Summer Comiket

Comic Market, better known as Comiket, is a bi-annual comic market and one of Japan’s biggest comic-related events. As per usual, Summer Comiket will be happening at Tokyo Big Sight. Admission is free but organizers recommend that you buy the event catalog. Different from some cons you may have visited in your lifetime, the focus of the event is dojinsha – independently created and published manga. Given the thousands of amateur and professional manga artists in Japan, there will be an incredibly wide range of genres and styles for you to buy.

For those planning to cosplay, be aware there is a fee you have to pay – usually 800 yen. Also, organizers advise that attendees should be ‘in good health when visiting Comiket and make sure to dress accordingly’. Considering the hordes of people and Tokyo’s oh-so-hot summers, this is advice worth taking. The closest stations are Kokusai-Tenjijo-Seimon Station on the Yurikamome Line and Kokusai-Tenjijo Station on the JR Rinkai Line.

(Greg Lane)