I made it to Japan, and to two ayu concerts! FINALLY!

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

I know this is a bit late, but I have been very busy. I wanted to share my experience with the forum.

After 13 years of insane fandom, my dreams finally came true. As some of you may know, because I bugged you to help me get tickets, or for whatever information I could get a hold of (sorry, I get paranoid and anxious when traveling to new places), I had been planning a trip to go to at least one of the final two dates at Yoyogi Stadium.

I booked my flight and hotel without even having tickets. I tried SO many different avenues online but I just had no luck. SO, I took a chance. Quite a few people were reassuring me that I'd be able to find tickets at a reseller shop, so OK.

My original flight was supposed to arrive in Narita at about 3:45pm on Friday, 7/26. I got to my airport and my initial flight was cancelled. I was about TO CRY. They told me they could only get me to Japan on Saturday. I told them that wasn't going to work. I had to wait about 30 minutes while this kind man searched for flights for my boyfriend and I. Finally, after a gut-wrenching wait, he found a flight that would take us to Chicago, with a connecting flight to Narita, getting there at about the same time as my original flight. THANK. GOD.

I didn't sleep much on the trip over. (Longest of two flights being about 12.5 hours), and as soon as I got to Tokyo, I got to my hotel, checked in, put some deodorant on to freshen up, and went out to meet my friend "TeamAyu2004" so he could help me get tickets. We got to the reseller shop...AND THEY WERE CLOSED. They had closed at 9pm, and it was 915. My boyfriend Mike knew how much this meant to me, so he just knocked on the window to see if they'd open it. THEY DID. They let me, my boyfriend, and my friend in. They had about a dozen ayu tickets left for that weekend if I remember correctly. It took us a while to decide on seats and such, but we got two pairs of tickets in the end, and spent almost $1000 USD. I don't regret it at all. I WAS FINALLY GOING TO SEE AYU!

Then I was soooo exhausted that I passed out as soon as I got to my hotel.

I'm not good at getting around, despite knowing quite a bit of Japanese. I was asking people for help a lot during my first few days there, but after two days or so, we got the hang of it, and it was almost like second nature (along with one or two VERY helpful apps to help you get around the Tokyo Rail system).

I went to check out Yoyogi on Saturday, 7/27. Got there at like 1pm. The goods were set up, there was a HUUUUUUGE line and they hadn't even started selling anything yet. I didn't wait in line...it was too hot, and I just decided to hope that they'd have what I wanted when I came back. I got back about 20 minutes before the doors opened, and was able to buy a wristband, a big pink towel, and some light sticks. I wanted the fan, but oh well.

Once my boyfriend and I got inside Yoyogi, we quickly went to our seats. Someone came up to us, saying that we were in their seats. I was about to get really mad and upset, but I was nice. So (BEFORE I GOT UP AND MOVED) lol I asked an attendant where my seat was actually supposed to be, and showed her my ticket. I was on the exact opposite side...the first man that I asked about my seats pointed me in the wrong direction! Haha.

So we sat for almost an hour. A few minutes before the show was supposed to start, SOMEONE ELSE came up to us and said that we were in their seats! I said NO WAY. I wasn't moving. Another attendant came over and checked my ticket...and told me that I was in the right seat. Thank God! Because I got SPECTACULAR seats both days I went! Here is a pic from where I was on 7/27:



I LOVED my seats because I could see the entire stage the entire time, and all of ayu's movements. My favorite performances were A Song for, Tell all, Fly high, HEAVEN, BLUE BIRD, You & Me, Who..., Sunrise, teddy bear, and the DJ part where he played all kinds of ayu remixes (all of them I could name, except for one...I had definitely never heard it before.)

On the second day, my seats were on the lower level, pretty close to the stage. C block. I caught a balloon! My friend caught two balloons and gave me one. As I was walking out...I looked up and saw this girl literally crying with her hands out...I had two balloons and she had none. And she wasn't sitting in a seat where she had a chance to get one. So I gave her one. After all, I was OK with having just one.



So after the excitement of the concerts was over, we spent our time shopping in places like Shijuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, and Akihabara. Went to the zoo, went to Tokyo Tower, took SO many pics, and I even managed to catch the FNS special live from my hotel room! Where ayu sang BLUE BIRD and evolution, obviously. This was probably the happiest time of my life. Here's a few more pics: the view from my hotel room, my boyfriend wearing an outfit he bought in Harajuku, and others.






If I can make it happen, so can you~! I think in total, together we spent about $5.5-6k. That's flight, hotel, tickets, food, shopping, everything. Sigh. I told him we're definitely going back for Arena Tour 2014. LOL I LOVED Japan.

[TeamAyu2004]

I had a lot of fun too!
And dont forget to mention that the 1000.00 spent was on 4 tickets! (2 for you and your bf and 2 for me and you the last night!)

I really want to go to CDL but I dont know if I will have the money by that time... I may have to wait for the next year!!

[NintendoHTF1242]

Shit. Gonna have to spend that good $$$ to see Ayu. I'm gonna have to start saving lol

But glad to see you had a ton of fun and with all your luck (the airplane flight, the re-seller); you should try hitting up a casino LOL

[owlflight]

Sounds like an awesome trip! Maybe I'll work that much harder to go see Ayu myself... who wants to go with me!

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

Shit. Gonna have to spend that good $$$ to see Ayu. I'm gonna have to start saving lol

But glad to see you had a ton of fun and with all your luck (the airplane flight, the re-seller); you should try hitting up a casino LOL

That's so ironic...lol but I'm actually going to Atlantic City tomorrow to celebrate my birthday. I'll probably play at the casinos a bit. Wish me luck!

[erika_ayu]

Haha I had around the same experience as you, I only arrived in Japan on the night of 26th of July, almost had anxiety attack worrying if the ticket I want will still be there the next day.

I rushed to Ueno Reseller shop the very next morning. I spent 40 000yen on my ticket for the FINAL show on 28th, G block, I am short so I didn't really wana stand in the Arena seats.
Awesome awesome experience!! I was watching the concert with the light stick in one hand and a tissue in the another coz I was so overwhelmed that my dream to see her after 12 years came true!

I will definitely go back to Japan again, totally in love with it!

[pimenta]

That's really nice! I remember seeing your topics with questions on the issue (I didn't answer to them though, as I've never been to Japan myself and I couldn't really help), I'm happy for you that everything worked out in the end
I hope I can do the same someday, thank you for sharing your experience, it's nice to read about it from people who went to her concerts so I can prepare for when I finally have the change

Originally Posted by Pieces_of_SEVEN

On the second day, my seats were on the lower level, pretty close to the stage. C block. I caught a balloon! My friend caught two balloons and gave me one. As I was walking out...I looked up and saw this girl literally crying with her hands out...I had two balloons and she had none. And she wasn't sitting in a seat where she had a chance to get one. So I gave her one. After all, I was OK with having just one.

You got a balloon, that so lucky! And how nice of you giving that girl your extra one ^-^

[LONJJONG]

Wow I am so envious of you... Wish I could go even only once to Ayu's concert
Nice experience you had, thanks for sharing!!

[ayuuk]

This is great to hear! Hope to see more pictures!

[owlflight]

As I keep thinking of planning a trip overseas next year, maybe I should consider going to Japan. What you spent seems quite reasonable for the amazing experience you had.

[Earth_maiden]

I'm glad you had a great time! Also hope you got to see for your yourself how easy it is to get around in Japan or to find your way.

[URANUS]

That's really awesome! Congrats! Still dreaming of one day going to an Ayu concert....

[mi|kshake]

Great post! I really enjoy reading about people's experiences and seeing pics!

[Luja.]

Hey there, it's so nice to see you finally made it to Japan and ayu's concert! And with such great seats, too.
I haven't been online here in quite a while but I still remember you writing how you wanted to go so badly but couldn't in like every tour thread I checked out.
Congratulations.