there. From Odaiba, Toyosu, Shimbashi, Shin-Kiba, or Oimachi, you can reach the venue on one Rinkai Line or Yurikamome train.

If you stay along the subway Yurakucho Line, in an area such as Ichigaya, Iidabashi, or Ikebukuro, transfer to the Rinkai Line at Shin-Kiba (about 5 minutes) or to the Yurikamome at Toyosu (about 8 minutes).

From Ichigaya, the trip to Kokusai-Tenjijo Station costs 490 yen (481 yen with an IC card, figures checked using a route planner) and takes about 31–36 minutes, depending on the transfer wait. When we traveled on a weekday in October 2026, it took about 36 minutes including the wait.

Be careful when transferring from JR to the subway at Ichigaya. The JR and subway stations are not connected inside the station. After leaving the JR ticket gates, go outside once and descend from an entrance marked “地下鉄のりば Subway.” The Yurakucho Line is the gold “Y.” The Namboku Line (N) and Toei Shinjuku Line (S) also serve Ichigaya, so use the color and letter to tell them apart. Trains toward Shin-Kiba on the Yurakucho Line use Platform 1 (confirmed during our October 2026 reporting).

→ See “04 Where to Stay.”

From the Station to the Venue

Tokyo Big Sight’s official information says the walk from Kokusai-Tenjijo Station to the venue takes about 7 minutes. Leave through Exit B and follow the covered walkway. When the inverted-triangle building comes into view, the space beneath it is the Entrance Plaza (second floor).

In the Entrance Hall beyond the Entrance Plaza, the route divides between east and west. The East Halls are to the left (about 220 m to the entrance), and the West Halls are to the right (about 90 m). To enter the East Halls, take an escalator from the second-floor passage down to the first floor (confirmed from venue signs during our October 2026 reporting). When the venue was quiet, the walk from the Entrance Hall to the East Halls entrance took about three minutes.

On the event days, routes and entrances will be rearranged for Comiket. Follow staff directions.

For C109, East Halls 4–6 are unavailable because of construction. Circles will be divided among East 1–3 and 7, West 1–2, and South 1–2; corporate booths will be in West 3–4 and South 3–4. Check the map in advance for the hall you need (the map will be released in early December).

Trains After the Event

Circle booths close at 16:00 (corporate booths close at 17:00, or 16:00 on Day 3). Ticket machines at the stations become very crowded around closing time. Add enough money to your IC card for the return trip in advance.

The fare adjustment and charging machines at Kokusai-Tenjijo Station can switch to English, Korean, and other languages (confirmed during our October 2026 reporting).