Hi there!
Well…traditional Japanese ticketing systems such as Lawson or e+ are often criticised by overseas fans like myself for being incredibly difficult to use due to several structural barriers.
The traditional platforms frequently require a Japanese mobile phone number for account registration and ticket verification. As I have discussed multiple times, this is a huge hurdle for anyone who doesn’t currently reside in Japan. There is also a big issue when it comes to payment methods. The most popular ticketing systems often do not accept international credit cards, requiring payment through Japanese convenience stores (conbini) or Japanese payment systems. Again, an obstacle that cannot be easily overcome unless you are using a proxy service or know someone who lives in Japan and is willing to help you.
Last but not least, the multiple rounds of exclusive and non-exclusive lotteries before the actual general sale can be very confusing to people who are not familiar with the system. You need to have extensive knowledge of all the schedules and deadlines so you don’t miss your opportunities, this can be quite intimidating and taxing.
Compared to the traditional ticketing platforms, Bitfan, primarily managed through the Bitfan Pass app, offers several advantages for overseas fans.
First and foremost, Bitfan is a simple “electronic ticket application” that helps users manage the entire process from purchase to entry on their smartphone. While the app is only available in the Japanese app store, this is really the only regional restriction so it’s not a show-stopper and you can easily work around that minor hurdle by registering a Japanese Apple ID (or whatever the equivalent is for non-iPhone users). Here are some of the big advantages 👉
- All-in-One Digital Convenience: Users can search for, purchase, and receive tickets instantly on their smartphone, eliminating the need to wait for physical shipping or risk losing paper tickets.
- Secure Ticket Management: The app allows users to check their tickets, including seat numbers, anytime.
- Multiple Payment Options: Supports various payments including credit cards, convenience stores, PayPal, and Paidy.
- Easy Ticket Sharing/Transfer: Tickets can be easily distributed/transferred/sold to others directly through the app.
- Smooth Admission: Admission is handled through the app by simply swiping or scanning a QR code, allowing for reduced congestion at venues.
As an overseas fan who has used all of the mentioned services (and many others) in the past, I can assure you that Bitfan was by far the smoothest experience.
