Five December nights on Tokyo Bay
ILLIT holds the end of the year in Funabashi. The “PRESS START♥︎” tour plays several dates at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY between December 23 and 27, 2026, a stretch that runs straight through Christmas.
The group debuted under HYBE’s BELIFT LAB in March 2024 with “Magnetic.” Two of its five members, Moka and Iroha, are Japanese, which gives a Japan arena run extra weight with local fans.
The venue opened in 2024. It is a purpose-built arena of about 10,000 seats and the home court of the B.League basketball club Chiba Jets Funabashi. Seating rings a central floor, so sightlines from the upper tiers stay closer than at a dome show.
Getting to Minami-Funabashi
Your station is Minami-Funabashi, on the JR Keiyo Line and the JR Musashino Line.
- From Tokyo Station: Keiyo Line, about 25 minutes. The Keiyo platforms sit deep underground at the Yaesu end, so allow time for the long walk.
- From Maihama (Tokyo Disney Resort): same line, a few stops east.
- Alternative: Keisei Line to Funabashi Keibajo Station, then a walk past LaLaport TOKYO-BAY.
From Minami-Funabashi’s south exit, the arena is about a 10-minute walk past IKEA Tokyo-Bay. After the show, the platform crowd is the slow part. Many attendees walk on to Shin-Narashino or Keibajo instead.
How fan-club lotteries and entry work here
Japanese arena tickets run on lotteries (抽選, chūsen), not first-come sales. For K-pop acts, the official Japan fan club usually gets the first lottery round. General lotteries and resale through the official trade system follow it. The organiser’s ticketing pages carry the specifics for each date.
Entry rules are strict, and fans plan around them:
- Digital tickets sit inside a ticketing app on your phone. Screenshots are not accepted.
- ID checks match the name on the ticket. Foreign fans usually carry their passport.
- Merch (グッズ, guzzu) sells from a separate area. Fans typically queue for it hours before doors, and on popular dates some items sell out.
- Light sticks are welcome. Standing on your seat, flash photography and filming are not, unless the show announces otherwise.
Fans usually trade small handmade freebies, called mōmen or “freebies,” outside the arena. It’s a friendly exchange, not a sale.
Before and after the show around the bay
The arena sits inside a big shopping district, so killing time is easy.
- LaLaport TOKYO-BAY: one of Japan’s largest malls, a short walk away, with food courts and restaurants.
- IKEA Tokyo-Bay: right beside the station route, with a cheap canteen.
- Funabashi Keibajo racecourse: next to the Keisei station.
Most out-of-town fans stay along the Keiyo Line. Kaihin-Makuhari and Shin-Urayasu have big hotels near the stations, and central Tokyo is under 30 minutes away. Late December evenings by the bay are cold and windy, so queueing fans wear proper coats. With dates spread across the holiday week, some fans pair a show with Tokyo Disney Resort, two stops away at Maihama.
Frequently asked questions
When and where is ILLIT's "PRESS START♥︎" tour in Funabashi?
Multiple dates run December 23-27, 2026, at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY, a roughly 10,000-seat arena in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture.
What is the nearest station to LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY?
Minami-Funabashi Station on the JR Keiyo and Musashino lines, about a 10-minute walk from the south exit. Funabashi Keibajo Station on the Keisei Line is a second option.
How long does it take from central Tokyo?
About 25 minutes on the JR Keiyo Line from Tokyo Station to Minami-Funabashi, plus the walk to the arena.
How are tickets sold for Japanese arena shows like this?
Through lotteries. The official Japan fan club usually gets the first round, followed by general lotteries. Tickets are typically digital, held in an app and tied to your name, and ID is checked at entry.
Where can I eat or wait nearby?
LaLaport TOKYO-BAY and IKEA Tokyo-Bay are both a short walk from the arena. Both have food options and indoor space to warm up on cold December days.
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