I’m hoping to go to the Studio Ghibli museum in November 23 and was intending to buy tickets on the Japanese site via VPN (as buying from the international site is a total gamble), but due to the recent change that requires a Japanese number with SMS verification, I’m in need of advice from anyone who has gone through this process more recently or through a friend.
Fortunately, I have a friend of a friend who has kindly offered to purchase the tickets on my behalf directly from the Japanese site, but they’re entirely unfamiliar with the process and I don’t want any issues on the 10th when they’ll have to purchase it or in November when I collect it. Hoping someone here can confirm the following;
What information, other than my name and passport number, should I provide them? Also, can they enter my name in English?
Should I give them my email address so the tickets are sent directly to me or would it be better for them to use their own email and forward the tickets on (E.g. incase they need to verify the email address, it’s probably simpler to use their own?)
Will there be any issues if they use their own card to pay for the tickets? i.e. will there be any issues if the cardholder name doesn’t match the ‘ticket holder’ name?
What options should they select to ensure that I can pick-up the tickets independently from a Lawson store when I arrive in Tokyo? My understanding is that picking the wrong option could result in having to pick up the tickets in just 2-3 days from purchase
Assuming all goes well and they forward me the confirmation email, what next steps do I need to do in advance of going to a Lawson store? I read a comment that suggested the email merely provides a link and a 4 digit-code is needed to then access the QR code I would need at a Loppi machine?? Do I need to print anything out ?
Will I need their number or any other personal info when I go to pick up the tickets from a Lawson store or just the QR code from the email/link? All communications at the moment are through the mutual friend, so I don’t currently have their number or any other personal info.
Is there anything else I should be wary of or let them know of in advance to make this as smooth a process as possible?
Really appreciate if anyone can help me with this or has any useful advice at all! We’re really hoping to make it to the Ghibli Museum, but the horror stories of trying to use the international site has us on edge and hoping this alternative can work!! Also, all the people previously offering to do this on fiverr at a reasonable rate are completely unaffordable now, so that’s out of the question. Thanks!
I used the Japan site before the SMS was restored a few months back. For questions 5-7, when you get the confirmation email, there is a URL with the QR code.
Click on the link on the email to get the QR code when you arrive at the Lawson’s. I didn’t print anything and just used my phone.
Find the Loopi machine. I used google lens/translate to figure out what buttons to press. The Loopi machine will ask for the QR code to scan.
You’ll then confirm the details after the QR scan. (Again I used Google translate/lens).
The machine will print out some instructions/confirmation. Hand this to the cashier/sales clerk. They’ll enter the details in their own system which will print something for you to sign. After you sign it, you get your tickets in a Lawson envelope.
Double check the date/time of the tickets just in case!
No passport/ID was asked. But the tickets were under my name anyway. Google translate was very helpful as I don’t remember being an English option on the Loopi machine. (Oh and make sure its a Loopi machine, not an ATM.)
I tried buying Ghibli Museum tickets a few weeks ago for our October visit. The international site had no issues for us, except for the fact that we didn’t get tickets . I logged on the site five minutes before the tickets dropped, and I was virtually queued as 11000th in line. When it was our turn, no tickets were available for the days we would be in Tokyo.
I managed to get tickets to Ghibli Park though, which I assume is a similar experience since it’s still via Lawson Tickets (international site). No issues at all.
No need for a Japanese mobile number (I was stressing out about this too because of conflicting info on the internet).
Used a JCB credit card.
Confirmation email was sent to my email.
Passport number and info needed when buying. They will also use this to verify that the one who bought/booked the tickets is actually coming. Otherwise, you can’t get in (not 100% sure about this, but this is what they claim on their site and email).
You’ll need to print out the tickets as instructed on the confirmation email.
Hope you get tickets for the museum! Try to log in maybe an hour before tickets drop.
We had zero issues with the international site if that eases your anxiety at all. I’d just open up the site on multiple browsers if possible (smart phone, desktop) 30 minutes before sale. Make sure any popup blockers are turned off if you’ve downloaded any. Website automatically changes over to a countdown page before queue is performed (10 minutes before?). Have multiple credit cards (visa, mastercard) in case one doesn’t work. In our case Mastercard worked (visa didn’t), ended up around 200 or so in queue, even after accidentally refreshing page. Pretty easy.
The international site works really well. I bought my tickets in September. I tried with two devices, with one of them there were 4200 left in the queue, I waited an hour and 20 minutes and they still had availability every day. At the time of purchase you must enter the name of the group leader (who must be present on the day of the visit), nationality, phone number, passport, airport of entry and airport of departure. I used Mastercard instead of visa as a friend of mine told me that their visa didn’t work.
I mean I’d honestly just suggest buying them from the international site. It’s not really a “gamble,” it’s super easy and it tells you exactly what needs to be filled out. I didn’t print mine at Lawsons, I just did QR code tickets and it was really easy. Also, if you end up doing it the way you’re saying make sure they use your information because I’m pretty sure they require the person whose name is on the tickets to be there unless your friend plans to come with you.
Thanks, this is incredibly helpful!!
On your third point, what details did you have to confirm after you scanned the QR code? As I’m not close to the person who’s agreed to purchase the tickets, I won’t have any of their personal info to enter in myself. Unless it’s just a matter of confirming date and time?
Good to hear it worked for some people, I had 3 computers on the page 30 minutes before tickets went on sale and we still couldn’t get any, the site crashed for two and the remaining one had a 10k+ wait and the tickets were sold out for the week we are there by then
Thanks for your response! Having seen a few more people give a positive review of the International site, I reckon I’ll give it a go and see what happens. Unfortunately, others haven’t been as lucky, even with multiple devices/people trying, so I’d like to have the alternative just in case.
Thanks for your response!
I’ve heard a lot of conflicting accounts about the International site - some people were able to get their tickets relatively easily, but others tried for hours on multiple devices with no luck. I think I’ll have a go and try my luck, but will still ask my friend as a backup option.
There are two different sites to purchase Ghibli Museum tickets; one for locals (requires a Japanese phone number) and the International one for everyone else. My understanding is that, while some people have had great luck with the International site, others have tried for hours only to get kicked out and left with nothing as the tickets are snapped up very quickly. I’d prefer to avoid the stress of the International site if I can and I’ve heard the Japanese site doesn’t typically have a queue and there’s a lot more availability of tickets
I think it was the date and time and the name of the ticket purchaser, which you should know anyway. I didn’t have to type anything, just pushed a button on the touch screen. You’ll be fine and take your time in the museum. I think I explored every little corner. Strategically, if you want any souvenirs, I think some people went straight to the gift shop as it gets super busy depending on when your time slot you arrive. Ours was at 9am. Others went straight to order food! Finally, one of the special exhibits has an English translation guide if you can’t read Japanese. (They won’t let you use your phone to translate.)
We had a nightmare of an experience, with two of us trying the site kept crashing and kicking us off until they were all gone and we were not able to buy tickets. I’d definitely recommend having someone in Japan buy them for you since you have that option
. I logged on the site five minutes before the tickets dropped, and I was virtually queued as 11000th in line. When it was our turn, no tickets were available for the days we would be in Tokyo.
Strategically, if you want any souvenirs, I think some people went straight to the gift shop as it gets super busy depending on when your time slot you arrive. Ours was at 9am. Others went straight to order food! Finally, one of the special exhibits has an English translation guide if you can’t read Japanese. (They won’t let you use your phone to translate.)