Japan Attractions to Book in Advance: 2026 Ticket Timeline

Certain Japan attraction tickets 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. When were planning a once in a lifetime trip (insert canned laughter here) we really struggled to know what to book and when . Which is why I’ve put together a comprehensive Japan attractions to book in advance.

The Japan attractions you should prioritise booking in advance include the Ghibli Museum, Pokemon Cafe, PokePark KANTO, Nintendo Museum, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Universal Studios Japan Express Passes. Most tickets are released between one and three months before you visit, but every attraction uses a different booking system, and some sell out within minutes.

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!

Booking information last checked: 16th September 2026.
Ticket-release schedules are changed frequently, so I always recommend confirming the latest dates before booking, especially for attractions you really don’t want to miss.

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 2pm 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 at 10am JST.	Tickets consistently sell out within minutes	Link here to book with Ghibli direct
Universal Studios Japan	Tickets are released 3 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	Currently released monthly at 6pm 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
Asakusa Sumo Club	You can book online up to 6 MONTHS in advance	Booking is less urgent, but peak period slots are booked quickly	Book your seats here
PokePark Kanto	Booking is onling via a ticket lottery	Tickets generally book out within minutes of release	Try to secure your tickets here
Ghibli Park, Aichi	Booking is online via a ticket lottery	Tickets generally book out within minutes of release	Book your tickets here
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

How To Book Attractions in Japan

As I’ve already mentioned, each Japanese attraction uses a slightly different ticketing system. Some tickets are released on a fixed date and disappear almost instantly, while others remain available until the day you visit, and it’s less important to book these in advance.

It’s also 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. So don’t feel like you have to give in to the peer pressure of joining the ticket roller coaster, especially if that’s not how you travel!

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.

When to Book Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea Tickets

Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea tickets are normally released at 2pm Japan Standard Time exactly two months before the admission date. For UK travellers, that is 5am during GMT or 6am during BST.

Tickets don’t usually disappear instantly, so is this isn’t the kind of ticket you need to chancel your plans to book. But I would book your Disney tickets in advance because weekends, Japanese public holidays and popular seasonal events can sell out. For that reason I recommend booking as soon as your dates are confirmed, particularly if your itinerary isn’t flexible: that’s what we do.

We’ve visited both Tokyo Disney parks several times and recommend spending a complete day in each. You can buy tickets through the official Tokyo Disney Resort website or an authorised seller such as Klook.

👉 Book your Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea tickets here
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK for a reader exclusive discount

We’re huge fans of the Tokyo Disney Resort, and we write about it alot. You can read some of our review and guide articles here:

👉 Tokyo Disney Tickets 2026. Prices, Types, and How to Buy
👉 The 7 Best Hotels Near Tokyo Disney. Tokyo Disney Hotels For Every Budget!
👉 Tokyo Disney Ride Heights (2026): Full Guide and Free Printable Chart for Families
👉 How Many Days Do You Need At Tokyo Disneyland And Tokyo DisneySea?
👉 7 Best Tokyo DisneySea Rides For Families (2026 Guide)

When to Book Universal Studios Japan Tickets and Express Passes

Universal Studios Japan tickets are generally released up to approximately three months before your visit, although the exact dates available can vary between the official website and authorised sellers.

A standard Studio Pass provides park entry, but it doesn’t include an Express Pass. Express Passes are sold separately and are the tickets most likely to disappear. Passes containing timed entry to Super Nintendo World and Donkey Kong Country are particularly popular.

We spent two days at Universal Studios Japan on our latest trip and used Express Passes on one of them. If Express is important to your family, book it as soon as a suitable option appears rather than waiting for the standard admission tickets to sell out.

Check current Universal Studios Japan and Express Pass availability.

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?

When to Book Ghibli Museum Tickets

Ghibli Museum tickets for the following calendar month are released at 10am JST on the 10th of each month. If you want to visit in November, for example, tickets will normally go on sale on 10 October.

For UK readers, 10am JST is 1am GMT or 2am BST, so getting tickets may involve setting an unpleasantly early alarm!

International ticket availability is extremely limited and popular dates can sell out quickly. Be logged in and ready when sales open, with several possible dates and entry times in mind.

In the spirit of complete honesty, we still haven’t managed to secure Ghibli Museum tickets! And we’ve tried to get them on four different occasions. It remains on our Japan wish list, but I hope our example at least shows just how tricky they are to get hold of.

When to Book PokéPark KANTO Tickets

PokéPark KANTO opened inside Yomiuriland in February 2026 and has become one of Japan’s hardest family attractions to book.

Ticket arrangements differ for international visitors and residents of Japan. International visitors can check current advance sales through the official English website, while Japan residents may need to enter a ticket lottery through the PokéPark KANTO app.

Tickets are released in controlled batches and demand is extremely high, so apply or purchase as soon as your travel dates become available. I’ve never been more strssed out than I was when I was trying to get these tickets. Do not assume that an ordinary Yomiuriland ticket will provide entry to PokéPark KANTO. We tried to do that, and I can assure you they don’t!

Different passes provide different levels of access, so check whether your chosen option includes Pokémon Forest as well as Sedge Town.

👉 Read our complete PokéPark KANTO ticket guide.

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

When to Apply for Nintendo Museum Tickets

Nintendo Museum tickets use a lottery system, and applications open three months before the month you want to visit. You need a free Nintendo Account to enter, and then you’ll be alerted via the email address registered to your account if you’ve been successful.

You can select several preferred dates and entry times. If your application is successful, you will be invited to pay for your tickets within a specified period. Any remaining tickets may subsequently be released through the official calendar, but availability isn’t guaranteed.

We visited Nintendo Museum during our 2026 family trip and we lovd every minute! It was was absolutely worth the effort involved in securing tickets, especially with two Nintendo-loving children, but also for some wonderful nostalgia for us as adults too.

Enter the lottery as soon as your application month opens and choose as many suitable date and time combinations as the system permits.

👉 Read our Nintendo Museum review and booking guide.

When to Book Pokémon Café Reservations

The Pokémon Café booking system changed during 2026. Reservations are currently being released in monthly batches rather than exactly 31 days before each individual date.

Under the present system, reservations for the whole following calendar month generally open at 6pm JST on the first day of the preceding month. For example, reservations for October opened on 1 September. That is 9am GMT or 10am BST.

However, the Pokémon Café states that its release schedule can change. Check the News section of the official website for the confirmed date before every booking attempt.

Tables can disappear extremely quickly. Know your preferred location, party size, date and several backup times before reservations open. We’ve visited the Tokyo Pokémon Café twice, but we’ve also failed to secure a table on other trips!

Read our current step-by-step guide to booking the Pokémon Café.

🍜 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

When to Book a Mount Fuji Day Tour

Mount Fuji day tours operate throughout the year, but popular small-group tours can sell out during cherry blossom season, autumn and Japanese holiday periods.

For peak dates, I recommend booking four to eight weeks ahead. At quieter times, you may still find spaces much closer to departure. No tour can guarantee a clear view of Mount Fuji, so look for a booking with reasonable cancellation terms if the forecast is important to you. We took a small-group tour from Tokyo that included Mount Fuji’s 5th Station, Arakurayama Park, Oshino Hakkai and a matcha experience.

👉 Read our Mount Fuji day-trip review and check current tour availability.

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

When to Book JUNGALIA OKINAWA Tickets

JUNGALIA opened in northern Okinawa in July 2025. We spent five nights in Okinawa during our 2026 family trip but didn’t include JUNGALIA in our itinerary, so I can’t give you a first-hand review yet.

Ticket availability varies by date and package, with additional options available for visitors who want to reduce waiting times. Because reaching the park requires more planning than visiting a city attraction, I recommend booking tickets and arranging transport as soon as your Okinawa itinerary is fixed. Give yourself more time during Japanese holidays and the busy summer season.

👉 Check current JUNGALIA tickets, packages and transport options.

Which Japan Attractions Should You Book First?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, prioritise your bookings in this order:

1. Enter the Nintendo Museum lottery three months ahead.
2. Secure PokéPark KANTO as soon as your dates become available.
3. Book Universal Studios Japan Express Passes.
4. Buy Tokyo Disney tickets two months ahead.
5. Book Ghibli Park two months ahead.
6. Attempt Ghibli Museum tickets on the 10th of the preceding month.
7. Check the Pokémon Café’s confirmed monthly release.
8. Book Shibuya Sky as soon as its 14-day window opens.
9. Arrange the remaining flexible attractions once your itinerary is settled.

You don’t need to book every attraction in Japan months ahead. Focus first on the experiences that use lotteries, fixed ticket drops or limited timed entry. Once those dates are secured, you can build the flexible parts of your itinerary around them.

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.

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

✓ Subscribed

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!