Guide to watching JKT48: Part 1
by WasshoiJ · May 2, 2013
So I meant this more as a means of sharing tips on catching the JKT48 theater in Jakarta and as a complimentary add-on to the current Jakarta Travel Guide, rather than a formal guide. But anyway, here’s a couple more information written especially for you overseas fans who want to catch JKT48 for the first time.
1. Planning your trip
The best time to travel overseas for theater lives are during
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Member Birthday Shows
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Special events
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Long Weekends
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Flight Discounts
この記事は、公式なガイドというよりも僕の個人的なJKT48劇場訪問記であり、すでに掲載されているJakarta Travel Guideの補足でもある。初めてJKT48を見に行く海外在住ファンに役立てばと思う。
1. 旅行の計画を立てよう
劇場を訪れるに一番良いタイミングを色々考え合わせると、
●メンバーの生誕祭
●スペシャルイベント開催時
●週末に休暇がとれる場合
●ディスカウントチケットが入手出来る場合
I generally plan my leave or air flights around the above criteria. For example, if my oshimen birthday is around the corner (check their birthdates here), there would usually be a birthday show and special surprises. The Christmas and New Year period is also a good time for special shows during the lives, or a general important date, such as First generations birthday (November 2).
At other times, I would go during the long weekends with my friends because it shortens the number of actual leave you need to take and also because there are 2 shows every weekend so you can watch more too :3 Lastly, budget travel airlines like Jetstar have weekly promotions with cheap trips so do book a flight if its a reasonable price for you.
However, do note that everybody needs to pay an airport tax of IDR 150,000 each for the return flight at the check-in counter. More importantly, during the fasting month of Ramadhan, it is quite unclear how many shows will be regularly performed. There was no theater performance during the whole of that month last year, although at that time, the permanent theater hadn’t been set up yet. Perhaps there would only be the late evening shows, or maybe none. Do note this if you are coming during this period.
2. Applying for Tickets
Super Far tickets: Because it is difficult to win tickets (especially during such important events), it is important to apply for Super Far tickets because its gives you a better chance of securing the ticket and also a better seat if you do win. Instructions are available here.
During my last trip, my friend applied for Super Far tickets for a group of 3. However, we were given the option to redeem either 1 Super Far ticket (3rd row) or 3 normal tickets (random Bingo number assigned). So, if you’re going as a group, I’d suggest you decide whether you want to apply as an individual or as a group.
Official Fan Club (OFC): The guide for theater ticket application is available here but being OFC members gives you twice the chance of securing a ticket for the show you want to go. I recommend signing up for it especially if you want to catch a special show. Besides, OFC membership also allows you to apply for tickets to the many other OFC-exclusive events such as Dodgeball or Bowling with the members.
Waiting List (WL): Even if the unfortunate event happens in the case that you have flown over but couldn’t win any single ticket, a waiting list always pops up at every theater show. Staff would sell any uncollected tickets before the show to those in line in the waiting list but how long the line is, really varies.
So it would be best for you to come hours earlier (I queued from 10am to 7pm for the 2nd Gen first theater performance, an extreme example). Nonetheless, do check in with the staff on hand about the waiting list line. It doesn’t hurt to bring your passport too. If you are a girl, there is also a separate line for girls so it is a little bit less discomforting during the wait.
3. Accommodation and Travel in Jakarta
Angga’s travel guide has already listed out many tips on securing hotel and accommodation. If, however you’d like some recommendations for budget hostels, you can try Six Degrees. I had wanted to try it because of the good reviews. I had stayed at Rumah Shinta before too, and it was a simple and affordable place too (but just besides the heavy-traffic Jalan Mangga Dua road).
Traveling using the public bus system is cheap (IDR 3500 only) and it can get you anywhere within Jakarta, but it’s confusing if you don’t have a local to help you, and super crowded during peak hours. I’d recommend a taxi too, however, go for the tried, trusted and tested such as Blue Bird. I use Taxiku and Taxi Express sometimes too. They use the “argo” (meter) to calculate the cost of the cab fares. There are many other taxi and imitations around, so do watch out. (Plenty of helpful tips here.)
My worst mistake was having to drop off in the middle of an empty road at 5am in the morning because my friends and I had mistakenly got on a cab without the argo. Since we could not agree on a charge for the ride (we estimated the ride to be IDR 80,000 but the driver quoted us IDR 150,000 and was not willing to back down), we had no choice but to get off.
To avoid such situations, just get into the right taxi from the start. Luckily, we were in a group, but if you are alone and end up in the same situation, I think it’s still alright to pay a bit more to get to your destination (just be firm and negotiate the price), than get dropped off in the middle of nowhere and risk being lost.
If you are coming from the airport, look for the Blue Bird stand, the Blue Bird staff and also the Blue Bird logo (or its partnering Pusaka/Lintas). And prepare small denominations between IDR 7500 to IDR 12500 for payment at tolls (when using the highway). If you’re going to f(x) straight, it usually takes about an hour and costs around IDR 100,000 total. There is also an airport charge of IDR 10,000 (I think) for getting taxis this way but sometimes the staff do forget to tell you. Anyway, if you are happy with the drivers, feel free to leave them a small tip (sometimes I give IDR 10,000 – 20,000) or just forget about the small change.
With the recent floods back in action, it becomes an important criteria to select accommodation that are not prone to flood areas. If possible, keep a lookout for these when reading reviews. Also, do note that traffic jams frequently occur so do travel out an hour or so earlier, and avoid the peak morning and evening hours.
End of Part 1: Well, this marks the end of part 1 of the guide to watching JKT48. The next parts would entail on things to do while waiting for the theater and also, in Jakarta. If you have other tips that you feel would be important for overseas fans or first-timers, do share your thoughts here through the comment section. Likewise, if you have suggestions for other tips for the Part 2 of this guide, do comment too. Cheers.
僕は以上の条件を色々勘案して出発日や航空券手配の計画を立てる。例えば、僕の押しメンの誕生日はもうすぐなんだけど、だいたいは誕生祭のサプライズがあったりする。クリスマスとかお正月もスペシャルショーがあるから狙い目だ。JKT48の一周年記念の日(11月2日)なんかも言うまでもなく重要なタイミングだ。
それ以外の日でも週末に友人と一緒に行くというのもいい。週末にはいつも大概2公演行われるので滞在時間を有効に使える。それにジェットスターみたいなLCCは週末割引をやってることも多いから財布にも優しいしね。
そうそう、帰途はチェックインカウンターで150,000ルピア(約1,500円)を空港税として払わなければならないことも覚えておいて。もうひとつ留意しなければならないのは、ラマダン月(2013年は7月上旬から8月上旬の見込み)は公演の日程が不確かになること。去年のその期間は、まだ仮設劇場だったけど公演はすべて取りやめになった。日没後に公演がある可能性もないことはないけど、この期間は要注意だ。
2. 公演チケットを購入しよう。
<超遠方チケット>について;チケットの入手は結構難しい(さっき言ったような特別なイベントのある日は特に)だから<超遠方チケット>を入手することが大変大事になってくる。このチケットを入手すれば安心だし良い席も優遇してもらえる。
この前、僕の友達が3人グループとして<超遠方チケット>を申し込んだんだけど、でも優遇は1枚だけで(3列目の席)で、さもなくば3枚とも普通席(ビンゴナンバーで決める)にするかどうかを選べと言われた。グループで行こうと考えているなら、そのあたりは事前に考慮しておいたほうがよいと思う。
<公式ファンクラブ(OFC)>について;OFCに入会すると、チケット入手のチャンスが倍になる。特別公演に行きたい場合はぜひ入会しておくことをお勧めする。入会するとドッジボールやボーリングなどメンバーと楽しめる色んな会員限定イベントへも参加出来る。
<ウエィティング・リスト(WL)>について;運悪くチケット入手に失敗した場合は、劇場でのウエィティング・リスト(空席待ち)という手がある。毎回空席待ちの列が出来るけど混み具合は色々だ。
だからなるべく早く劇場に来たほうがよい(二期生の初公演の時なんかは朝10時から夜の7時まで並んだよ)でも必ず担当のスタッフに列を確認してから並ぶこと。パスポートも持ってたほうがいいかな。女性の場合は別な列があるので、そこに並ぶと少し混雑がましかもしれない。
3.ジャカルタでの宿泊と移動手段
すでにアンガさんの書いたトラベルガイドに、ホテルや宿泊手段についても色々出ている。もし、格安のホテルについて知りたいのなら、Six Degrees(バックパッカーのための宿泊ガイド)をチェックしたらよい。前に僕が泊まったのはRumah Shinta、シンプルだけど手頃なホテルだと思う(大通りの側なので車の騒音がうるさいけど)
路線バスを使うと安いし(35円均一)ジャカルタ中どこへでも行けるけど、地元の人と一緒でないとちょっと無理だろう。ラッシュは無茶苦茶混んでるし。だからタクシーを使うことを勧める。その場合はBlue Birdタクシーのようなしっかりしたところを選ぶように。僕はTaxiku やTaxi Expressも時々使う。これらはちゃんとArgo(メーター)を倒すけど、他にも沢山タクシー会社はあって、なかには怪しげなのもあるから注意すること。
失敗談だけど、早朝5時に誰もいない道路に友人たちと置き去りにされたことがある。メーターのないタクシーに間違って乗って、値段交渉をしたんだけどうまくいかなかった(僕らは80,000ルピーくらいと思ったけど、運転手は150,000ルピーをふっかけてきて譲らなかった)降りるほかなかったよ。
そんな事態を避けるために、タクシーに乗るときはしっかり確かめること。僕らはグループだったけど、一人旅でそんな風になったら少しばかりは妥協して上乗せしたほうがいいかも。見知らぬ場所で降ろされて迷子になっても困るからね。
空港から直接来るなら、まずBlue Birdタクシーの乗り場を探そう。小銭を7500ルピーから12500ルピー程度準備しておいたほうがよい(高速料金用) f(X)へ直接向うと、だいいたいいつも1時間くらいで100,000ルピー(約1000円)程度。それに空港発のタクシーは空港使用料が確か10,000ルピー(約100円)ほど加算される。乗車案内の係員が言い忘れることもあるので覚えておこう。気のいい運転手にあたった場合はチップも忘れずに(僕はいつも10,000~20,000ルピー)、小銭を持っておこう。
この前の大洪水のことを考えると、洪水危険地帯のホテルを避けるべく事前に情報を色々収集したほうがよい。それと朝と夕方は交通渋滞が頻繁に発生するので、ラッシュを避けた上で一時間かそこらは余裕を持って行動すること。
以上がパート1;これでJKT48観劇ガイドのパート1はおしまい。パート2では、劇場でのことやジャカルタ滞在に関わる諸々を紹介する予定。もし、海外ファンや初めての劇場初心者のために、もっと知りたいことや、自分の持ってる情報があるならぜひコメント欄に書いて欲しい。パート2で取り上げて欲しい事もあればそれもよろしく。
Japanese Translation by Tokyo Pop
Great article mate! Thanks for the hard work!
Hope this article could help overseas who would like to visit the theater.
Oh and be very careful when exchanging your money
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Oh and this just in from Anon-san through Twitter DM :
1. Ojek (Bike Taxi) is convenience and could help you going through Jakarta traffic very fast. But not recommended for overseas fans (Although Anon-san himself is an overseas-fan from Japan )
That Ojek method above is recommended for those seeking for adventure or one with a daredevil nature like. Someone like Anon-san himself who goes with Ojek during his stays in Jakarta to watch JKT48 Theater
Cool this is the first time I’ve heard about this Ojek. Would be pretty interesting to try it out at least (save fot the air pollution!) Someone post a guide!
Please don’t..
Fast indeed, but your life is at stake (ojek skills could make valentino rossi look like an amateur)
It won’t be funny if tomorrow newspaper headline is about an overseas fan having accident while going to fx by ojek..
Like what Benimaru said, please don’t Ros
If you’re unlucky, you could get a totally delusional rider that think himself as Valentino Rossi. I remember going from Depok to Cilandak (Around 20KM) in just a mere 15 minutes going a hundred KM/h in a road full of cars and buses my knees won’t stop shivering an hour after that
OK,Japanese translation ASAP.
Appreciate it Pop but my apologies for such a lengthy one >< Hope its useful enough for new travellers
This is great! I’m planning to go to Jakarta too in a few months. Hopefully I could catch a show or two. And maybe contribute a theater report?
That would be pretty awesome. Feel free to contact stuff and contribute your theater report! Looking forward to your experience!
Awesome! Couldn’t wait for your report!
Thanks guys! I’ll probably be going at the end of September. There’s no birthday celebration around that time (oh well!) but it’s the only period I can get off work. I also just applied for OFC to increase my chances at getting tickets.
I’ll be sure to contact you guys if I do get to see a show.
i want to give some information about ojek. i hope this info help foreigner.
1. ojek is person who ride motorbike that mean you safe from trafic jam because they can slip between car.
2. basicly one ojek for one people only but don’t be suprise if sometimes you see more than 2 people ride on one motorbike.
3. ojek dont have “argo” (meter) to calculate cost of the ojek fares, (the cost depend on ojek rider based on how far you destination).
4. you will have problem to communicate because most of ojek rider can’t talk english language.
5. always ask how much the cost first and every ojek have different rate. if you dont like the rate go to different ojek station that give more cheap rates.
6. you can find ojek station in every corner in jakarta.
7. ojek not ilegal and i can’t say they legal either so if something bad happen to you there’s no place to complain because they dont have company
8. you will get more polution because you ride on motorbike especially polution from bus (taxi is free from polution because you are inside the car)
9. i’m not recomend ojek, but that’s your choice.
it would be good if your hotel near FX mall and if not you can go 3 or 2 hour early so you don’t have to worry about traffic jam. if you really come too early you still can eat or walk around in FX mall. they have many store in FX mall that sell food, clothes, and gift with low price (based on rupiah currency) so you can buy a lot of gift to your family and friend (merchandise from JKT48 would be good)
Thanks for the info mate!
If you’re travelling in a really tight budget, you could also take DAMRI bus with Soekarno Hatta – Blok M route that departed every 15-30 minutes. it’ll go straight to the Sudirman street from the airport. The fare is just Rp 20.000 (About $2)
how long it takes from Soekarno Hatta to f(x) or GBK?
if the traffic wasn’t that bad? about an hour and half or less since they’re going through the Jakarta’s inner ring toll road. but it could took two hour if you’re not lucky with the traffic.
oh, by the way. I remember that i saw this black premium taxi that parked in Century Athlete Hotel beside f(x). maybe you could use it as an alternative (if you had the budget), it’s White Horse Premium Cab. http://www.whitehorse.co.id/ratesTaxi.php?
Well, fX Sudirman, despite its small size for a shopping mall in Indonesia (Yeah, It is small, comparing it to Pondok Indah Mall 1 & 2 or CIputra/Taman Anggrek) there are many things you can do while waiting the show begin :
Wanna eat something? Try these places :
1. Foodcourt, located in f5 (fifth floor?) there you can have Bakso, Nasi Goreng, Steak, Chinese Cuisine. Sometimes the members eat there too, while waiting between shows. Prices are between : IDR25000 to IDR 35000. Since it’s located just one floor above the theater, You could check the situation easily. Some fans trade photosets or watching AKB48 videos there.
2. Kopitiam QQ . located in the first floor, (f1) Price range between IDR 20000 to IDR 40000. It’s located near the front door of the shopping mall. A good place to chitchat before and after show , try some Nasi Goreng or Bihoon Goreng. Sometimes they play AKB48 songs, maybe one of the people working there is a fan lol.
3.Pazia , f6 (sixth floor). I never go there, but some fans do hangout there, chit chat or trading photosets.
You bring gifts to your oshimen, and you forgot to wrap it up? Don’t you worry, there’s a gift shop next to the theater. Sometimes fans wrapped their presents here, or just bought cards and envelops to write a fanletter.
There’s also Cinema and Karaoke Place in f7 (seventh floor) , a perfect way to spend the time if you arrive to early
if u wanna an example what is Ojek.
u can see from JKT48 – Heavy Rotation PV.
there, Cleo took an Ojek because she trapped with Traffic Jam & that make she late for school.
sorry for my bad English
WasshoiJ-san, Tokyo Pop-san,
Great job! Otsukare Sendy~!
Thanks Japarta san! And much thanks to Tokyo Pop san too :DDD
The pleasure has been mine,very nice article.
Japarta san,
ArigatoShanju~!
Additionally, please relax in the cafe where I work, “Pazia cafe” fx 6th floor.
I was a barista “coffee maker” in the cafe, and of course I also JKT48 fans, all fans definitely know my place and many fans who also know me, then we can get to know fellow fans,
you can find me there, my name is Rosi (not Valentino Rosi)
My twitter account : @rosirazer
sorry bad english -_-