Spring Camps

Argh. This is a really tough problem that I have every year. While the schedules for "Open-sen" (pre-season games) has been released, the times of those games has not been. (They haven't been released for the regular season, either.) I would like to be able to just enter all of this information once, then be done with it. However, in order to meet the demand of people planning their summer vacations, I do the regular season games in two steps - the dates and places of games, then update the schedule with the times. Because pre-season isn't as important, I just wait until the times are released and do it all at once.

However, it seems that an increasing number of people are planning vacations during the early spring. That means that they need to know where the games are. So I guess I'll go ahead and enter the Open-sen schedule (without starting times) tomorrow. Please try again in 24 to 48 hours.

Thanks Westbay!

"Open-sen" (pre-season games) have now been entered. When the times are released, I'll try to update the schedules as soon as possible.

Most games in the past have been day games, but with so many of the games moving closer to home (regular season stadiums rather than rural stadiums), there are sure to be many night games during the week as well.

If you (or anyone else) want(s) to know where some of these ball parks are, please refer to Deanna's Maps of Baseball Stadiums in Japan page. There are only a few new ones added since then, such as Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium (New Hiroshima Shimin Kyujyo), Niigata, Miyoshi, and Odawara.

Can you read Japanese? I think most teams have their schedules posted on their own sites, but I haven't found a comprehensive one yet. This, for example, is the Fighters' Okinawa spring camp schedule -- they have a bunch of practice games and training days while you're there.

I cannot read Japanese, but I did translate the Fighter schedule, Thanks! I can make some of the practice games that week! I have been looking at the Dragons and BayStars sites as well.

Thanks again.

Open-sen game times were published in today's (Jan 21, 2009) Nikkan Sports, and I've gone through and entered them into the schedule.

Of note, it was clarified that the games at Hiroshima will be at the old Hiroshima Shimin Kyujyo, not the new Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium. Also, one game location was changed to Shunan from Toyama.

I hope this helps with your travel plans.

Do any of the teams ever make it down to Okinawa? As a huge Chicago White Sox fan that just moved here, I'd love to see the Marines and their new signing, a World Series winner, Iguchi!

Actually, I just found this on Bobby V's blog: "I look forward to Spring Training in Ishigaki, Okinawa, where it will be warm."

More details would be great!

I beliveve Yokohama trains in Ginowan, Okinawa every year. I've never been to an actual spring camp, but some teams (Yokohama for example) offer travel packages to fans wanting to attend. Yokohama holds an annual weekend event from what I gather from friends that often go to watch.

Here's a link with the official information (in Japanese of course).

The event takes place from February 27th till March 1st, and on Saturday the 28th you can catch a game between the BayStars and the Nippon Ham Fighters.

If anyone is interested and wants more info on this, let me know. I'll do my best to translate for you.