[Kyocera] To my future self attending a BTS concert in Japan

[Update: 2025/6/2] Added information regarding regulated exit

A packing list before my thoughts

I attended "Hope on the Stage in Japan" at Kyocera Dome!
I am still reeling from the excitement of seeing BTS live for the first time, but before I write down my thoughts, I want to leave some notes for my future self on what I learned for the next time I attend a BTS concert.I realized that the needs differ slightly depending on whether you have a VIP/VVIP ticket or not.

Field trip guide

Packing preparation

• Essential

  • The three-piece set: ticket, photo ID, and Japan FC membership card or mobile membership card

  • ARMY BOMB (no need for spare batteries if you put in fresh ones before leaving)

  • Drinks (preferably two 500ml bottles) *Freeze them in summer

  • Light and comfortable shoes

  • Phone charger (necessary if you are VIP or higher, as the time commitment is long)

  • Throat spray (I found it easier than throat lozenges as it doesn't leave a residue in your mouth)

Make sure to write your name on the back of your Japan FC membership card 💜
If you have an arena seat, they check your ticket when you enter, so you'll be taking it out frequently. A ticket holder might be useful. You can put money in it too.If you are attending in summer, heat countermeasures are likely essential. If you start feeling unwell, cool your major blood vessels.

I think the ARMY BOMB is essential, but if you don't have one, that's fine too!
You'll be screaming and waving your ARMY BOMB for two and a half hours, so it's quite a workout. If you wear light makeup, it will come off. At the very least, please wear comfortable shoes.

Also, you'll collapse if you get dehydrated, so drink water. Once the concert starts, you'll forget about the bathroom, so you'll be fine lol
Speaking of bathrooms, it's good to know the number of stalls when lining up. Some bathrooms only have two stalls. If you look at the Kyocera Dome floor guide, there is a large women's restroom on the 2nd floor with 37 stalls.

• Optional

  • Merch (it's fun to show off or take photos with it around the venue)

  • Change of clothes (it's fun to bring a tour T-shirt, or wear one and change into it at the venue)

  • Binoculars (almost unnecessary if you're in the arena; you'll be too busy looking at your bias anyway)

  • Small gifts (if you plan on meeting anyone)

  • Cheer notes (you won't have the luxury of looking at them once it starts, so read them while waiting)

These are up to your preference! Oh, and if you want to aim for ARMY Time, you'll need a board too.
Personally, this is a borderline case depending on how much I can carry. Fans and such are big... when I said that, an ARMY friend corrected me, saying, 'It's not a Bon Odori dance, call it a picket.' Pi-picket, got it!

Personally, binoculars were unnecessary in the arena seats. The naked eye is faster. If you're in reserved seating, the artists will look about 1cm tall, so bring them if you want.
However, unlike at Takarazuka or similar shows, at a BTS concert, one hand is occupied by your ARMY Bomb, so it's safer to have them on a neck strap. I think the only time you can really use them is during the comment time...

• Unnecessary

  • Mental inhibitors like shame

I'm coming home from the concert and I'm all hyped up, so I'll say something extreme: you don't need mental inhibitors.
Don't worry about things like, 'Am I the only one making noise...?' Don't look at the people around you. Only look at your bias. When you sing or shout, your bias will be happy. That is the truth.

Before worrying about others, let all your emotions out in your voice.
Things like 'Awesome!', 'Whaaat?!', or 'So cool!!'—letting the emotions out of your mouth before they even reach your brain is the secret to enjoying a participatory concert! There, I said it.

Preparation

I set up a personal server on Discord (a chat app) and use it as a notepad, and I've pasted everything I need there.
On the day of the event, your head will be in the clouds, and if you're attending multiple days, the times will be different and you'll get confused, so it's safer to write down the timeline.It's also easier to paste all the necessary links there. That area is such a maze of links, I wish they'd consolidate them 🤣

Example note for picking up reservation benefits
Reservation time: 5/31 13:00 - 13:15Final lineup: 13:10

The above content is displayed on the reservation screen for picking up benefits.
You need to show the QR code on the same screen twice, so if you save the link in your notes, you won't have to panic.

Example note for timeline
This is for 2025/05/31, so don't get it wrong!

1. 13:00 - Photo card pickup reservation time (👈 the time I signed up for)

2. 13:30 - Identity verification (until 15:30)

3. 15:30 - VVIP/VIP entry begins

4. 16:10 - Sound check

5. 16:30 - Doors open

6. 18:30 Performance starts

7. 21:00 Scheduled end time (Staggered exit)

8. 23:30 Last train

* Since I don't know how long identity verification will take, if you need to pick up your trading cards, do it first.
* In the case above, there is waiting time between 2 and 3, and 5 and 6, so you can use this time to change clothes, meet acquaintances, or go to the shop/restroom. Don't forget if you want to do the gacha.* For VVIPs, there is a send-off event after the performance.

It's better to screenshot the official announcement image. The image above is excellent because it also has the gate number written on it (though it's small). It's also useful for meeting up and figuring out your location.
In my case, it was Dome-mae Station -> East Exit -> walk around the dome to the left -> get FC benefits at the South Exit -> identity verification at Gate 1 -> enter from Gate 14.

It might be good to check your seat location in advance.
For arena seats, refer to posts by people on X who are predicting seat layouts. Others can check their seat location and view from the following.

Regarding taxis

If you want to travel by taxi after the performance, please refer to the following article. It's probably easier to install a ride-hailing app in advance.
Note that the area around Kyocera Dome becomes a no-pickup zone during events, so you'll have to walk a bit before you can use a ride-hailing app.

Staggered exit

After the performance, you will be called by block and leave in order.
For Hobi-con, it was basically in order from the lowest numbers. If you're in the arena, it's A; if you're in the stands, it's from both ends closest to the main stage. I think it took about 30-40 minutes to exit if you were in the middle of the stands. Because of this, some people left early.Nearby stations will also be crowded, so plan your return tickets and dinner reservations with plenty of time!

I'll add more if I remember anything.

For now, this is how it is. My current feeling is that I think I could go a bit lighter. I'll buy throat spray before I go...

* I wrote another article. It contains information such as what kind of things are at the FC booth.

Related posts

The impressions I wrote after this are here.