When To Book Tickets For Japan Attractions (2025 Guide For Disneyland, Ghibli, TeamLabs and More!)
Japan attraction tickets often sell out fast: this is something we’ve fallen victim to more than once! In fact, one of the most confusing (and stressful) parts of our first trip to Japan was booking all our tickets and activities.
We were planning a once in a lifetime trip (insert canned laughter here), and there was so much was wanted to do in Japan – but we knew that some things (i’m looking at you Pokemon cafe!) would be near-impossible to get tickets for.
And this isn’t just a Pokemon problems. Other top Japan attractions such as tickets for Universal Studios (especially if you want Express Passes), the Ghibli Museum, TeamLab and even Disney also sell out quickly.
To help make this booking process easy for you, I thought it would be handy to put a clear list of when to book tickets for Japan attractions all in one place. Save this page for later so that you can come back to it, and you won’t miss out on your must-visit attractions!
You can also book many of these attractions easily via Klook (often the most affordable option and with downloadable tickets sent straight to your phone.)
🎁 I’ll link the best options below and save the code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get 5% off all your Klook ticket prices too.
- Table of Top Japan Attractions And When To Book
- Which Japan Attractions Are Best For You
- Why Booking Ahead Matters In Japan
- What Can You Book Last Minute
- Conclusion
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
Table of Top Japan Attractions And When To Book
Let’s go straight into the good stuff! In an easy to read/use table format, I’ve put all of the top Japan attractions, when you can book them, how likely they are to sell out, and a handy link to book too.
| Japan Attraction | Booking Window | How Fast They Sell | Link to Book |
| Tokyo Disneyland/Disney Sea | Tickets released 2 MONTHS in advance at midnight JST. | Weekends and holidays can sell out within days. Weekdays are usually available. | Click here to check availability and book |
| Ghibli Museum, Tokyo | Tickets released on the 10th of each month for the following month | Tickets consistently sell out within minutes | Link here to book with Ghibli direct |
| Universal Studios Japan | Tickets are released 2 MONTHS in advance | Popular holiday and weekend dates can sell out. Express Passes sell out quickly. | Click here to avoid disappointment and book now |
| Sanrio Puroland | Can be purchased up to 11 MONTHS in advance | These tickets have good availability and rarely ell out | Book now for an early booking win |
| Tokyo SkyTree | Can be purchased 1 MONTH in advance | Usually good availability as long as you don’t want a specific reservation time | Click here to book for the best time slots |
| Pokemon Cafe | Reservations open exactly 31 days before your desired date at 6:00 PM Japan Standard Time (JST) | Reservations often book out in under a minute | Click here to try and get a reservation |
| TeamLabs Planets | Can be purchased 2 MONTHS in advance | Early morning tickets sell first, but there is still availability 2-3 weeks in advance if you can be flexible | Click here to check availability and book |
| Fuji Q Highland (Mount Fuji Theme Park) | Tickets released 3 MONTHS in advance | Usually available right up until the day | Book now to avoid disappointment |
| Yomiuriland | Bookable until the end of the year | Usually available right up until the day (but this will change when the PokePark Kanto opens!) | Link to book now |
| Legoland Japan | Tickets released 4 MONTHS in advance | Usually available right up until the day | Check availability and book now |
| Sumo Tournaments | Tickets generally go on sale a month before the tournament | Tickets sell out quickly | Click here to book now |
| Warner Bros. Studio Tour World of Harry Potter | Tickets released on the first of the month for 3 MONTHS ahead | Tickets for early time slots sell fast, others have more availability | Click here to book now and save |
| Jungalia Okinawa | Tickets released on the first of the month for 2 MONTHS ahead | This is Japan’s NEWEST attraction, meaning demand is high right now but availability is good | Book now to avoid disappointment |
Which Japan Attractions Are Best For You
It’s worth noting that while i’ve listed ALL of the most popular attractions in Japan, you don’t have to visit all or even any of these! Some people visit Japan and never once set foot into a ticket venue. But if, like us, you’re travelling with kids or teens, then it’s likely that they’re going to want to ride a roller coaster, eat in a themed cafe, or do some of the epic experiences they see on TikTok. And that’s where this list will come in handy!
I’ve broken this down, in case you’re not familiar with any of the attractions, giving you a brief overview AND a link to read a more in-depth review of our experience of each attraction (if we’ve visited!)
Tokyo Disneyland / Tokyo DisneySea
Experience classic Disney magic at Tokyo Disneyland, or dive into the one-of-a-kind maritime adventures at DisneySea, where thrilling rides and immersive shows bring your favorite stories to life.
We LOVE the Tokyo Disney Parks and i’ve written tonnes about them! Try some further reading here:
🕍 Tokyo Disneyland Tips for 2025 – What You Need to Know (From a Mum Whose Been!)
🎠The 7 Best Rides at Tokyo Disney Sea
Universal Studios Japan
Step into the movies at Universal Studios Japan, from the wizarding world of Harry Potter to the mischievous Minions, with rides, live shows, and seasonal events for all ages.
But the real highlight of Universal Studios Japan is Nintendo World: this was an amazing experience for the kids and us adults alike! We’re going back again in April to experience the new Donky Kong expansion, and we can’t wait! Like Disney, we’ve written LOADS about visiting USJ, check out some of these below:
🎢 The Ultimate Guide To Universal Studios Japan (Tips, Rides, and How To Book Tickets)
🚂 Tokyo Disney Versus Universal Studios Japan: Which Is Better For Kids?
Ghibli Museum
Wander through the enchanting world of Studio Ghibli with whimsical exhibits, short films, and intricate recreations straight out of your favorite animated classics.
In the spirit of full transparency (i’ll never write anything here unless it’s true!) we’ve never been able to get tickets here, so we still haven’t been!
Sanrio Puroland
This is secretly my favourite place in Japan (even though it’s probably better suited to teenagers than 40-something women!) Enter a kawaii wonderland of Hello Kitty and friends, where colorful shows, themed rides, and adorable meet-and-greets make it a dream for Sanrio fans.
This is less about rides (there are only two) and more about the immersive experience, as well as indulging in the delicious themed food and meeting all your favourite Sanrio characters. Read more about it here:
🎀 The Ultimate Guide to Sanrio Puroland 2025
Tokyo Skytree
Tower over Tokyo from Japan’s tallest building, taking in breathtaking panoramic views, shopping, and dining—all while spotting the city’s landmarks from above.
Pokemon Cafe
Bring Pokémon to your plate at this themed cafe, where playful dishes, drinks, and décor make every visit a delightful adventure for trainers of all ages. Every dish is Pokemon themed, and Pikachu himself comes out and does a little dance for diners.
Love Pokemon as much as my kids do? It’s a must visit spot! Not interested in Pokemon? Save your money and go somewhere better! Note that geting a reservation is a battle, and one we haven’t always won! Read more:
🍜 How to Book The Pokemon Cafe in Tokyo Japan
🍛 Buying a Pokemon Cafe Reservation: A Costly Adventure
TeamLab Planets
Step into a world of digital magic where interactive art, projections, and even water create a surreal, Instagram-perfect playground for the senses. This is the most interactive of the Teamlabs, and it has an amazing adventure/activity area where kids can climb, jump, and slide! It’s an art experience for adults, but a fun place to let off steam for kids.
My top tip is to book the earliest slot so you can enjoy the spaces at their least crowded part of the day.
🤸♀️ Reviewing the Epic New Athletics Forest Area at Teamlabs Planets, Tokyo
💐 How to Book TeamLabs Planets Tokyo, and What To Know Before You Go
Fuji-Q Highland
Thrill-seekers rejoice! With some of Japan’s wildest roller coasters and family-friendly attractions at the foot of Mount Fuji, adrenaline is guaranteed.
Yomiuriland
A versatile amusement park with seasonal illuminations, water rides, and roller coasters, offering fun and entertainment for the whole family. What excites me the most about Yomiuriland is it’s going to be the new home of the PokePark Kanto theme park! It’s opening next spring and you can read what we know so far here:
😾 PokePark Kanto Is Opening Spring 2026! Here’s Everything We Know So Far!
Legoland Japan
Let creativity run wild at this LEGO-themed park, packed with interactive builds, colorful rides, and playful adventures perfect for little builders.
Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo
Step behind the scenes of your favorite Warner Bros franchises, from Harry Potter to DC superheroes, with sets, props, and immersive experiences that bring the movies to life.
If you or your kids like Harry Potter then you HAVE to try this experience! My Harry Potter mad 10 year old says it’s the best thing he’s ever done! It took us around 4 hours to see everything, and we stopped for a pretty amazing themed meal too.
🧙♂️ Read Planning Your Visit To The Harry Potter Studios Tour in Tokyo
Jungalia
Get your adventure fix at this jungle-themed park with zip lines, rope courses, and outdoor challenges that keep kids and families active and entertained. Jungalia only opened in August so this is really new, but it looks amazing!
We haven’t visited Jungalia or Okinawa yet, but we’ve planning to in our next trip to Japan in March/April, so i’ll update this then!
Why Booking Ahead Matters In Japan
The simple answer to the question ‘why does booking ahead matter in Japan?’ is this: if you don’t then you probably won’t get tickets. Japan is the most touristed country in the world, and inbound touism numbers are continuing to grow rapidly. Supply simply can’t match demand!
Some of the most popular attractions like Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan and the Ghibli Museum have to adhere to strict entry schedules and limited daily capacities. Plus other attractions like TeamLab Planets or the Pokemon Cafe have strict time slots and the most popular slots are always the first to go. Booking ahead in most cases is the ONLY way to guarentee a smoother, stress-free experience AND it allows you to schedule in the rest of your non-bookable activities too.
If you’re visiting in a peak period then advance booking is especially important due to the huge influx of domestic and international tourists. The main peak periods are cherry blossom season (March/early April), Golden Week (late April-early May), the summer holidays (July-August) and New Year (late December to early Januay)
So PLEASE book ahead! This is the best way to make the most of your time in Japan, avoid uneccessary queues (often without a guarentee of a reservation at the end of them) and most importantly, let you enjoy your trip without unnecessary stress.
What Can You Book Last Minute
Planning a last minute trip to Japan? You can read my tips for the perfect last minute Japan trip here. I’m far too type A to do Japan at the last minute, but I hope this reassures you that it can be done!
And the good news is that while some of the most high-demand Japan attractions will sell out fast, there are still plenty of things that you can book at the last minute.
If you’re planning to book a JR Rail Pass, for example, these have to be booked before you leave your home country BUT you can do this fairly last minute. Read more about these here. I recommend booking this 1 – 3 months in advance, if you can to allow for delivery time.
You can also book your transfers last minute. The best options are either the airport limosine bus or a private taxi. We always opt for a taxi because it costs the same as 4 bus tickets, and because after a long haul flight with the kids we want the convenience of getting to our hotel as fast as possible.
You can always make last minute bookings for:
- City Passes
- Day Tours
- Museum entries (with the exception of the Ghibli museum)
Conclusion
Booking tickets for attractions in Japan can feel like a full time job because there’s just so many different experiences for each atttraction. Some tickets MUST be booked the second they go live because they’ll sell out in seconds. Others have a bit more felxibility. Which is why a table (like the one i’ve added at the top of this post) is so helpful to help you organise what you need to book, and when!
I’ve linked to my recommended booking platform (which is Klook) throughout this post so that you can secure your tickets now. Don’t forget to use my code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK to get an extra 5% off, which all adds up if you’re buying a lot of tickets, and especially if you’re travelling as a family of four like us.
If you’re planning a family trip, I also have guides to almost every aspect of travelling in Japan with (and without) kids, so stay on the site and keep reading. We’ve got everything you need to help you plan your perfect itinerary!
WANT MORE POSTS LIKE THIS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX? HIT SUBSCRIBE BELOW
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
One Comment