Tokyo and Osaka live house price report (monthly)

Why a monthly report?

Prices on JGIG come from the shows listed at the time. As shows are added and old ones end, the figures move. This column explains the current figures so you can plan with them. A monthly snapshot, once added, gives a dated record anyone can quote.

How do you read each figure?

• Median total. Line up the counted shows by total, and take the middle one. One very expensive show doesn't pull it up the way an average would.
• Middle half. A quarter of counted shows cost less than the lower figure, and a quarter cost more than the upper one.
• Most common drink fee. The drink fee that appears most often among shows that list one.
• Nights of the week. These are tendencies in JGIG's listings, not rules. JGIG's data shows the difference between nights, not the reason.

How are the figures counted?

• Source. Shows listed on JGIG at small live houses in Tokyo and Osaka. Not every venue, and not all of Japan.
• Ticket price. The advance price when the event lists one, otherwise the door price.
• Total. Counted only when a show gives both a ticket price and a drink fee. Shows without a drink fee are left out of the total.
• Odd values. Values that look like entry errors, such as an unusually high or low drink fee, are left out.
• Small numbers. Claims about all shows need at least 30 counted shows. Venue figures need at least five.

When doesn't the report fit your night?

• Your show has its own price. A single show can sit far from the median. The show page has the real total.
• You pay at the door. The door price may differ from the advance price used here. See Advance vs door tickets in Japan.
• Prices move. A listed price can change before the night. The official event page is the final word.
• Extras aren't included. Extra drinks, merch, lockers and trains are on top.

How do you use the report for your trip?

1. Take the median total as a starting budget for one night.
2. Add your extras: another drink, merch and your train home.
3. Compare nights with Which night of the week is cheapest?, and venues with Which live houses cost the least?.
4. Open the show pages for your dates, and use their totals for your final budget.

What if you are alone, have no Japanese or cash, or buy at the door?

• Going alone: The figures are per person, so they fit a solo budget as they are.
• No Japanese: You can estimate the cost from the English totals on JGIG. Confirm the price on the official event page before you go.
• No cash: Plan to pay the drink fee in yen at the door, usually ¥600.
• Door ticket: These totals use the advance price where listed. The door price may differ, so check the event page. Door tickets also depend on space.

What to do next

What to do next