Comic Market 108 Guide for Foreign Visitors

Comic Market 108, or C108, is a large event where circles share and sell self-published creative works. It also includes corporate booths and cosplay, but it does not operate like an ordinary trade show where visitors simply arrive and walk in.

A first visit requires more than buying admission. You need to choose the right day, understand your entry method, plan your trip, prepare for summer heat, and decide what money, food, and supplies to bring.

This guide puts those decisions in a practical order. It gives you the full preparation picture and points you toward detailed information when needed. Last checked: July 29, 2026.

The 30-Second Answer

C108 takes place on August 15 and 16, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight.
General admission is not free. Most visitors need a valid ticket or wristband for the correct day.
Choose your day and admission method before planning the rest of the visit.
Check which day has the circles and genres that interest you.
Prepare for outdoor waiting in hot, humid summer conditions.
Do not depend entirely on the venue for drinks, food, cash, or charging.
Recheck official announcements, weather, transport, and the map before departure.

C108 at a Glance

Comic Market 108 runs on Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake. Circle areas are scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Corporate Area is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Day 1 and to 4:00 p.m. on Day 2.

Not sure whether Day 1 or Day 2 is right for you? Check the C108 Day 1 vs. Day 2 guide to compare the main genres, find your target circles, and choose the correct date before buying admission.

Those event hours do not mean every general visitor enters at 10:30. Your admission type determines when and where you join the entry process.

Comiket is created through cooperation among circles, general attendees, staff, corporate participants, cosplayers, and the venue. Circles are not ordinary retail counters, and many participants have prepared for the event for a long time. Expect a crowded creative marketplace with shared rules, not only a commercial exhibition to observe from a distance.

First, Choose Your Day and Entry Method

Genres and circles change between Day 1 and Day 2. Start with the official international C108 page, the official information map, or the Comike WebCatalog. Confirm the day for any circle or type of work that is important to you before buying admission.

After choosing the date, select a valid admission option for that day. C108 does not have free general entry, and admission products are day-specific. Do not buy first and check the date later.

For the current AM, PM, Early Entry, purchase, exchange, price, and ID rules, read the C108 tickets and entry guide for foreign visitors. This starting guide does not repeat those procedures.

One Week Before C108

Make the major decisions while there is still time to correct a mistake. Confirm your attendance date, then look up your priority circles, genres, or corporate booths using official placement information. Save their locations without building a schedule that assumes you can reach everything.

Turn the locations into a short, usable plan rather than a long wish list. Record the hall and area for each priority, note which choices are optional, and share a meeting point with companions. Mobile service may become unreliable in heavy crowds, so keep essential information available offline.

Check that you have the correct admission for that date. If your option requires a paper ticket, QR code, physical wristband, or original ID, identify that requirement now instead of discovering it on the morning of the event.

Confirm where you will stay and how you plan to reach Tokyo Big Sight. The main nearby stations include Kokusai-tenjijo on the Rinkai Line and Tokyo Big Sight on the Yurikamome Line. You do not need to memorize every route, but you should know your primary connection and one realistic alternative.

Review the weather outlook and the Ministry of the Environment’s heat index, or WBGT, closer to the event. Think about drinks, portable food, cash, charging, sun protection, and the weight you will carry. Build a first-choice plan and a second-choice plan for sold-out items, congestion, or a route change.

The Day Before

Place your ticket, QR code, wristband, and any required original ID where you can verify them together. Charge your phone and power bank. Save the official map, entry instructions, primary route, and backup route so a weak mobile connection does not remove your plan.

Prepare cash and more than one payment method. Small bills can make a purchase easier than relying only on a 10,000-yen bill, but do not carry more cash than you can manage safely.

Buy enough drinks, electrolyte supplies, and portable food for your plan. Pack a hat, towel, and reasonable cooling items without making the bag too heavy. Check the official announcements, weather, WBGT, and transport status again.

Do not plan on buying every necessity after you arrive. A note from the site owner: On a previous visit, drinks had sold out by the morning, and the food outlets had very long lines. That is a personal past experience, not a prediction for C108, but it shows why carrying a basic supply is sensible.

Sleep and your current health matter more than adding another stop to the schedule. If you already feel unwell, reconsider the visit rather than assuming you can push through a long, hot day.

The Morning of C108

Check how you feel before leaving. Eat breakfast, begin hydrating, and confirm your admission and any ID required for your ticket type one final time. Look at official transport information rather than relying only on yesterday’s route screenshot.

Carry what you need, but avoid turning preparation into an oversized load. A large suitcase is difficult to manage in crowded trains, queues, and halls, and luggage must never block paths, emergency equipment, or exits. Do not build your plan around bringing one into the event.

Travel at the time appropriate for your admission type and follow its specified entrance or exchange instructions. Arriving extremely early does not guarantee an earlier position, and overnight waiting is prohibited. Official staff directions take priority over a saved plan or advice from another visitor.

When You Arrive at Tokyo Big Sight

Move away from the main flow before stopping to study your phone. Find the line, exchange point, or entrance for your admission type using current signs and staff guidance. Keep the ticket or wristband accessible without displaying your passport, wallet, or other valuables unnecessarily.

Do not cut into a line or assume that the nearest crowd is yours. Entry arrangements can change with congestion. Follow staff instructions calmly, even when they differ from an older map.

If you begin to feel unwell, do not remain in the line simply to protect your position. Tell staff and move toward appropriate help. If you use a sun umbrella while waiting, pay attention to the people around you, wind, space, and current official instructions so it does not create another hazard.

Inside the Venue

Check your first priority before exploring at random. If it is sold out, closed, or too congested, switch to the second plan rather than losing the day in one place.

Pause at a safe edge of an open area when you need to check the map or reorganize the plan. If companions become separated, use the meeting place selected earlier instead of forming a group in a doorway. A small decision about where to stop helps everyone move more safely.

Keep aisles moving. Do not stop in a doorway, sort purchases on the floor, place luggage near emergency equipment, or remain in front of a circle longer than necessary. Keep your belongings with you and manage purchases before the bag becomes difficult to carry.

Ask before photographing a person, a cosplayer, or a circle’s booth or display. Permission for a photo does not automatically answer whether it may be posted online, so ask about sharing when relevant. Never block a walkway to take a picture.

Drink, rest, and use the restroom before the need becomes urgent. Do not depend entirely on venue shops or food counters. Follow the event’s current waste instructions and never leave trash or belongings behind. If you feel ill or become injured, speak to a nearby staff member promptly.

Cash, Food, and Last-Minute Shopping

Some circles may be easier to pay with in cash, while payment conditions elsewhere vary. If you need yen from an overseas-issued card, the guide to using ATMs in Japan with foreign cards explains compatible ATM basics, fees, limits, and declined transactions. It is not a C108 coin-preparation guide.

Buying basic drinks and portable food before the event reduces dependence on uncertain lines and stock. The beginner’s guide to Japanese supermarkets explains ordinary shopping, prices, checkout, and packing; it does not prescribe a C108 food list.

For a purchase on the morning of the event or a missing small item, see the guide to Japanese convenience stores. Nearby stores can still be crowded or out of a particular product, so the article does not guarantee event-day stock.

Leaving Comic Market

Stations and walkways may become crowded near closing. Follow current staff directions and check live transport information instead of automatically reversing your morning route.

Save your return route and an alternative in advance. Leave generous time before an airport trip, Shinkansen departure, restaurant booking, or other fixed reservation. Fatigue and heat can make a familiar transfer slower.

Agree with companions on whether you will leave together or meet later. A last-minute search through a dense crowd can delay everyone and drain a phone battery. If service is disrupted, move to the saved alternative only after checking current official guidance and making sure the group understands the change.

Before leaving an area, check your purchases, wallet, passport, phone, battery, and admission items. Take your trash to the location directed by staff or carry it with you. Do not extend the day by ignoring illness, dizziness, or exhaustion.

A Simple First-Time Visitor Plan

Decide which day matches your interests.
Buy the correct admission option for that day.
Save the official map and your transport plan.
Prepare cash, drinks, food, and heat protection before the event.
Follow the correct entry instructions when you arrive.
Visit your priorities, take breaks, and switch to backup plans when needed.
Check official updates before leaving for the venue, and check transport information again before heading home.

Common First-Time Mistakes

Buying admission for the wrong date.
Assuming general entry is free.
Not checking which day has the circle or genre you want.
Expecting to buy every drink and meal inside the venue.
Carrying only 10,000-yen bills and no alternative payment method.
Underestimating walking and transfer time at large stations.
Planning to bring a large suitcase into the venue.
Letting both your phone and power bank run out of charge.
Scheduling too many priorities without a backup plan.
Staying in line even when you feel unwell.
Photographing someone without permission.
Failing to recheck official information on the day before the event.

Respect the Event and Its Community

To love 2D culture is to respect the creators, the works, and the people who share that love.

Respect circles, artists, staff, volunteers, cosplayers, and other visitors. Many people have waited and worked for a long time to enjoy these two days. Cutting lines, harassment, violence, disruptive behavior, or photography without consent can ruin that work and someone else’s day.

This is not a rule aimed at foreign visitors. It is the basic responsibility of every participant, regardless of nationality. Comiket works because participants cooperate and follow shared rules for safety and fair use of the space.

Final C108 Checklist

Correct attendance day
Correct admission ticket or wristband
Original photo ID, if required for your admission type
Charged smartphone
Charged power bank
Official map saved
Primary and alternative transport routes
Cash and another payment method
Drinks and electrolyte supplies
Portable food
Heat protection
Primary and backup priorities
Return route and enough travel time
Latest official announcements checked

Official Information and Updates

Event information and rules can change. Check the official C108 pages before departure and again on the previous day. At the venue, current directions from staff take priority over this article.

Conclusion

Choose your attendance day and admission first. Prepare essential supplies before reaching the venue, and give priority to the latest official information and on-site staff directions.