Play baseball in Japan
- OrgsOrganizations
- Top levelTop-level leagues
- Levels
Governing body
The national federation that runs the sport here.
Baseball Federation of Japan (BFJ)
Japan · BFJ (JABA + JSBA merged 1990)
Japan Softball Association
Japan · WBSC Asia member
Professional
Fully professional leagues.
Late March/April to October (Japan Series in October); 144 games
Late March/April to October; 144 games
NPB Eastern League (farm)
Saitama, Tokorozawa, Yokosuka, Sendai, Toda, Niigata · NPB / Central League
Miyazaki Phoenix League (fall)
Miyazaki · NPB
Semi-pro and independent
Semi-professional and independent leagues.
Oisix Niigata Albirex Baseball Club (Eastern League)
Niigata · Eastern League (NPB)
Baseball Challenge League (BC League)
Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Nagano · Japan independent baseball (BC League)
April to October; 72 games
Chiba Sky Sailors (BC League)
Baseball Challenge League
April to October
Fukushima RedHopes (BC League)
Baseball Challenge League
April to October
Ibaraki Astro Planets (BC League)
Baseball Challenge League
April to October
Tochigi Golden Braves (BC League)
Baseball Challenge League
April to October
Gunma Diamond Pegasus (BC League)
Baseball Challenge League
April to October
Saitama Musashi Heat Bears (BC League)
Baseball Challenge League
April to October
Kanagawa Future Dreams (BC League)
Baseball Challenge League
April to October
Yamanashi Firewinds (BC League)
Baseball Challenge League
April to October
Shinano Grandserows (BC League)
Baseball Challenge League
April to October
Shikoku Island League Plus
Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, Tokushima · Shikoku Island League Plus (HQ Takamatsu)
Ehime Mandarin Pirates (Shikoku Island League Plus)
Shikoku Island League Plus
Kagawa Olive Guyners (Shikoku Island League Plus)
Shikoku Island League Plus
Kochi Fighting Dogs (Shikoku Island League Plus)
Shikoku Island League Plus
Tokushima Indigo Socks (Shikoku Island League Plus)
Shikoku Island League Plus
Adult amateur
Club and recreational baseball for adults.
JABA industrial (corporate) league
Toyota, Honda, ENEOS, Nippon Life · Japan Amateur Baseball Association
Intercity Baseball Tournament (corporate)
Tokyo Dome · JABA and Mainichi Shimbun
College and university
College and university competition.
Tokyo Big6 Baseball League
Meiji Jingu Stadium, Tokyo · Tokyo Big6
Tohto University Baseball League
Tokyo area · Tohto league
Kansai Big Six Baseball League
Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo · Kansai Big Six
Softball
Softball leagues and federations.
JD.League (women's softball)
East, West · Japan Diamond Softball League
Late March to late October; 29 games per team; playoffs to mid-November
Honda Reverta (JD.League East)
Mooka, Tochigi · JD.League
Late March to October
Bic Camera Takasaki Bee Queen (JD.League East)
Takasaki, Gunma · JD.League
Late March to October
Taiyo Yuden Solfille (JD.League East)
Takasaki, Gunma · JD.League
Late March to October
Toda Medics (JD.League East)
Toda, Saitama · JD.League
Late March to October
Hitachi Sundiva (JD.League East)
Yokohama, Kanagawa · JD.League
Late March to October
Ogaki Minamo (JD.League East)
Ogaki, Gifu · JD.League
Late March to October
NEC Platforms Red Falcons (JD.League East)
Kakegawa, Shizuoka · JD.League
Late March to October
Denso Bright Pegasus (JD.League East)
Anjo, Aichi · JD.League
Late March to October
Toyota Red Terriers (JD.League West)
Toyota, Aichi · JD.League
Late March to October
Toyota Industries Shining Vega (JD.League West)
Aichi · JD.League
Late March to October
Tokai Rika Cherry Blossoms (JD.League West)
Aichi · JD.League
Late March to October
NSK Brave Bearies (JD.League West)
Konan, Shiga · JD.League
Late March to October
SGH Galaxy Stars (JD.League West)
Kyoto · JD.League
Late March to October
Shionogi Rainbow Stokes Hyogo (JD.League West)
Amagasaki, Hyogo · JD.League
Late March to October
Iyo Bank Vertz (JD.League West)
Matsuyama, Ehime · JD.League
Late March to October
Takagi Kitakyushu Water Wave (JD.League West)
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka · JD.League
Late March to October
Women's baseball
Women's baseball competition.
Japan Women's Baseball League (JWBL)
Saitama, Aichi, Kyoto · JWBL
Japan women's national team (BFJ)
Japan · Baseball Federation of Japan
Youth
Age-group and youth competition.
Koshien spring invitational (high school)
Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Nishinomiya · Japan High School Baseball Federation / Mainichi
March
Koshien summer championship (high school)
Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Nishinomiya · Japan High School Baseball Federation / Asahi
August
Little League Japan region
Japan · Little League Baseball
For Americans
Max 4 foreign players on the 25-man game roster, any number may be signed, the four cannot be all pitchers or all position players.
NPB Central League.
Source:en.wikipedia.org
Pay and housing are set club by club and are not published here; ask the club directly. Rules change by season, so confirm with the league. Last checked Oct 2026.
Sources
Each organization above was checked against a published page on Oct 2026. Seasons, divisions and rules change, so confirm with the league before you plan a trip.
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