By Danny McDonagh
The WPT Asia Swing starts in mid-September and allows players to compete in WPT events in the three major cities of Tokyo, Seoul, and Ho Chi Minh, all over an exciting 20 days. I have been fortunate enough to have visited all three cities and the poker venues the WPT will be at, and I’m happy to provide tips players considering playing in the first WPT Asia Swing.
First up for the WPT Asia Swing is WPT Japan, taking place September 15-17 at Bane Bagus, Shibuya, Tokyo.
WPT Japan will be held in Tokyo in one of its most vibrant areas, Shibuya, best known for one of the busiest and most photographed intersections in the world.
There are a number of preliminary Day 1s for WPT Japan, commencing September 1 at various venues throughout the country. On September 15, our Japanese partners, Japan Poker Union (JPU), will be taking over the Bane Bagus venue in the heart of Shibuya for the final three days of the tournament that falls on a long weekend in Japan.
While there is a full schedule of events over the three days, there are two events in particular worth noting.
First is the WPT Japan Main Event, which will have a multitude of qualifiers participating from throughout Japan and a direct buy-in option of JPY30,000 DBI (approx. $270) on September 15. Like all poker tournaments in Japan, no cash prizes can be awarded, however, the final nine players will share in $33,000 worth of WPT passports, including $13,000 for the WPT Japan champion that can be used for entry, accommodations, and flights for WPT events around the globe.
Second, WPT Japan will provide the unique opportunity to qualify to the in-the-money stage of the KRW1,100,000 (approx. $950) buy-in WPT Korea Main Event to be held the following week at Paradise City Casino. The structure will be the same as in Korea, and this is expected to be popular with both Japanese and visiting international players. Play will stop with 11% of players remaining (to the closest round number). At that point, the field will be in the money before going on to join the WPT Korea Main Event on Sunday, September 23, in Seoul. The entry fee has been set at JPY120,000 (approx. $1,080) and each qualifier to WPT Korea is guaranteed a minimum JPY50,000 (approx. $450) towards travel expenses to Incheon. The exact amount will be calculated after 3% of the entry cost is held by JPU to allow for currency exchange costs and movement risk over the seven-day period before play resumes. The WPT Korea “Tokyo Start” will commence at 5:45 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 16, with late registration available until 11:40 a.m. on Monday, September 17, which is a public holiday in Japan. One reentry is available, as will be the case for Day 1s at Paradise City Casino in Incheon on September 21 and 22.
Note that any WPT passports won at WPT Japan can be redeemed for any WPT Korea tournaments from September 18-24.
JPU, led by Yabuuchi Nobuhiro, does a fabulous job running this event with excellent dealers, hosts, and tournament staff.
Japan Travel Tips: Currency
The currency in Japan is Japanese Yen (JPY), and $1 will get your approximately JPY111. Exchange rate counters are not so competitive, so I accessed Japanese Yen from my home country bank account through ATMs, which are in abundance.
Japan Travel Tips: Sights to See and Food to Eat
While English is not widely spoken, Tokyo is likely the friendliest and safest major city in the world. Highlights for me are the amazing array of food eateries, shopping, bright lights, the hustle and bustle of such a crowded city offset by beautiful parklands and shrines, and, of course, the Japanese people. Those joining WPT Japan should definitely combine some sightseeing with the poker.
Fly in a couple of days prior to the WPT Japan dates of September 15-17 to see some of the fabulous sights Tokyo has to offer and discover the amazing food options available. English is not spoken widely, but the friendliness, cleanliness, and safety of Tokyo will surely impress. It’s not difficult to make your way around, and you will be welcomed nicely.
Tokyo is a food fanatic’s heaven with so many options and price ranges to suit all budgets. Shibuya is blessed with a huge array of eateries and bars, so don’t hold back on indulging yourself on the goodness the region provides.
Touropia has a quality list of the top 10 tourist attractions in Tokyo and for me they are right on the mark.
The Shibuya Pedestrian Crossing makes the list, and my other favorites on this list in no particular order are Tokyo Imperial Palace, Akihabara, Meiji Shrine, and Tokyo Tower. Tokyo Imperial Palace is beautiful to walk around, so pick a nice day to enjoy it. Akihabara is worth visiting in the night time for the bright lights and maybe a drink or two. Meiji Shrine is close to Shibuya and has beautiful grounds and buildings to take a walk around. Tokyo Tower provides absolutely stunning views, but make sure you aim for a clear day to maximize your visit.
Japan Travel Tips: Transportation
Taxis are expensive from Narita and Haneda airports, so another option is the many comfortable coaches from Tokyo airports that will get you close to or at your hotel of choice. Alternatively, the Skyliner Express train from Narita airport might work for you depending on where you are staying.
The Tokyo Metro system is by far the most inexpensive way to travel around Tokyo, but be prepared that it gets a bit crowded. Despite being so crowded at times, the Japanese are always friendly on the Metro, as WPT Event Manager Cathy Zhao found out last year.
Japan Travel Tips: Hotels
There are a large variety of hotel options within walking distance to the WPT Japan venue. WPT staff will be staying at the Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu hotel located at Shibuya Mark City Building, 1-12-2, Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0043. It’s a fantastic location. But do note that hotel rooms are smaller in Tokyo compared to most other cities as space is a premium.
Should you decide to continue the WPT Asia Swing, there are more than 10 daily two-hour flights to Incheon from Tokyo to choose from, so you can join WPT Korea kicking off the very next day.
For more information on WPT Japan, check out the event hub on WPT.com.
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