Good news, everyone: starting mid-May, anyone, not just Japan residents, can purchase tickets online or in-person for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Previously, overseas residents could only purchase tickets through an Authorised Ticket Reseller (ATR). And while the past two ticket lotteries had already sold 4.48 million tickets to domestic residents, there are still many left. Need another excuse to visit Tokyo this summer? Here are the deets for the upcoming spring ticket sales.
Photo: Tokyo 2020
Web sales
Everyone will be able to purchase tickets on the official ticket website – first come first served – from a yet-to-be-determined date in mid-May until the start of the Olympics, or until tickets run out. Pro tip: if you haven’t registered for a Tokyo 2020 ID, do so now and it’ll save you some time.
In-person sales
Love a good queue? Overseas and Japan residents can always wait in line at one of the two official Tokyo 2020 Ticket Centres; there's one in Yurakucho and the other location is still to be determined. In-person ticket purchases begin in mid-May until the start of the Olympics, or when tickets run out.
Resale service
Resale tickets will be sold online from late May until supplies last.
What about the Paralympics?
The dates for web sales, in-person sales and resale services have yet to be confirmed.
Postcard lottery for Japanese residents
Japan residents are eligible to enter a postcard lottery between Thursday February 20 and Thursday March 12 for the Olympics and between Friday March 13 and Sunday April 5 for the Paralympics. If successful, applicants will hear back in early April for the Olympics or early May for the Paralympics, and will have to then purchase their allocated tickets at the Tokyo 2020 Ticket Centre in Yurakucho. For detailed instructions, see here.
For more details, see the official Tokyo 2020 website and the official Tokyo 2020 Ticket website.
Already got your tickets? Check out our guide to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.