The Biggest Trade Shows in Japan: 16 Major Exhibitions for 2027

Japan runs hundreds of trade shows every year. RX Japan, the country's largest organizer, runs more than 100 exhibitions a year on its own. But a small group of very large shows attracts most of the international exhibitors and buyers. If you sell into Japan, one of these shows is usually where your customers, your competitors and your future partners meet.

This list covers 16 of the biggest B2B trade shows in Japan. For each show you get the next edition dates (2027 where the organizer has announced them), the venue and the latest scale figures published by the organizer. Use it to build a short list. Then compare shows side by side before you commit a budget.

The biggest trade shows in Japan at a glance

The table follows the 2027 calendar. For shows held late in the year whose 2027 dates are not yet published, the 2026 dates are shown as a guide.

Which is the biggest trade show in Japan?

There is no single answer. It depends on whether you count visitors, exhibitors or international reach.

By visitors

• Japan Mobility Show: 1.01 million visitors in 2025. Most of them are consumers, so this number says little about business meetings.
• Tokyo Game Show: 257,642 visitors over four days in 2026, even after a typhoon closed the fifth day. The first two days were for business visitors only.
• Tokyo International Gift Show: 219,261 visitors at the autumn 2025 show. This is the highest visitor figure among the trade-only shows on this list.
• JIMTOF: 129,018 visitors in 2024, including 10,423 from overseas.
• SEMICON Japan: 121,267 attendances in 2025. This total includes exhibitor staff.

By exhibitors

• FOODEX JAPAN: 3,238 exhibitors in 2026
• Tokyo International Gift Show: 2,978 exhibitors in autumn 2025
• NEPCON JAPAN: 1,800 exhibitors forecast for 2027
• SMART ENERGY WEEK: 1,477 exhibitors in spring 2026
• JIMTOF: 1,268 exhibitors in 2024
• SEMICON Japan: 1,216 exhibitors in 2025

By international reach

• FOODEX JAPAN: 2,126 of its 3,238 exhibitors in 2026 came from overseas, about two in every three.
• Tokyo International Gift Show: 996 overseas exhibitors from 23 countries and regions in autumn 2025.
• SMART ENERGY WEEK: 619 international exhibitors from 42 countries and regions in spring 2026.
• Tokyo Game Show: exhibitors from 53 countries and regions in 2026.
• iREX: 10,147 overseas visitors from 95 countries and regions in 2025.

The biggest show is not always the best show for you. A large show brings more visitors, but it is also harder to stand out in. The sections below explain what each show is for, so you can judge the fit.

Electronics, semiconductors and IT

SEMICON Japan

Tokyo Big Sight · usually December · Organizer: SEMI

SEMICON Japan is the Japanese edition of SEMI's global SEMICON series, which also runs in the United States, Europe, Korea, Taiwan and China. It covers the whole semiconductor supply chain: manufacturing equipment, materials, design, packaging and end applications. The 2025 edition had 1,216 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions, and the organizer counted 121,267 attendances over three days. The 2026 edition runs 9–11 December 2026.

Japan is especially strong in semiconductor equipment and materials, so many visitors are engineers and procurement teams. Expect detailed technical questions at your booth.

Best for: equipment, materials and component suppliers to chipmakers, and companies looking for Japanese technology partners. Compare NEPCON JAPAN vs SEMICON Japan.

NEPCON JAPAN

Tokyo Big Sight · 17–19 February 2027 · Organizer: RX Japan

NEPCON JAPAN is one of Asia's main shows for electronics R&D, manufacturing and packaging technology. It is made up of eight specialized shows, including printed wiring boards, IC and sensor packaging, and power devices. For 2027 the Tokyo show moves from January to 17–19 February. RX Japan forecasts 1,800 exhibitors and 88,000 visitors. Visitors can usually enter the concurrent RX shows in the same halls with one registration.

NEPCON also runs regional editions in Osaka (May), Makuhari Messe (September) and Nagoya (November). These are smaller and can be a lower-risk first test of the Japanese market.

Best for: SMT, PCB, electronic components, test and inspection, and packaging technology.

CEATEC

Makuhari Messe · 19–22 October 2027 · Organizer: JEITA

CEATEC is one of Japan's largest exhibitions for digital innovation, covering electronics, IT, communications and their use across industries. Entry is free, but every visitor must register online in advance. In 2025 CEATEC had 810 exhibitors, including 156 from 29 overseas countries and regions, and 98,884 registered visitors. In 2026 it ran together with Japan Mobility Show Bizweek and reached 112,373 visitors with 821 exhibitors.

CEATEC has a large area for startups, universities and research institutions (232 exhibitors in this group in 2025). It suits companies that want co-development partners as well as buyers. Note that CEATEC 2027 overlaps with MECT in Nagoya.

Best for: digital and AI solutions, electronic components, startups and open-innovation partnerships.

Japan IT Week

Tokyo Big Sight · 7–9 April 2027 (spring) · Organizer: RX Japan

Japan IT Week calls itself Japan's largest exhibition for system development, operations and maintenance. It has seven specialized shows, including information security, embedded and edge AI, and AI infrastructure and data centers. The spring 2027 show runs with Japan DX Week, Sales & Digital Marketing Week and E-commerce & Store Week, with 1,200 exhibitors planned across all four.

Japan IT Week runs four times a year: Tokyo in April, Makuhari Messe in October, Osaka in November and Nagoya in July. The organizer promotes the show as a place to meet local sales partners, so many overseas software and IT service companies use it to find Japanese resellers and system integrators.

Best for: software, cybersecurity, IoT, data centers and IT outsourcing.

Interop Tokyo

Makuhari Messe · 9–11 June 2027 · Organizer: Interop Tokyo Executive Committee

Interop Tokyo has been Japan's main event for internet and network technology since 1994. Its best-known feature is ShowNet, a live network that the organizers and exhibitors build and run inside the venue to test how products work together. In 2026, 672 companies and organizations exhibited, including at concurrent shows such as Digital Signage Japan, and 143,312 visitors were reported. The organizer expects about 150,000 visitors for 2027.

Best for: network equipment, data center, cloud, security and digital signage companies.

Manufacturing, machinery and robotics

JIMTOF

Tokyo Big Sight · even years (next after 2026: 2028) · Organizers: JMTBA and Tokyo Big Sight Inc.

JIMTOF is Japan's largest machine tool fair and one of the largest in the world. It has run every two years since 1962. JIMTOF 2024 used all of Tokyo Big Sight and had 1,268 exhibitors (including co-exhibitors), 5,744 booths and 129,018 visitors, of whom 10,423 came from overseas. The 2026 edition runs 26–31 October 2026.

Best for: machine tools, cutting tools, measuring instruments, CNC and factory automation.

MECT

Port Messe Nagoya · 20–23 October 2027 · Organizer: News Digest Publishing

MECT (Mechatronics Technology Japan) runs in odd years in Nagoya, the center of Japan's automotive and aerospace manufacturing region. The 2023 edition had 490 exhibitors on 2,101 booths and 77,225 visitors. In 2025 the show filled all three halls of Port Messe Nagoya.

JIMTOF (Tokyo, even years) and MECT (Nagoya, odd years) alternate. A machine tool company can therefore exhibit at a major Japanese show every year.

Best for: machine tools and automation suppliers that sell to the Chubu manufacturing region.

iREX — International Robot Exhibition

Tokyo Big Sight · every two years (next: 2027, dates TBC) · Organizers: Japan Robot Association and Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun

iREX has been held every two years since 1974 and is one of the largest robot exhibitions in the world. iREX 2025 (3–6 December 2025) had 673 exhibitors, the most in its history, and 10,147 overseas visitors from 95 countries and regions. It covers industrial robots, service robots, component technologies and a dedicated zone for robot system integrators.

Best for: robot makers, component suppliers (sensors, reducers, grippers) and system integrators.

Food and beverage

FOODEX JAPAN

Tokyo Big Sight · 9–12 March 2027 · Organizer: Japan Management Association

FOODEX JAPAN is Japan's largest international food and beverage exhibition, and the most international show on this list. In 2026 it had 3,238 exhibitors, 2,126 of them from overseas, and 73,842 visitors. Many overseas producers take part through national or regional pavilions, which makes it easier for smaller companies to join. Visitors include importers, wholesalers, retailers, restaurant groups and hotel buyers.

Best for: food and drink producers looking for Japanese importers and distributors. Compare FOODEX JAPAN vs Supermarket Trade Show.

Supermarket Trade Show

Makuhari Messe · 17–19 February 2027 · Organizer: National Supermarket Association of Japan

The Supermarket Trade Show (SMTS) is the main meeting point for Japan's supermarket industry. Buyers come from supermarket chains, other retailers and wholesalers. The 2026 show drew about 81,000 visitors. Unlike FOODEX, most visitors are focused on what goes on Japanese store shelves now. The show suits products that are already ready for Japan, with Japanese labels and a local importer in place. The 2027 show is three weeks before FOODEX.

Best for: food products with a Japanese importer, and suppliers of store equipment and services.

FOOMA JAPAN

Tokyo Big Sight · 8–11 June 2027 · Organizer: Japan Food Machinery Manufacturers' Association

FOOMA JAPAN covers food manufacturing technology: processing and packaging machines, hygiene, inspection and robotics. FOOMA JAPAN 2026 had a record 1,056 exhibitors and more than 67,000 visitors. In the organizer's survey, 92.9% of exhibitors said visitors matched their target customers. The 2027 show is the 50th edition and will use all eight East Halls at Tokyo Big Sight.

Exhibitor applications for 2027 ran from 1 September to 15 October 2026. If you missed them, plan now for 2028.

Best for: food processing and packaging machinery, inspection systems, hygiene and automation.

Energy

SMART ENERGY WEEK

Tokyo Big Sight · 24–26 March 2027 (spring) · Organizer: RX Japan

SMART ENERGY WEEK brings seven shows under one roof: hydrogen and fuel cells, solar power, rechargeable batteries, smart grids, wind, biomass and next-generation thermal power. The spring 2026 Tokyo show had 1,477 exhibitors, 619 of them from 42 countries and regions, and used all the East, West and South Halls of Tokyo Big Sight.

The show runs three times a year: Tokyo in March, Makuhari Messe in September and Osaka in November. RX Japan says most visitors to the Tokyo editions come from eastern Japan, which is one reason it also runs an Osaka edition for western Japan.

Best for: renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen and grid technology.

Consumer goods, media and mobility

Tokyo International Gift Show

Tokyo Big Sight · 24–26 February 2027 (spring) and September (autumn) · Organizer: Business Guide-Sha

The Tokyo International Gift Show (TIGS) is Japan's largest trade fair for personal gifts and lifestyle goods. It runs twice a year. The autumn 2025 show had 2,978 exhibitors, including 996 from 23 overseas countries and regions, and 219,261 visitors. The spring 2026 show had 1,584 exhibitors and 144,500 visits. Entry is for trade visitors from the gift and lifestyle retail and wholesale sector. Many Japanese cities and prefectures run group booths here for their local makers.

Best for: gifts, homeware, stationery, accessories and design goods.

Tokyo Game Show

Makuhari Messe · September (2027 dates TBC) · Organizer: CESA

Tokyo Game Show is one of the world's largest video game events. The 30th edition in September 2026 had a record 1,138 exhibitors from 53 countries and regions on 3,999 booths. The first two days were business days, followed by public days. A typhoon closed the final day, but the show still counted 257,642 visitors over four days (2025: 263,101). Publishers, platform holders and investors meet on the business days.

Best for: game developers and publishers, middleware, esports and entertainment technology.

Inter BEE

Makuhari Messe · 18–20 November 2026 (2027 TBC) · Organizer: JEITA

Inter BEE is Japan's largest event for broadcast, professional video, audio and media technology. In 2025 it had 1,079 exhibitors on 1,985 booths and 34,072 visitors. The visitor number is lower than at other shows on this list, but the audience is specialized: broadcasters, production companies and system integrators.

Best for: broadcast and pro AV equipment, streaming and content production tools. Compare Inter BEE vs CONTENT TOKYO.

Japan Mobility Show

Tokyo Big Sight · autumn, odd years (2027 dates TBC) · Organizer: JAMA

The Japan Mobility Show replaced the Tokyo Motor Show in 2023. The 2025 edition (30 October – 9 November 2025) had a record 522 participating companies and organizations and more than one million visitors. Participants included IT, electronics and startup companies as well as carmakers. It is mainly a consumer show. In 2024 and 2026, JAMA ran a business-focused edition alongside CEATEC instead.

Best for: automotive and mobility brands that want visibility. B2B suppliers should also look at the business-focused editions.

Big show or specialist show? How to choose

A big show is not automatically the right show. Before you choose, check these points.

• Many big shows are clusters. NEPCON JAPAN has eight specialized shows and SMART ENERGY WEEK has seven. You exhibit in one zone, but visitors can walk through all of them. Check which zone your target buyers visit.
• Regional editions are often easier. NEPCON JAPAN and Japan IT Week each run four times a year, and SMART ENERGY WEEK three times, including Osaka and Nagoya editions. Smaller halls mean less competition for attention and lower travel costs inside Japan.
• The visitor profile matters more than the visitor count. Ask the organizer for a breakdown by job title and business type. One hundred qualified distributors are worth more than ten thousand students.
• International share tells you about support. Shows with many overseas exhibitors, such as FOODEX JAPAN, usually have better English materials, national pavilions and business matching.

Not sure which show fits? Use the Show Finder or build your own side-by-side comparison.

When to start planning

Large Japanese shows fill up early. FOOMA JAPAN 2027 closed exhibitor applications on 15 October 2026, almost eight months before the show. CEATEC 2026 opened applications in February 2026 for an October show. As a rule, start 9–12 months before your target show.

Work backwards from the show dates: booth contractor, design, translation, printing, shipping and travel. The Deadline Planner builds this timeline for any show in our database, and our 12-month exhibitor checklist explains each step.

If you would rather not ship brochures and banners from overseas, you can arrange printing in Japan↗ (opens in a new tab) before you fly and have it delivered to your hotel or the venue.

See every show on the calendar

This list covers the largest shows only. Our Japan trade show calendar lists every show we track by month, and the industry pages show the main shows in each sector. Each show page has dates, deadlines, venue access and an exhibitor guide.