LIVE GUIDE

Live Show Guide

Going to a Reol live show for the first time? This page collects what's good to know before you go. Of course, everyone enjoys live shows in their own way, so please treat this as a reference. The tips are written with shows in Japan in mind.

What should I bring to a live show?

Essentials

• 🎫 Ticket
  • Tickets are usually electronic, so save your phone battery
• 💰 Cash
  • For the drink ticket. Many venues charge about ¥600 at the entrance
  • Some venues don't accept cashless payment, so check in advance
• 💧 Something to drink
  • You can exchange the drink ticket you buy at the entrance for a drink
  • Shouting and sweating make you thirsty, so it's a must
  • If you want to get to the front, buy a drink beforehand and exchange your ticket after the show

Nice to have

• 🔒 A small bag
  • Something that won't get in the way
• 🎤 A towel
  • For sweat. A Reol show gets as hot as a workout
• 👂 Earplugs
  • Earplugs made for concerts are recommended
  • Loud sound can cause acoustic trauma and hearing loss, so they're recommended if you're worried
• 👟 Comfortable sneakers
  • Especially important for standing shows

Leave behind

• 🧳 A large bag
  • It won't fit in a locker and gets in other people's way, so leave it at your hotel
• 🔋 A power bank
  • Fine if you plan to watch quietly, but too heavy for jumping, so put it in a locker

What should I wear to a live show?

For standing shows, wear something easy to move in. Hall shows can be a bit more casual, but either way, keep these points in mind.

• Avoid platform soles and high heels
  • Out of consideration for others and for your own safety
  • Platform soles can help shorter people see, but be careful not to get hurt
• Take off large accessories and hats (they block the view of people behind you)
• Venues often get hot (layers you can easily take off are best)
• Leave your things in a coin locker and travel light (staff may warn you about large bags)

Where should I stand at a standing show?

At standing shows, you enter in order of your ticket number and then choose where to stand, so your spot makes a big difference to the experience. Some venues have pillars or areas where it's hard to see or hear, so it helps to check the venue layout in advance.

• Front center
  • Close to the artist with an incredible atmosphere. Recommended if you want to see expressions and small details
  • It gets crowded and you may get pushed around. For people confident in their stamina
• Middle to back
  • More relaxed. You can take in the whole stage production and lighting
  • Recommended for your first live show
• Left and right sides
  • Relatively uncrowded, so you can get close to the front even with a late ticket number
  • The stage may be hard to see from some angles. Watch the volume near the speakers
• Second-floor seats (if any)
  • A wide view of the whole stage, and the sound balance is often good
  • Farther than the standing area, so expressions and small details may be hard to see

When should I arrive at the venue?

Tickets list two times: doors (開場), when you can enter the venue, and show start (開演), when the show begins.

• Entry by ticket number (standing): be near the venue about 30 minutes before doors open
• Reserved seats: arriving around the doors time is fine
• If you want merch: check when merch sales start at each venue and line up before then

Is there anything I should be careful about during the show?

• 📱 No photos or recordings (unless officially announced)
• 🗣 Be considerate of others during MCs and quiet parts
• 🎶 In Japan, singing along tends to bother others unless the artist invites the crowd to
  • Some countries have a sing-along culture, so follow local customs
• 🙋 Moshing and stage diving are generally prohibited
• 🎒 Always put large bags in a locker
• 🤝 Work together with the fans around you to make it a fun space

How should I enjoy the show?

Everyone enjoys it differently. It's best to enjoy it at your own pace, however you like. Here are a few examples for reference.

• 💡 As long as you don't bother anyone, enjoy it in your own style! (No need to force yourself to match others)
• 🎤 Feel the connection with the artist
• 🎶 Take in the production, lighting and sound
• 🕺 Get hyped together with the fans around you
• 📸 (When photos are allowed) Capture the merch and the atmosphere of the venue

What should I do after the show?

Talking about the show over food at a nearby place while still in the afterglow is part of the fun. Some places get crowded with fans after the show, so booking ahead is a good idea.

❗️ If ringing in your ears or discomfort continues after the show, see an ENT doctor soon. Early treatment matters for acoustic trauma. If you're worried, we recommend concert earplugs, mentioned under "Nice to have" above. (In the worst case you can lose your hearing, so please see a doctor as soon as possible.)

Any tips for traveling to shows?

How to think about transportation, budget and scheduling when attending several shows or a show far from home. Prices are rough figures for travel within Japan.

Choosing how to get there

Choose your transportation based on distance and budget.

• ✈️ Plane
  • Recommended for faraway areas such as Okinawa, Hokkaido and Kyushu
  • Book early and one-way fares can be under ¥10,000. Low-cost carriers mainly fly from Narita and Kansai
  • Factor in the travel time from the airport to the venue
• 🚄 Shinkansen (bullet train)
  • Easy access to major cities from Tokyo and Osaka
  • Discounts are available through EX Reservation and smartEX
  • Reliable timing, and easy to travel even after the show
• 🚌 Highway bus
  • An overnight bus also saves on accommodation (though it's physically tough after a show)
  • Choosing a three-across seat layout makes a huge difference in comfort
• 🚗 Car
  • For group trips, splitting costs can make it the cheapest option
  • Some venues require parking reservations, so check in advance
  • For long distances, calculate tolls and fuel before deciding

Budget guide

Rough cost per show when attending multiple shows (tickets not included).

• Day trip (within Shinkansen range): transport ¥5,000–15,000 + food ¥2,000–3,000 = ¥7,000–18,000 total
• One-night trip (Shinkansen or plane): transport ¥10,000–30,000 + lodging ¥5,000–10,000 + food ¥3,000–5,000 = ¥18,000–45,000 total
• Two or more nights (back-to-back shows): transport ¥15,000–40,000 + lodging ¥10,000–20,000 + food ¥5,000–10,000 = ¥30,000–70,000 total

Ways to save

• Grab early-bird plane tickets as soon as they go on sale
• Book a business hotel early (they fill up with fans once a tour is announced)
• Overnight buses save on lodging and transport at the same time
• Back-to-back shows let you enjoy two shows for the cost of one trip

Planning your schedule

For a day trip

• Aim to arrive about 3 hours before the show (time to scout the area, get a coin locker and eat)
• Always check the last train or bus home in advance (last trains leave early outside big cities)

With an overnight stay

• A hotel near the venue means no coin locker needed (drop your bags after check-in and head out light)
• You can go straight back to the hotel after the show, so no worrying about the last train
• If you're sightseeing the next day, use a coin locker after checking out
• Taking an early-afternoon ride home gives you some breathing room

See more

Venue information (address and map) is on each show's detail page. Check out past setlists and related posts there too.