Japan has a growing calendar of AI and technology events for business audiences. The most useful events are not limited to pure AI conferences. Many of the best opportunities sit inside broader events focused on enterprise software, digital transformation, startups, manufacturing, retail technology, and smart cities.
This list highlights 10 recurring or established events across Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto that are relevant for companies exploring AI adoption, vendor partnerships, market entry, or business development in Japan.
1. SusHi Tech Tokyo
Link: SusHi Tech Tokyo
Location: Tokyo
Usual timing: Annual. The 2026 edition was held from 27 to 29 April.
Estimated attendees: Around 60,000 participants.
Best for: Startups, innovation teams, investors, corporate partnerships, smart city technology.
SusHi Tech Tokyo is one of Tokyo’s major startup and innovation events. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government described the 2026 edition as focused on AI, robotics, resilience, and entertainment, with 770 startups and more than 10,000 expected business meetings.
2. IVS / IVS Kyoto
Link: IVS Kyoto
Location: Kyoto
Usual timing: Annual or recurring major edition. IVS2026 is scheduled for 1 to 3 July.
Estimated attendees: More than 10,000 participants.
Best for: Startups, investors, corporate innovation, partnerships, AI business development.
IVS is one of Japan’s largest startup conferences. It began in 2007 and brings together startups, investors, major corporations, and innovators. IVS2026 is listed as the 33rd edition overall and the 11th Kyoto edition.
3. AI EXPO TOKYO NEO / NexTech Week Tokyo
Link: NexTech Week Tokyo
Location: Tokyo
Usual timing: 2026 editions are listed for 5 to 6 August and 11 to 13 November.
Estimated attendees: Part of NexTech Week Tokyo, which typically attracts tens of thousands of business visitors across its combined exhibitions.
Best for: AI vendors, enterprise buyers, procurement teams, DX leaders.
AI EXPO TOKYO NEO is one of the most direct AI vendor events in Tokyo. It is part of NexTech Week Tokyo, which features products and solutions related to AI, humanoid robots, blockchain, quantum computing, and organizational transformation.
4. Japan IT Week / Japan DX Week Tokyo Autumn
Link: Japan IT Week Tokyo Autumn
Location: Tokyo area, Makuhari Messe
Usual timing: Annual Tokyo autumn edition. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 21 to 23 October.
Estimated attendees: Around 31,000 planned visitors across the combined Tokyo autumn shows.
Best for: Enterprise software, AI adoption, business automation, DX, vendor comparison.
Japan IT Week and Japan DX Week Tokyo Autumn are strong events for enterprise technology and procurement. Japan DX Week includes AI and Business Automation Expo, Office-work DX Expo, Data-Driven Management Expo, and related business DX shows.
5. CEATEC
Link: CEATEC
Location: Tokyo area, Makuhari Messe
Usual timing: Annual. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 13 to 16 October.
Estimated attendees: Historically a large-scale event with more than 100,000 registered visitors in recent editions.
Best for: Cross-industry technology, digital infrastructure, smart society, enterprise innovation.
CEATEC is a large cross-industry technology event covering electronics, digital infrastructure, smart society, and enterprise innovation. The 2026 edition is organized by JEITA and held at Makuhari Messe.
6. RETAILTECH JAPAN
Link: RETAILTECH JAPAN
Location: Tokyo
Usual timing: Annual. The 2026 edition was held from 3 to 6 March.
Estimated attendees: Around 80,000 expected visitors across the Nikkei Messe retail technology exhibitions.
Best for: Retail AI, data utilization, ecommerce, digital marketing, logistics, cashless systems.
RETAILTECH JAPAN is one of the best events for retail-sector AI and business technology. Its exhibit categories include AI and Data Utilization, ecommerce, digital marketing, retail logistics, and cashless systems.
7. Manufacturing World Tokyo
Link: Manufacturing World Tokyo
Location: Tokyo
Usual timing: Annual Tokyo edition. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 1 to 3 July.
Estimated attendees: Around 70,000 planned visitors across the Tokyo edition.
Best for: Industrial AI, factory DX, automation, manufacturing operations.
Manufacturing World Tokyo is relevant for companies exploring AI in manufacturing, production, operations, and industrial technology. The event covers manufacturing challenges such as DX, AI adoption, cost reduction, IT, machinery, and factory technologies.
8. Japan IT Week / Japan DX Week Osaka
Link: Japan IT Week Osaka
Location: Osaka, INTEX Osaka
Usual timing: Annual Osaka edition. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 18 to 20 November.
Estimated attendees: Around 12,000 planned visitors across the Osaka edition.
Best for: Enterprise IT, AI adoption, DX, business automation, vendor discovery in western Japan.
Japan IT Week and Japan DX Week Osaka are among the most useful business technology events in western Japan. The official page describes it as Western Japan’s largest IT and DX show, with 250 planned exhibitors.
9. Manufacturing World Osaka
Link: Manufacturing World Osaka
Location: Osaka, INTEX Osaka
Usual timing: Annual Osaka edition. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 7 to 9 October.
Estimated attendees: Around 33,000 planned visitors across the Osaka edition.
Best for: Manufacturing AI, factory automation, production technology, industrial DX.
Manufacturing World Osaka is one of the strongest Osaka events for manufacturing AI and DX. The event showcases DX solutions, machinery, factory equipment, and advanced measurement technologies.
10. Kyoto Smart City Expo
Link: Kyoto Smart City Expo
Location: Kyoto / Keihanna
Usual timing: Annual. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 8 to 9 October.
Estimated attendees: Not consistently published, but typically a focused regional business and public-sector audience rather than a large trade-show crowd.
Best for: Smart cities, public-sector DX, AI-enabled urban technology, B2B and B2G partnerships.
Kyoto Smart City Expo is a useful event for companies working in smart city technology, public-sector innovation, infrastructure, and AI-enabled urban services. Kyoto Prefecture says the event has been held annually since 2014 and promotes business exchange through smart city technologies, seminars, and symposiums.
Shortlists by goal
For business development, market entry, and partnerships, the strongest options are SusHi Tech Tokyo, IVS Kyoto, AI EXPO TOKYO NEO, Japan DX Week Tokyo, and Japan DX Week Osaka.
For AI vendors and enterprise buyers, the best fit is AI EXPO TOKYO NEO, Japan DX Week Tokyo, Japan DX Week Osaka, CEATEC, and RETAILTECH JAPAN.
For manufacturing and industrial AI, prioritize Manufacturing World Tokyo, Manufacturing World Osaka, and Kyoto Smart City Expo.
Conclusion
For business teams looking at AI in Japan, the best event strategy is to combine one large Tokyo exhibition with one regional business event and one sector-specific event. Tokyo offers the strongest concentration of enterprise AI, vendor discovery, and cross-industry technology. Osaka is especially useful for enterprise IT, DX, and manufacturing. Kyoto stands out for startups, smart cities, public-sector innovation, and partnership building.
Companies focused on AI adoption should start with AI EXPO TOKYO NEO, Japan DX Week, or CEATEC. Startups and investors should prioritize IVS Kyoto and SusHi Tech Tokyo. Manufacturing and industrial teams should focus on Manufacturing World Tokyo or Osaka.
This list was compiled in June 2026 using a broad business-focused definition of AI, including enterprise AI, DX, startup innovation, smart cities, retail technology, manufacturing automation, and vendor-led exhibitions.
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