Joshua Mellin

With Munetaka Murakami joining the White Sox alongside established Cubs favorites Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki, Chicago is rapidly emerging as a rival to Los Angeles for the title of America’s Japanese baseball epicenter. While the Dodgers naturally command the spotlight—fueled by recent championships and the star power of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Rōki Sasaki—Chicago offers a compelling alternative with elite talent on both sides of town. Los Angeles has already reaped a massive tourism windfall from its roster; now, Chicago stands on the verge of its own international boom. For any fan making the journey from Japan, the Windy City has become an absolute must-visit destination. To truly understand Chicago baseball, you have to experience both sides of town. Traveling between Rate and Wrigley Fields is famously easy, as the CTA Red Line directly connects the two (via the 35th Street and Addison stops, respectively), but the culture at each park is worlds apart. If you’re packing your bags for the season, you’ll want to know how to navigate the neighborhoods, hit the right dive bars and embrace the local traditions. Here is how to get the most out of your time and fit right in with the diehard fanbases on both the South and North sides. Both Chicago teams are defined by historic droughts and supernatural hexes. The White Sox endured 88 years to move past the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal, finally winning in 2005, while the Cubs waited 108 years to break the “Billy Go