Guidelines for all contestants

• Registration & Drawing of Lots etc.
• Announcement of Results
• Recording
• Practice
• Listening to the Performances
• Other Events
• Competition-Related Facilities

■Registration & Participation Information

(1)Registration
Tuesday, 22 September (National Holiday) 15:00–18:00 at the Competition Desk (2nd floor co-working space), Super hotel Premier Akasaka (Address: 3-16-7 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052)

Wednesday, 23 September (National Holiday) 13:00–14:00 at the DAYS Akasakamitsuke 5th floor meeting room (the venue of the drawing of lots / Address: 3-9-1 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052)

All Contestants are required to complete registration at either location listed above.
At the time of registration, please pay the entry fee of JPY20,000 in Japanese yen, cash only. Contestants who fail to complete registration by this deadline will forfeit the right to participate in the Preliminary Round. 

To all international contestants: We will deduct 20,000 yen in advance from the airfare reimbursement that will be paid to each of you in cash, so no need to bring the entry fee of JPY 20,000 in Japanese yen in cash with you.

(2)Emergency Contact
In case of an emergency, please contact the address or number below:
E-mail : contestant@tmcimc.jp
TEL: (+81) 80-6150-9468

(3)Drawing of Lots
A drawing will be held on Wednesday, 23 September (National Holiday) at 14:00, in the DAYS Akasakamitsuke 5^th floor meeting room. All Contestants are required to attend.
Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EDGjFkTEDwMDxxd4A

Example: If the person with ID15 draws the “1,” that person will perform first in the preliminary round, followed by ID16, ID17, and so on.

(4)ID Number & Performance Order
　(1)Each Contestant will be assigned a unique ID Number, which will appear alongside their name in official materials such as the competition programme and public schedule.
　(2)The performance order will be determined by a drawing held after registration on 23 September. This number is used solely to manage the sequence of stage appearances and will not published in the official programme, public schedule, or other official materials.

(6)Stage Rehearsals
Each contestant will be given a 5-minute stage rehearsal on the day before the preliminary round (either in the morning or evening) to try out the piano. Please check your assignment after the drawing and come to the venue at the designated time. On the day of your stage rehearsal, please check in at the Competition Desk located in the Auditorium. Please note that late arrivals will result in forfeiture of your rehearsal slot.

PDF: https://secretary.tmcimc.jp/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/soundcheck32.pdf

(7)On the day of Performance – the Final
Venue: Suntory Hall Main hall
Address: 1-13-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo (5min from Roppongi-itchome station / 10min from Tameike-sanno station)
Wednesday, 30 September at 18:00 (Doors open 17:00)

(8)Notification
Please note that any contact with Jury members is strictly prohibited from Thursday, 24 September, onward, once the judging process begins.

■Announcement of Results

(1)Preliminary Round Results Announcement
The results of the Preliminary Round will be announced at 16:30 (tentative) on Saturday, 26 September, in the lobby of the International University of Health and Welfare Tokyo Akasaka Campus, Building E, 2nd Floor, Auditorium

All Contestants are required to attend. Companions are also welcome.
Further instructions for Semi-finalists will be announced by email.

* Non-Advancing Contestants who stays in the official hotel will check out the hotel by 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, 27 September.

(2)Semi-final Results Announcement
The results of the Semi-final will be announced at 18:30 (tentative) on Monday, 28 September, in the lobby of the International University of Health and Welfare Tokyo Akasaka Campus, Building E, 2nd Floor, Auditorium

All Contestants are required to attend. Companions are also welcome.

Immediately following the announcement, a guidance session will be held for those advancing to the Final. Individual schedules, rehearsal schedule with the orchestra will be provided at a later time.

The finalists will perform about 10 minutes on Thursday, 1 October, and we will ask them for their performance piece titles during the guidance session.

* Non-Advancing Contestants who stays in the official hotel will check out the hotel by 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 30 September.

(3)Jury Feedback Session
(Interactive session between Jury members and Contestants who did not advance to the Semi-final or Final rounds)

The competition offers a feedback session for Contestants who did not advance to the Semi-final or Final rounds. Attendance is not mandatory, but we warmly encourage participation, as this is a valuable opportunity to receive comments directly from the Jury. Companions are also welcome to attend.

■Recording

Video Recording will be conducted for streaming and archival purposes. Cameras may be placed both in the auditorium and on stage.

• Preliminary Round: Recording only
• Semi-final & Final: Livestreamed

■Practice

(1)Official practice session
For foreign contestants from overseas, we will provide practice sessions lasting 60 minutes on Wednesday, 23 September and 90 minutes each day from Thursday, 24 September through Tuesday, 29 September.

If you wish to practice, please reserve a lesson room via the URL below.
Reservation for 23 September is available from today 11 September until 11:59 PM Japan Standard Time on the 18 September from the following link for free. Please note that time slots after 6:00 PM overlap with the welcome reception. Each slot is 60 minutes and reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lesson room booking : https://secretary.tmcimc.jp/booking/

How to book:
Available slots are shown in blue. Please select your preferred lesson room and time slot, then submit the completed form. A confirmation email will be sent to you automatically.
Please present the confirmation email to the venue staff upon arrival. We appreciate your understanding that we may not be able to accommodate all requests.
For additional practice, please arrange a room on your own.

The 90-minute rehearsals on the 24th and 25th have already been scheduled based on the performance order, so please check your assignment after the drawing and come to the studio at the designated time.
Foreign contestants from overseas who wish to practice outside of the 90-minute practice session may reserve and use lesson rooms of the studios arranged by our secretary via the same link for a fee. (Credit card payments only.)　We will send another email with details on when booking via the link will open. (Currently, only the 23rd is available.)

Once the order of appearance has been determined, we will notify you of the start date and time for reservations for available slots for additional practice.

* Please refrain from eating or drinking in the studios.

(2)Orchestral Rehearsal
Finalists will have a rehearsal with the orchestra on the day before the Final (29 September). The allocation of rehearsal time will be at the conductor’s discretion.

■Listening to the Performances

(1)Contestants
Contestants may attend all performances. Please bring your ID card and inform the competition desk of your wish to attend. You will be guided to the designated seating area. Name card must be shown upon entry.

(2) Companions
Companions may attend the performances free of charge only on the day their associated contestant performs, in the designated seating area. Please inform the competition desk of your wish to attend.
For other dates, tickets are required. Please ask at the competition desk

Tickets may be purchased via the following website.
https://teket.jp/g/0bglae14pv
(Ticket-the Tokyo MINATO CITY International Music Competition & Workshop)

(3)Companions access during Rehearsals and Performances
The following outlines the areas companions may enter within competition-related facilities:
Upon entering the facility, please check in at the competition desk.
Companions must wear a guest ID card and return it upon departure.

Event	Access for Companions
Stage Rehearsal （Preliminary Round only）	Not permitted on stage or in the auditorium. Access to stage wings is allowed.
Orchestral Rehearsal	Access is permitted in rehearsal Studio, in the auditorium only for their associated contestant the rehearsal. Not permitted on stage or stage wings.
Final	Not permitted on stage or stage wings.
Rehearsal room and Waiting room	Access is permitted.

■Other Events

(1) Official reception (welcome party)
Date: Wednesday, 23 September 2026 (National holiday)
Time: Start at 19:00 (Reception opens at 18:30)
Venue: Sumitomo Kaikan
Address: Izumi Garden tower 42F, 1-6-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (directly connected to Roppongi-itchome Station)

* Please refrain from wearing overly casual clothing, such as distressed jeans, flip-flops, and clothing that reveals too much skin.
* The contestants gather at the co-working space on the 2nd floor of the official hotel at 18:15 can take a taxi to the venue. (Otherwise please come directly to the venue by yourself).
Companions of the foreign contestants from overseas are welcome to attend. (Please let the competition’ secretary know in advance by 16th Sep. by email if you wish to attend with your companion)

(2) Awards Ceremony (2026 Piano Section)
Date: Thursday, 1 October 2026 at 10:00
Venue: Minato-ku, Azabu Civic Center
Address: Azabu Regional City Office, 5-16-45 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

* All seats are non-reserved. Advance registration is required. Please inform the competition desk if you wish to attend.

Emergency Procedures: Earthquake

If the organizer stops your performance, leave the stage to the stage right. 
Both the competition venues and the official hotel meet earthquake resistance standards. Please remain calm, do not panic, protect your head, and stay away from fragile items such as windows, or heavy movable objects such as pianos. Do not rush outside, and do not use the elevators. If you are in a hotel, make sure to put on your shoes and evacuate after the shaking stops.Evacuation guides and an emergency medical technician will be stationed at each venue for the preliminary rounds, semifinals, and finals.

■Competition-Related Facilities

1.Hall

(1)International University of Health and WelfareTokyo Akasaka Campus（Preliminary round・Semi-final）
Address: 4-1-26 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8402, Japan
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kUYwvTNLk9RfUAuV6

Location:
5min from Akasakamitsuke station Exit A (Ginza line, Marunouchi line)
5min from Nagatacho station Exit A (Yurakucho line, Hanzomon line, Nanboku line)

7min from SUPER HOTELPremier Akasaka (Official hotel of the TMCIMC Competition)

●International University of Health and WelfareTokyo Akasaka Campus Hall Layout Map

Take the left-side escalator (1F) in the Tokyo Akasaka Campus to the 2nd floor.
Auditorium: https://www.kotobuki-seating.co.jp/projects/list/detail.html?pdid1=00924

(2)Suntory Hall Main Hall （Final）
Address: 1-13-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Web: https://www.suntory.co.jp/suntoryhall/
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dZ8jagQunmK6UPPG8

(3) Minato-ku, Azabu Civic Center （Award ceremony）
Address: Azabu Regional City Office, 5-16-45 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZP17NpMdbJGhXXho6

2.STUDIOS

(1)KAWAI OMOTESANDO (Official Practice Venue)
Address: 5-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Web: https://shop.kawai.jp/omotesando/　・　https://shop.kawai.jp/omotesando/floor/2f.html
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eK4yZ3jyBnFoTKBx9

(2)Sound Studio NOAH – Akasaka (Official Practice Venue)
Address: 2F, 3-13-11 Minato-ku, Tokyo (It’s about a 5-minute walk straight ahead from the official hotel toward Akasaka Station)
Web: https://www.studionoah.jp/akasaka/
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PkyfDXCdmWkvqEE89
Tel: +81-3-3589-6211

Access
1 min. from Akasaka station exit 1 (Chiyoda-line)
7 min. from Akasakamitsuke station exit 10 (Bellevie Akasa) (Ginza line, Marunouchi line)
7 min. from Tameike-sanno station exit 7 (Ginza line, Nanboku line)

(3)Sound Studio NOAH – Ginza (Official Practice Venue)
Address: 3-9-2 Ginza, 2nd Floor, Chūō-ku, Tokyo
Web: https://www.studionoah.jp/ginza/
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mbRM8cXugpoQTZZs9
Tel: +81-3-3524-2155

Access
5min. from Ginza station exit A13 (Ginza line, Hibiya line, Marunouchi line)
→　Turn left after exiting A13. Walk straight until you see the Louis Vuitton shop, then turn right onto Marronnier Street. Continue straight until you see Yoshisoba on your right. The reception is located on the 2nd floor.

2min. from Ginza-itchome station exit 11 (Yurakucho line)
→ Turn right after exiting and walk straight. After passing McDonald’s, you’ll find Yoshisoba ahead to the left. The reception is located on the 2nd floor.

(4)Sound Studio NOAH – Akihabara (Official Practice Venue)
Open 24 hours a day has 8 piano studios
Address: 6-14-8 Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Web: https://www.studionoah.jp/akihabara/
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CeFXR9An8UyuWf1P9
Tel: +81-3-5816-8383

Access
In front of the Suehirocho station exit 4 (Ginza line) 7min. from Akihabara station exit Electric town

3.Hotel

SUPER HOTELPremier Akasaka (Official hotel of the TMCIMC Competition)
Address: 3-16-7 Akasaka, Minato Ward, Tokyo　107-0052　
Web: https://www.superhoteljapan.com/en/s-hotels/akasaka/
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ppw9Y33Z7LL5iE9q8
Tel: (+81) 3-6843-9000

Access
3 min. from Akasaka station Exit 1 (Chiyoda Line)
4 min. from Akasaka-mitsuke station (Elevator to Sanno-shita Gate) (Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line)
9 min. from Kokkai-gijidomae station Exit 5 (Chiyoda Line, Marunouchi Line)
9 min. from Tameike-sanno station Exit 5 (Ginza Line, Namboku Line)
10 min. from Nagatacho station Exit 9a (Yurakucho Line, Hanzomon Line, Namboku Line)

Notice
(1)Check In: 15:00 Check Out: 10:00

(3)Accommodation Room Adjustment
Room changes may be required on the day following the last day of the Preliminary Round and the Semi-final.
If so, please follow the instructions provided by the hotel staff.

(4)Cost Coverage

Costs Covered by the Organizer	Room charges for Contestants from check-in to check-out dates, as specified in section (5) below. Breakfast at the official hotel during the above period.
Costs Borne by Contestants	All expenses not listed above, including but not limited to lunch, dinner, telephone charges, and laundry services.

* The organizer will not cover any costs for companions.
* Regarding payment of Contestant (Extended stays) and companion expenses, please inquire directly at the hotel front desk.

(5)Checkout
Please complete your checkout by the dates listed below.

Contestant Status	Checkout Deadline
Those not proceeding to the Semi-final	by 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, 27 September, 2026
Those not proceeding to the Final	by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 29 September, 2026
Finalists & Prize Winners	by 10:00 a.m. on Friday, 2 October, 2026

* If you stay beyond 10:00 a.m. on your designated checkout date, additional charges will apply and must be covered by the guest.

(6)Transportation Fares
For train travel between the hotel, practice venues, and concert halls, an IC card will be provided by the competition office. Please use it at ticket gates as needed, and be sure to return the card to the Contestant Desk (located in the hall lobby) or to a designated staff member after use.

Please make your own arrangements for transportation from the airport to the hotel. If you would like advice on how to get to the hotel, please contact us at contestant@tmcimc.jp by 18 September.

(7)Hotel Facilities

All the rooms are Non-smoking (The smoking area is located on the second-floor terrace.)

Coin laundry / Full bathroom / Wi-Fi / Trouser press / Tea / Pajamas / Skincare amenities (female only) / Desk lamp / Bath towel and face towel / LAN cable (in each room)

Alarm clock / Refrigerator / Multi-device portable charger / Deodorant spray / Makeup mirror / TV set / TV (except theater room)

TMCIMC SECRETARY
09:00-21:00 (Weekday: excluding the competition period) contestant@tmcimc.jp

Contents