Best Tech Conferences in Japan for 2026

With a bustling software and startup scene and a growing economy, Japan is quickly catching up to its global competitors. And that means tech-focused events are more popular than ever in the country.

After all, Japan is fast on its way to becoming a startup powerhouse. With the efforts of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s cabinet and the Startup Development 5-Year Plan set into motion, the country expects to reach 10,000 startups and increase its current unicorn startup (a startup that’s valued at over 1 Billion USD) count to 100 by 2027.

Thanks to government initiatives and the support of the private sector, the tech scene in Japan is more alive than ever, and with this, a great number of tech events are organized all over Japan throughout the year.

I featured several such events in my posts like tech meetups in Tokyo, tech communities in Fukuoka, and Osaka and Kyoto tech communities, which show the sheer amount of networking possibilities in Japan.

That said, not everyone is confident enough to actively participate in events, and beginners may feel more comfortable listening and learning without the pressure of speaking. 

This is why conferences are great alternatives to meetups. You can still socialize if you want to, and you’re likely to learn something new even if you don’t interact with anyone. However, it may be hard to know where to start as a foreigner, and you may be asking, “What is the best tech conference in Japan?”

Below, you’ll find a list of events, complete with all the data we have gathered on some of the best tech conferences in Tokyo and Japan in general, as well as reasons why you should attend one of these top tech conferences if you need a little convincing to get out of your shell. 

Explaining Conference Categories: A Brief Note

Before I start introducing our selection of tech conferences in Japan, I’d like to briefly explain the categories of conferences I’ll introduce below. 

In general, you’ll find four distinct types of conferences in this post:

• Events by Official Organizations: Conferences held by the official organization of a specific programming language, such as Ruby or Swift;

• Cloud Services: Conferences focusing on cloud services;

• Other: “Other” community conferences (that aren’t held by corporations but by communities) like the non-profit Scrum Tokyo;

• Events by Private Corporations: Conferences held by corporations or other commercial organizations.

With that out of the way, let’s get on with our list.

Events by Official Organizations

Here are the best tech conferences from Japan that are held by the official organization of a specific programming language.

try!Swift

Primary Language of The Conference: English

Who Is It For: iOS Developers, Swift Users

An iOS programming language, Swift is one of the most popular languages in the world, and try!Swift is the official conference series of the community.

Held in Tokyo since 2016, try!Swift events see iOS developers from around the world come together to talk about the latest on Swift development and learn new insights for being a better Swift developer.

The try! Swift Tokyo event is held annually.

The conference is organized by the Swift community. Among the most notable private sponsors of the event are Mercari and Cybozu, which are the platinum and gold sponsors of the event, respectively. U-NEXT is also among the list of companies supporting the event.

The main language of the event is English, and a simultaneous English translation option is available for foreign attendees. You can check out the event’s X and LinkedIn pages if you’re interested.

iOS Developers Conference (iOSDC)

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: All iOS Developers

Held annually since 2016, iOS Developers Conference (iOSDC) is a Tokyo-based event series. In fact, it’s one of the top tech conferences in Japan, as it’s the largest iOS conference in the country. Each year, the event draws an average of approximately 1,100 online participants and 1,400 in-person participants.

Among the conference’s sponsors are noteworthy names, such as Cybozu and Mercari that act as platinum sponsors of the event, while other well-known names like Money Forward, Freee, and PayPay also support the event.

As this is a Japanese conference, it’s recommended to speak at least conversational-level Japanese if you’re a foreign professional hoping to meet people from the industry. That said, there’s no official requirement regarding language, so foreign participants are welcome.

You can find out more about the event on the official X page of iOSDC.

ScalaMatsuri

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese and English

Who Is It For: Scala Developers

Another annual event, ScalaMatsuri has been bringing Japan’s Scala developers together since 2013. The conference, which sees the attendance of both Japanese and foreign participants, focuses on a different theme each year. 

For instance, among the past themes of the event are “Exchange with overseas communities” and “Scala as a practical language.” The first day of the 3-day-long event offers a training day while the second and third days are reserved for speakers and open mic sessions.

The primary languages used are English and Japanese, which makes this a great event for foreigners. That said, if you’re there for networking, speaking some Japanese is recommended to get the most out of your experience.

To learn more about ScalaMatsuri and get the latest updates, check out the official ScalaMatsuri X Page. To find out when the next event will be held, make sure to also check out the conference’s Doorkeeper page.

RubyKaigi

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Ruby Developers

RubyKaigi is a unique annual event that brings Ruby developers from across Japan and around the globe. 

This international event is the official conference series for the popular programming language Ruby, and has been an ongoing annual event since 2006. With over 1300 participants, what makes this event unique is that it’s held in a different prefecture in Japan every year. 

Even though both English and Japanese are the official languages of the event, having conversational Japanese skills is recommended to get the most out of it. 

The event, like others on the list, is backed by known companies in the tech scene, with Platinum sponsors being Money Forward, Flatt Security, and Shippio. 

You can get the latest on the upcoming events on RubyKaigi’s official Facebook and X pages. 

Go Conference

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Go Developers

Go Conference is the first online conference on the list so far, which makes it a great event for those who don’t live near a big city like Tokyo. As the name suggests, it’s the official event for the developers of the programming language Go.

Since its launch in 2021, the event was initially held twice a year but has been reduced to a single annual event. Well-known companies like MODE, Money Forward, and Mercari act as gold and silver sponsors, while Tailor and Freee are bronze sponsors of the events.

The event is held in both languages, but as it’s an event organized in Japan, you’ll get the best experience if you at least speak Japanese to some degree.

To learn more about the conference and get the latest updates, make sure to check out Go Conference’s official X page.

VimConf

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Vim Users

VimConf is an annual event series that takes place in Tokyo. The conference is unique in that it’s the first and only regularly held Vim-focused event in the world that’s held by the community, for the community.

The conference was on hiatus for four years due to COVID-19 but has returned in 2023, so future installments are expected to continue as usual in upcoming years. It’s essentially a single-day event with presentations and talks, and it’s usually held toward the end of the year, around November.

The conference is also open to foreign professionals, as all of the visual presentations are in English. That said, some of the speakers may choose to speak Japanese, so speaking Japanese is recommended even though it’s not required.

You can get the latest updates on VimConf by following their official X page.

Vue Fes Japan

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Vue.js framework users

Vue Fes Japan is an annual conference for Javascript users, more specifically, the Vue.js framework, and is the official event organized by the community. 

Launched in 2018 as a “festival”, hence the fes in the title, the event primarily aims to provide a fun learning experience for Vue.js users.

The events are held in person in Tokyo, and big names like Cybozu and LINE Communications act as silver sponsors while Mercari and HENNGE are bronze sponsors of the conference.

Vue Fes Japan is packed with great speakers and presentations, so the one-day event is a full 9:30 am to 7:30 pm schedule awaiting you.

While the conference’s primary languages are both English and Japanese, and you can attend as a non-Japanese speaker, keep in mind that some presentations may be conducted in Japanese.

To learn more about what Vue Fes Japan has to offer and get the latest updates on future events, you can follow the event’s official X page.

ABC

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Android Developers

Organized by the Android community, ABC, or Android Bazaar and Conference, is the official event of the Android community in Japan that’s regularly held up to twice a year. The event series first kicked off in 2010 and has been going strong ever since. 

The event is solely sponsored by Japan Android Group, and is a single-day event with separate morning and afternoon schedules that are each packed with a variety of speakers, presentations, and lectures.

The conference is primarily in Japanese, so foreign attendees are expected to speak Japanese even though it isn’t a requirement. That said, you can still meet other participants who speak English even if you don’t speak Japanese.

You can learn more about the specifics of the event by checking out the Connpass page. To get the latest updates from ABC and the Japan Android Group and find out about upcoming events, make sure to follow ABC on Facebook.

DroidKaigi

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Android developers

An Android-focused event series, DroidKaigi is the best tech conference in Tokyo led by Android engineers. Its sole purpose is to share the tips and tricks of Android development and make its use more widespread and easily available. 

The events have been an ongoing affair annually since 2015. They are held in Tokyo and are supported by well-known names in Japan’s tech scene, as Cybozu, Mercari, Money Forward, Sansan, and Rakuten all act as gold sponsors. 

DroidKaigi events are primarily in Japanese, so speaking Japanese to some degree is expected here, although networking with other English speakers is always possible.

To learn more about the event and to get the latest updates, follow DroidKaigi on their official X page.

FRONTEND CONFERENCE Okinawa

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: All front-end developers

Based in Okinawa, FRONTEND CONFERENCE Okinawa is a conference for all front-end engineers. Be it HTML, Javascript, or UI and UX design, all front-enders will find something to learn here. 

Since 2022, these single-day events have attracted over 300 participants, and each event comes with a jam-packed schedule. Throughout the day, you’ll attend a variety of speeches, presentations, and even socializing opportunities. This means that even though the event is primarily held in Japanese, you can still socialize with other English speakers.

For more information on FRONTEND CONFERENCE Okinawa and to learn about upcoming events, make sure to follow their official X page.

FRONTEND CONFERENCE Fukuoka

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: All front-end developers

The name pretty much gives it away, as this is the Fukuoka edition of the FRONTEND CONFERENCE.

The events are very similar in nature, however, this one actually predates the Okinawa edition as it launched in 2019. It’s a primarily Japanese event, so speaking some level of Japanese is, once again, recommended but not required. 

To get the latest updates on the Fukuoka edition, you can follow the conference on its official X page.

JJUG CCC

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Java Developers

Short for “Japan Java User Group”, JJUG is a Java-focused community, while JJUG CCC is the group’s conference biannual series.

JJUG CCC has been a regular event since 2013. It’s aimed at spreading the use cases and applications of Java by sharing the accumulated wisdom within the community. It also provides a fun space for engineers to learn something new and meet new people.

The events last the whole day and combine 20 to 40-minute presentations, keynote speaker talks, as well as hands-on workshops. You can participate as a non-Japanese speaker for networking purposes, but speaking Japanese is recommended as this is a Japanese event.

You can learn more about the event and get the latest updates on upcoming events on the official X page of the group.

PHP カンファレンス (PHP Conference)

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: PHP Developers

If you’re a PHP engineer in Japan, this one’s a must-attend! PHP Conference is the largest PHP event held in Japan, and is also one of the oldest tech conferences in the country. Launched all the way back in 2000, the conference has been held annually in Tokyo ever since.

The event receives over 1,000 participants and has a tight, one-day-long schedule that includes presentations from well-known names in the PHP scene. It’s also backed by well-known names in Japan’s tech landscape; for instance, Cybozu and Flatt Security both act as platinum and gold sponsors of the event respectively. 

As this is a primarily Japanese event, it’s not the most beneficial for non-Japanese speakers besides the occasional networking opportunity.

To learn more about the event, you can follow PHP Conference’s official X page.

PyCon JP

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Python Developers

The first Python-focused event on the list, PyCon JP is an annual event organized by the Python community in Japan. 

Held in Tokyo and active since 2011, the event has been bringing Python developers together to share their knowledge and learn from each other since then. 

The events are held in multiple sessions over a two or three-day schedule. There are lectures to attend but also workshops to participate in and get a first-hand learning experience. The events are backed by successful startups HENNGE and Flatt Security, who are Platinum and Gold sponsors of the conference. 

Make sure to follow PyCon JP on X to get the latest updates on upcoming events, and follow them on Facebook to find out more about the conference.

Unity SYNC

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Unity Developers

SYNC is the official event organized by Unity, the popular game engine. It’s by far the largest Unity event in Japan, and its accessibility plays a big factor in this. As the event is held online, people from all over Japan can attend in real-time.

Sponsored by COCONE, the event is spread over a two-day schedule filled to the brim with Unity case studies and lectures. Participants can learn useful tips and technical information regarding Unity development, and how to utilize it further in the 3D entertainment space. 

It’s unfortunately held in Japanese, which is less-than-ideal for foreign participants, so at the very least, speaking Japanese to a conversational level is recommended if you’re considering attending.

Although the first conference was a big hit, the future installments are still yet to be announced at the time of writing this article. 

YAPC

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Perl Developers

Hosted by Japan Pearl Association, the official community of the programming language Perl, YAPC Japan is the biggest Perl developers conference.

Held in a different prefecture each year, the annual event is well-established as its first instalment was way back in 2006. The event is part of a bigger global network, as YAPC events are also organized in North America, South America, and Europe.

With a mission to “invigorate the Perl community in Japan”, the conference is designed to involve all of the Perl community in Japan by hosting the event in different regions.

Sponsored by Money Forward, YAPC Japan events are not completely limited to Perl development, as you may very well come across a lecture on PHP or a presentation on Python. The organizers want the overall participation to represent the diversity in the Perl community, so everyone is welcome, despite the primary language being Japanese.

Follow YAPC Japan on X for the latest updates, and check them out on Facebook for more information.

Cloud Services Events

Here are some of the best tech conferences in Japan that are all about cloud services.

GDG (Google Developer Group)

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Anyone who’s interested in Google Technologies

GDG, or Google Developer Group, is a program started by Google’s developers community as a way to connect developers from diverse backgrounds. 

GDG Tokyo is the Japanese branch of the group, and like its global counterpart, isn’t officially tied to Google, but is a community effort created by developers interested in Google’s technologies.

The annual conference has been held in Tokyo since its launch in 2017, and the event is open to everyone, as the primary languages are both Japanese and English.

You can find out about the latest event announcements on GDG Tokyo’s Connpass page, and get more information on the conference on the official X page.

AWS Summit Tokyo

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Amazon Web Services/Cloud People

A conference that falls under our “Cloud services” category, AWS Summit Tokyo is an annual event held since 2022. 

Sponsored by Slalom, this two-day conference unites developers who work with Amazon Web Services and its cloud system to discuss and exchange insights on AWS-related topics. It was created to provide a space for AWS developers to come together, connect, and share their wisdom with one another.

The conference is held in Japanese, but foreign professionals who don’t speak Japanese can still find other English speakers to network with. 

For more information and the latest updates, follow AWS Summit Tokyo on X.

Events in The “Other” Category

Here are some of the best tech conferences from Japan held by other organizations and/or corporations.

Japan IT Week (Spring)

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: IT professionals, system developers, business decision-makers, and anyone working in or exploring Digital Transformation

Japan IT Week Spring is Japan's largest IT and Digital Transformation trade show, held annually at Tokyo Big Sight. The Spring 2026 edition runs from April 8–10 and expects around 1,100 exhibitors and 60,000 visitors across four co-located shows: Japan IT Week, Japan DX Week, Sales & Digital Marketing Week, and E-commerce & Store Week.

The event floor covers everything from software development, embedded and edge computing, information security, and data center technology to AI automation, office DX, sales transformation, and e-commerce logistics.

With dedicated exhibition zones and a Japan Startup Summit held as a special feature, this is one of the most comprehensive IT events in the country. Conference sessions are held in Japanese only, but the exhibition floor is accessible to international visitors, and English-speaking attendees can still explore products and engage with exhibitors directly.

Visitor registration is free of charge. For more information and updates, check out Japan IT Week on X or Facebook.

Japan IT Week (Autumn)

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: IT professionals, DX practitioners, and business leaders

Japan IT Week Autumn is the fall counterpart to the Spring show, held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. The 2026 edition runs from October 21–23, with around 700 exhibitors and 31,000 expected visitors. Like the Spring edition, it spans Japan IT Week, Japan DX Week, Sales & Digital Marketing Week, and E-commerce & Store Week under one roof.

The Autumn show covers system development and operations, IoT and edge computing, information security, data center infrastructure, and digital marketing, providing a broad snapshot of Japan's enterprise IT landscape heading into the end of the year.

Conference sessions are in Japanese, but the exhibition itself is open to all.

Free visitor pre-registration is available on the official site of Japan IT Week. You can stay up to date via Japan IT Week's X page.

Japan IT Week (Nagoya)

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: IT and DX professionals in Central Japan, system engineers, and enterprise decision-makers

Japan IT Week Nagoya is Central Japan's largest IT and DX trade show, held at Port Messe Nagoya.

The 2026 edition was held in February (February 25–27), with the next Nagoya show scheduled for July 2027. With around 140 exhibitors and 14,000 visitors, it's a more focused regional event compared to the Tokyo shows, but covers the same key areas: software and application development, embedded systems, information security, and IoT.

For companies and professionals based in the Nagoya/Aichi area, this is the most convenient opportunity to explore enterprise IT solutions and connect with regional peers without having to travel to Tokyo.

Conference content is in Japanese, but the exhibition floor is open to English-speaking visitors as well.

Stay updated on the event via the Japan IT Week X page.

NexTech Week Tokyo

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese (with English support)

Who Is It For: Business professionals, technology adopters, AI practitioners, and anyone exploring emerging technologies in industry

NexTech Week Tokyo is an international B2B trade show focused on cutting-edge technologies, including AI, blockchain, quantum computing, talent development in the AI era, and humanoid robotics.

Organized by RX Japan, it runs twice a year: the Spring show at Tokyo Big Sight (April 15–17, 2026) and the Autumn show at Makuhari Messe (November 11–13, 2026).

The Spring 2025 edition attracted a whopping 27,745 visitors and 334 exhibitors, making it one of the fastest-growing tech expo series in Japan. The show is particularly notable for being home to Japan's first specialized Humanoid Robot Expo, reflecting the country's growing enthusiasm for next-generation robotics and automation.

While the event is held primarily in Japanese, English-language interpretation services are also available for international visitors, and free visitor registration is open on the official site. The event is a good opportunity for foreign companies to explore the Japanese and Asian markets.

You can follow NexTech Week on LinkedIn for the latest updates.

TECHSPO Tokyo

Primary Language of The Conference: English

Who Is It For: Developers, marketers, startup founders, and tech entrepreneurs interested in internet, mobile, AdTech, MarTech, and SaaS

TECHSPO Tokyo is the Japan edition of the global TECHSPO Technology Expo series, which runs across more than 50 events in 20 countries. Now in its 4th year, TECHSPO Tokyo 2026 returns July 2–3 at the Hilton Tokyo Bay Hotel.

The event invites developers, brands, marketers, designers, and technology providers to explore the latest innovations in internet, mobile, AdTech, MarTech, and SaaS. A standout feature is its co-location with DigiMarCon Japan 2026, a focused conference on digital marketing strategy. This means that attendees can move between live-streamed keynotes and the hands-on expo floor to get both the theory and the practice.

As part of the global TECHSPO series, the primary language of the event is English. Passes are available in different tiers, and the expo floor has been free to attend for a limited time in past editions.

TechGALA

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese and English

Who Is It For: Startup founders, investors, VCs, corporate innovators, and technology professionals from diverse industries

TechGALA is a three-day technology festival held annually in Nagoya, organized by the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium alongside Nagoya University, Aichi Prefecture, and the City of Nagoya. The 2026 edition ran January 27–29 at multiple venues across Sakae and Tsurumai in Nagoya, including Chunichi Hall & Conference and STATION Ai.

The event spanned six themes: Mobility, Global Environment, Materials, Life Sciences, Advanced Technologies, and Stories of the Future, and featured over 100 sessions delivered by more than 400 speakers, a startup pitch contest, corporate exhibitions, networking parties, speed dating for business matching, and even an art and music program.

The 2026 edition of the event attracted over 5,000 participants from 20 countries and hosted 140 exhibitors.

Ticket tiers for TechGALA range from a free City pass for side events to executive passes for direct engagement with speakers and investors. Be sure to check the event’s website for more details.

You can follow TechGALA on X and LinkedIn.

TECHNO-FRONTIER

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese (with some international exhibitor support)

Who Is It For: Engineers, manufacturers, researchers, and procurement professionals working in motor technology, power electronics, embedded systems, and smart factory solutions

TECHNO-FRONTIER is a specialized industrial technology exhibition organized by the Japan Management Association (JMA), held at Tokyo Big Sight West Hall. The 2026 edition runs July 15–17.

The exhibition is organized into several focused zones. Motor Tech, Electric Control Systems, Motion Engineering, Power Supply, Power Electronics, EMC, and Thermal Engineering have been longtime staples of the event.

That said, in recent years, the show has also added new categories reflecting the industry's rapid shift toward software-defined systems and AI-driven automation.

For engineers in mechatronics, embedded systems, or industrial IoT, TECHNO-FRONTIER is one of the most technically dense events in Japan. The show is primarily in Japanese, though international exhibitors do participate, and inquiry forms are available in English on the official site.

EMConf JP (Engineering Management Conference Japan)

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Engineering managers, engineering managers-in-training, CTOs, and software engineers interested in leadership and organizational development

EMConf JP is Japan's dedicated conference for engineering management practitioners. The 2026 edition was held on March 4 at TOC Ariake in Tokyo, bringing together engineers at all levels, from those aspiring to become EMs to seasoned managers and executives, under the theme of "Amplification and Catalyst."

The conference featured keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and a panel discussion format, with content centered on the challenges and best practices of managing engineering teams in Japan's tech industry. Platinum sponsors for 2026 included Freee, Timee, Dress Code, and Mento, while well-known companies like CyberAgent, Cybozu, and SmartHR also backed the event.

EMConf JP is a great window into the growing engineering management culture within Japan's software industry. You can follow the event on X for updates on future editions.

CloudNative Days / Cloudnative Kaigi

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Cloud-native engineers, Kubernetes practitioners, platform engineers, SREs, and infrastructure engineers

CloudNative Days is one of Japan's largest community-run tech conference series focused on cloud-native technologies like Kubernetes, containers, CI/CD, and cloud-native architecture. Regular installments include a summer and a winter edition, with the latest being CloudNative Days Winter 2025, held in November 2025.

For 2026, the organizing committee has announced a major new format: Cloudnative Kaigi, a joint event co-organized with Platform Engineering Kaigi and SRE Kaigi. This three-way conference is scheduled for May 14–15 at Chunichi Hall & Conference in Nagoya, targeting 1,000 attendees.

The event aims to bring together the cloud-native, platform engineering, and SRE communities under one roof, with free entry (pre-registration required) and an optional networking party occurring on the first day.

You can stay up to date on the event by visiting the CloudNative Days blog.

DevOpsDays Tokyo

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese and English (with simultaneous interpretation)

Who Is It For: DevOps engineers, platform engineers, SREs, and anyone involved in software delivery, automation, testing, security, or organizational culture

DevOpsDays Tokyo is the Japan chapter of the globally renowned DevOpsDays conference series, which originated the "devops" concept. The 2026 edition is scheduled for April 14–16 at the Osaki Bright Core Hall in Tokyo, taking place as a hybrid in-person and online event.

The conference covers a wide range of topics: automation, testing, security, organizational culture, and the practical realities of implementing DevOps transformations in Japanese and international companies. Past keynote speakers have included prominent names from Google Cloud's DORA team and other global DevOps communities.

The 2025 edition of DevOpsDays Tokyo welcomed 249 participants, 43 speakers, and 18 sponsors. Tickets are available for purchase on the official site.

Follow the event on X or Facebook.

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Japan

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Cloud-native engineers, Kubernetes developers, CNCF project contributors, and open source enthusiasts

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Japan is the flagship event of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), and the Japan edition brings the global cloud-native community to Asia. The 2026 edition is scheduled for July 29–30 in Yokohama, spanning two full days of keynotes, breakout sessions, and a solutions showcase.

As one of the largest cloud-native events in the world, KubeCon draws adopters and contributors from across the CNCF's portfolio of graduated, incubating, and sandbox projects. Sponsors for past Japan editions have included major names such as Google, Red Hat, Grafana Labs, and AWS.

If you work with Kubernetes, containers, or any of the CNCF ecosystem tools, this is a gathering you won't want to miss.

Registration and more information are available on the official event page.

SRE NEXT

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Site Reliability Engineers, DevOps engineers, infrastructure engineers, and anyone involved in service reliability and operations

SRE NEXT is a community-driven conference dedicated to reliability engineering practices in Japan, organized by members of the SRE Lounge study group. The 2026 edition is scheduled for July 10–11 at TOC Ariake in Tokyo, with a live online broadcast.

The theme for 2026 is "Inclusive SRE," reflecting the organizers' goal of making the conference welcoming not just to experienced SREs but to development engineers, managers, system integrators, database specialists, and platform engineers.

That said, anyone who contributes to the reliability of production systems, regardless of their job titles, are welcome.

Past editions of the event have featured keynote sessions from top Japanese tech companies and candid discussions about real-world reliability challenges. For the latest updates on SRE NEXT, follow the event on X.

Kaigi on Rails

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Ruby on Rails developers and web application engineers

Kaigi on Rails is an annual conference for the Ruby on Rails community in Japan. The 2026 edition is scheduled for October 16–17 at Bellesalle Shibuya Garden in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Past editions of Kaigi on Rails have attracted Rails developers from across Japan for a day of technical talks, practical case studies, and community networking. The 2025 edition set a high bar with strong community turnout and a packed session schedule.

If you're a Rails developer in Japan, this is the key annual gathering for your community. Follow the conference X account and the Fediverse to get the latest details.

Laravel Live Japan

Primary Language of The Conference: English (with live translation for all sessions)

Who Is It For: Laravel developers, PHP engineers, and web application developers

Laravel Live Japan is the official Laravel community conference in Japan, bringing together developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts from around the world to share knowledge and celebrate the craft of building with Laravel. The 2026 inaugural edition is scheduled for May 26–27 at Tachikawa Stage Garden in Tokyo, nestled beside Showa Kinen Park.

The lineup for 2026 is impressive, featuring Taylor Otwell (Creator of Laravel), Nuno Maduro (Staff Software Engineer at Laravel and creator of Pest), Jess Archer (Head of Laravel Nightwatch), Marcel Pociot (CTO at Beyond Code), and a full roster of 17 speakers from the global Laravel ecosystem.

Live translation is available for all sessions, making this an excellent event for non-Japanese-speaking engineers.

Platinum sponsors include Laravel itself and JoBins, with Gold sponsors Sentry and JetBrains also backing the event. Tickets for Laravel Live Japan are available at laravel.zaiko.io, with early bird pricing being offered.

You can follow Laravel Live Japan on X for the latest updates.

Open Source Summit Japan

Primary Language of the Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Open source developers, maintainers, community leaders, and contributors across a wide range of projects

Open Source Summit Japan is the open source event in Japan, organized by the Linux Foundation. The 2025 edition was held December 8–10 in Tokyo, and the 2026 dates are expected to be announced at a later date.

The summit spans multiple tracks, including Cloud & Containers, Linux, Open Source Leadership, Operations Management, OSPOCon, Safety-Critical Software, Zephyr, and the Automotive Linux Summit. Diamond sponsor Google and a broad slate of Platinum sponsors (including Fujitsu, Honda, Grafana Labs, and OpenSearch) reflect the event's reach across both Japanese enterprise and global open source communities.

Past editions of the summit have also hosted co-located events, making it a good opportunity to attend multiple niche gatherings under a single roof.

Keep an eye on the official page for 2026 date announcements.

RubyWorld Conference

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese and English

Who Is It For: Ruby developers, Ruby community members, and those interested in Ruby's business applications

RubyWorld Conference is an annual event held in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, which is the birthplace of Ruby, making it an especially meaningful gathering for the Ruby community.

Unlike RubyKaigi, which focuses on technical internals, RubyWorld Conference emphasizes the business and practical applications of Ruby, making it an ideal event for engineers and decision-makers from various backgrounds.

The 2026 edition has already been confirmed for December 3–4 at Shimane Prefectural Convention Center "Kunibiki Messe" in Matsue. Detailed program and registration information will be announced at a later date.

Matsue may not be as accessible as Tokyo, but visiting the city where Ruby was born adds a special dimension to the experience for Ruby enthusiasts.

More information will be available on the official site as the event approaches, so be sure to check back on there.

Tokyo Test Fest

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese and English (with simultaneous interpretation)

Who Is It For: Software testers, QA engineers, test analysts, developers, and test managers

Tokyo Test Fest is Japan's annual international conference dedicated to software quality assurance and testing. The 2026 edition will feature a tutorial day on November 12, followed by a full conference day on November 13, both held at Osaki Bright Core Hall in Tokyo.

The conference is organized by an international team and designed to bridge Japanese and English-speaking communities in the testing and QA space. The 2026 keynote speakers include Richard Bradshaw and Angie Jones (VP of Engineering AI Tools Enablement at Block), with over 250 participants expected from around the world.

With content in both Japanese and English, Tokyo Test Fest is one of the friendlier international conferences for foreign QA professionals in Japan. Platinum sponsor Qase and Gold sponsor Autify reflect the modern, tooling-forward focus of the event.

Follow Tokyo Test Fest on X, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

Japan Fintech Week

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Anyone interested in Fintech

Japan Fintech Week is an exciting newcomer to Japan’s tech conference scene, having launched its inaugural event in 2024. This distributed conference brings together fintech innovators, financial institutions, regulators, and tech enthusiasts from across Japan and around the globe.

The event features a series of partner-hosted sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities focused on the latest developments in financial technology. With presentations in both English and Japanese, Japan Fintech Week offers valuable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of finance and technology.

Whether you’re a developer, entrepreneur, investor, or simply curious about the future of financial services, this event provides multiple platforms to engage with industry leaders.

To participate in Japan Fintech Week 2025, you should register separately for each partner event you wish to attend, as there is no unified admission ticket for all sessions. While still in the process of establishing itself as an annual event, Japan Fintech Week is quickly becoming an important gathering for the Japanese fintech ecosystem.

Startup JAPAN

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: People interested in startups and open innovation, including those in business planning, new business promotion, sales and marketing, general affairs, human resources, and labor relations.

Startup JAPAN is another standout among conferences dedicated to Japan’s growing startup ecosystem and open innovation landscape. Conducted primarily in Japanese, this event creates valuable connections between entrepreneurs, established businesses, investors, and corporate innovation teams.

The conference is particularly valuable for professionals in business planning, new product development, sales, marketing, and even HR or general affairs roles focused on driving organizational change.

Through keynotes, panel discussions, pitch sessions, and exhibition areas, Startup JAPAN provides a comprehensive view of Japan’s innovation climate.

To attend Startup JAPAN, pre-registration is essential, so secure your spot early. This event is your chance to dive deep into Japan’s startup scene, uncover emerging opportunities, and contribute to the future of business innovation.

SusHi Tech TOKYO

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Anyone who’s interested in startups

In just a few years, SusHi Tech TOKYO has established itself as one of Asia’s largest and most influential startup conferences. The 2025 edition builds on the remarkable success of previous years, bringing together global innovators, investors, and thought leaders focused on sustainable urban technologies.

This bilingual conference (offered in English and Japanese) creates a dynamic environment where participants explore how cutting-edge technology can address urban sustainability challenges.

From clean energy and smart infrastructure to mobility solutions and circular economy initiatives, SusHi Tech TOKYO showcases innovations that are reshaping city living. The conference serves both as a showcase and a catalyst, where conversations transform into collaborations and ideas into action.

For entrepreneurs, investors, or anyone passionate about sustainable development, SusHi Tech TOKYO 2025 offers unmatched access to the technologies and ideas redefining urban living. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with global leaders and be part of the movement toward smarter, greener cities.

Regional Scrum Gathering Tokyo

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Those who are interested in Scrum 

Hosted by the non-profit organization Scrum Tokyo, Regional Scrum Gathering Tokyo is an annual conference series that first kicked off in 2013. 

Spread out over a three-day schedule, the conference sees valuable keynote speakers talking about the latest issues in Scrum, including lectures, presentations, and hands-on workshops.

The event is held both in English and Japanese, and is open to all participants regardless of their language proficiency. That said, foreign participants may benefit more from the conference with at least conversational level Japanese.

The last event at the time of writing this article, which was sponsored by Cybozu, was a success with over 600 participants.

You can learn more about Regional Scrum Gathering Tokyo on LinkedIn.

City-Tech.Tokyo

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Startup Enthusiasts

Organized by the Government of Japan, City-Tech.Tokyo is a conference series aimed at fostering a sustainable society with the help of startup-led innovation. 

The annual event series kicked off in 2023 in Tokyo and was a huge success with the participation of over a whopping 25,000 people. 

With simultaneous English and Japanese translations available, the event is held in both languages and is open to the attendance of foreign participants even if they don’t speak any Japanese. 

Spread out over multiple days, City-Tech.Tokyo offers lectures, keynote speeches, as well as workshops and side events that branch out the activities of the conference.

To learn more about the event, you can follow the official LinkedIn page.

JANOG Meeting

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Network Engineers

JANOG stands for “Japan Network Operators Group” and JANOG Meeting is the event series of the group. The conference is usually organized twice a year, around January and July, and each event is held in different prefectures in Japan.

This is one the oldest events on this list as it launched in 1997, and is still very much active. You’ll find technical topics in internet operations discussed in great detail here, as well as popular subjects like server operation technologies. 

The event is open to all participants as it’s held in both languages, and it’s great for foreign network operators to meet like-minded professionals.

You can learn more about JANOG Meeting on the official X page.

CODE BLUE

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: People working or interested in cyber security

CODE BLUE is a Tokyo-based conference series that’s all about cyber security. The international event sees the attendance of both Japanese and foreign cyber security experts, and simultaneous translations for both Japanese and English are available at the event.

With a two-day schedule that includes lectures, networking events, and case studies, CODE BLUE aims to share the knowledge of well-known researchers across the globe with the community.

The event has been held annually since 2013. Among the top sponsors of the conference are one of the leading cyber security firms in Japan, Flatt Security, and media and e-commerce giants Rakuten and Mercari.

For more information on CODE BLUE and to get the latest updates on the next event, follow CODE BLUE on Facebook and X.

Designship

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Designers

Designship is a conference for all things design, and has been held annually in Tokyo since 2018. 

The conference, also available online, welcomes anyone who’s into design. In fact, the latest event at the time of writing this article has received 500 participants in person, and a whopping 20,000 participants online. 

While the event is open to all, it’s held in Japanese, so foreign participants will get the most out of their attendance if they speak at least conversational level Japanese. 

The two-day-long event is packed with 80 sessions in total that include lectures, keynote speeches, and workshops happening simultaneously on multiple stages/areas at the event. The conference is also sponsored by notable names like Money Forward, Cybozu, and Peatix.

To learn more about Designship and find out when the next event is, make sure to follow their official X page.

ServerlessConf Tokyo

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Anyone who’s interested in Serverless development

ServerlessConf Tokyo is the Japan edition of a global event series, ServerlessDays, formerly known as JeffConf. 

The two-day event includes lectures as well as workshops for participants to gain hands-on experience. Held in a different prefecture in Japan each year, the conference holds online events as well.

As it’s held in Japanese, foreign participants who don’t speak Japanese may struggle with the content, although networking with other English speakers is always a possibility.

In addition to the annual conference that has been ongoing since 2016, ServerlessConf Tokyo also has monthly virtual meetups. To learn more about the conference and find out about the next virtual meetup, check out ServerlessConf Tokyo’s Connpass and X pages.

Developers Summit

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: All developers

Another long-running conference, Developers Summit has been an ongoing annual event since 2003. What’s more, since 2011, the conference has been organizing at least three events each year.

Held in a different prefecture each year, the conference also has online events where developers of all interests and backgrounds come together to discuss topics relevant to the current landscape of software development. 

The event is held primarily in Japanese, so foreign participants may require some Japanese skills to enjoy the event. 

For more information and future dates, follow Developers Summit on X and Facebook.

CEDEC

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Anyone involved in entertainment-focused development (mainly games)

CEDEC is a conference for programming in entertainment, more specifically, video games. Held in Kanagawa, the conference is a yearly event that first launched in 2000.

The event is spread over a three-day schedule and is held during the summertime. While physical attendance is possible if you’re in Kanagawa, you can also attend online from anywhere. 

The primary language is Japanese, so non-Japanese speakers may have a hard time, but networking can be worth your while if you speak at least conversational-level Japanese.

To learn more about the event and get the latest updates on the next CEDEC event, follow the conference’s official X and Facebook pages.

Spring Fest

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: Spring Framework Users

Spring Fest is a conference centered around the Spring Framework, a widely used Java framework in Japan. This online event first launched in 2019 and continues as an annual series organized by the Japan Spring User Group (JSUG). Attendees participate in the event by commenting on the streams and posting on the conference’s socials (X and Facebook).

The single-day event has a busy schedule with great speakers who are experts in their fields. As it’s held in Japanese, it’s, unfortunately, not the best option for non-Japanese speakers.

To learn more about the event, check out Spring Fest’s Doorkeeper page.

Events by Private Corporations

Here’s our selection of the best tech conferences in Japan that are held by private corporations.

GTC Japan

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Anyone interested in the gaming industry

Hosted by the industry giant Nvidia, GTC Japan, short for “GPU Technology Conference”, is a key event that covers all components of the gaming industry. It focuses on new and innovative ways to utilize the power of AI in entertainment, and specifically, game programming.

Unlike others on this list so far, this conference isn’t Japan-centric. It’s a global event series that’s occasionally held in Japan, and often in California, USA. It’s usually held twice a year, and both online and offline participation is possible. 

GTC Japan events are usually spread out over multiple days. Participants can check out the schedules online and buy a one-day pass to attend only the portion they’re interested in.

The events are held in both languages, so they’re open to the participation of foreign professionals as well. You can learn more about upcoming events and the conference on the event’s official X and Facebook pages.



Tech-Verse

Primary Language of The Conference: English, Japanese, and Korean

Who Is It For: All tech enthusiasts

is a tech conference held completely online where professionals from participating companies share their wisdom and experience. 

The broad scope of the conference makes this a welcoming choice for all techies. What’s more, it’s also foreigner-friendly, as English is one of the primary languages. In addition, there’s also a simultaneous translation service for all three main languages of the event.

Although the first event was held in 2022, the conference returned in 2025 after a few years’ gap, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for future editions.

To be informed about future events, make sure to follow Tech-Verse on X.

Figma Config

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Designers, Figma users

A conference for designers, Figma Config is the official conference hosted by Figma. It’s a young event that launched in 2023 and is held in San Diego, USA. 

That said, there’s a live watch party in Tokyo where Keynote speeches are broadcast live with Japanese subtitles, so you can choose to attend online or offline. 

The watch party aims to provide a similar experience to the live event, as community members will attend and explain the discussions and speeches made at the conference, and there’s even a networking party with a live DJ afterward.

Rakuten Technology Conference

Primary Language of The Conference: English and Japanese

Who Is It For: Rakuten tech talents

Rakuten is a well-known multimedia conglomerate from Japan, and Rakuten Technology Conference is the official event the company hosts annually. The event has been regularly held in Tokyo since its launch in 2007.

With keynote speakers from Google employees, Rakuten, and other tech giants, the one-day-long event has lectures on hot topics like AI and blockchain technology. 

The event is held in both Japanese and English, so it’s perfect for foreign professionals who don’t speak Japanese. 

To learn more about the conference and to be informed of upcoming events, make sure to follow Rakuten Group on their official X and LinkedIn pages.

DeNA TechCon

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: All techies

DeNA TechCon is the annual tech conference hosted by DeNA, a Tokyo-based company that provides online services for entertainment and e-commerce content distribution. The event is open to all techies and aims to share the knowledge of DeNA engineers with the community.

The conference, first launched in 2016, has been an annual event since, and sometimes multiple events happen in the same year. As the event is primarily in Japanese, we recommend attending if you speak at least a little bit of Japanese. 

Still, due to the large scope of the conference, you’re likely to meet English-speaking professionals here as well.

Participation is possible by signing up on the official Connpass page, and you can learn more about the conference on the official X and Facebook pages.

Merpay Tech Fest

Primary Language of The Conference: Japanese

Who Is It For: All developers

Having first kicked off in 2020, Merpay Tech Fest has quickly become a staple event among Japan’s annual tech conferences. 

Usually held as a three-day online event, it’s hosted by Merpay, a subsidiary of Mercari, which has one of the biggest startup success stories in Japan. With the full title “Merpay and Mercoin Tech Fest”, the conference deals with a wide scope of topics and welcomes all engineers. 

With a new theme each year, the conference is held in Japanese. So, foreign participants who speak at least some level of Japanese will get more out of their time here. The event is usually held during the summertime, around August.

To learn more about Merpay Tech Fest and to find out about upcoming events, make sure to follow the official X page.

Benefits of Attending Tech Conferences

While the list of companies I introduced effectively answers the question “What is the best tech conference in Japan?”, it’s still useful to mention a few benefits of attending conferences.

While benefits like networking and learning about your industry may be obvious to some, not everyone is a social butterfly, and being a hermit crab can even be considered a prominent part of the tech culture.

That said, it’s nice to be able to step out of your comfort zone sometimes, and having solid reasons for why it will be good for you to attend a conference can spark enough motivation to get things started. 

So, here’s what attending tech conferences can do for you as a person and a software engineer, even if you think you’re well-versed in your field.

Your Network is Your Networth: Conferences Bring People Together

Hands down, the best part about a tech conference is that it brings like-minded people together under one roof. 

This doesn’t just provide you with the opportunity to make friends among people who are interested in the same topics, but it also allows you to meet key people in your industry.

Knowing the right people can make a big difference in your career as an employee, and even more so if you have an entrepreneurial spirit. At a conference, you may even meet investors to fund your ideas and projects or find collaborators who can help you turn your ideas into reality.

Lastly, as you’ll be meeting people, people will be meeting you. This means that you’re putting yourself out there and making your name known within the industry. This sort of exposure can help you become a household name in your industry over time, granting you negotiation power in future job offers, or helping you find investors to fund your business ideas.

Learn The Industry Well, Stay Ahead of The Curve

Even if you don’t get to meet the key people in your industry, you can still listen to them speak at a conference, and learn more about your industry.

Attending conferences, especially as a foreign tech professional, can help you understand the tech industry in Japan better. You’ll learn about the unique struggles or trends that are specific to Japan’s industry, which is essential if you want to build a career in Japan.

In addition to these unique characteristics, however, an arguably more important benefit of attending conferences is that you’ll simply be ahead of the curve. You’ll be well-informed about the current state of your topic of interest, as well as what the latest developments in that field are. 

So, attending tech conferences regularly can help you learn the industry, and even lead and shape it, especially if you’re an entrepreneur.