Best Tech Conferences in Japan for 2024

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 events happen annually, and the most recent installment at the time of writing was in January 2023. 

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. With over 2,200 online and 2,000 offline participants, the latest event was held in September 2023 at the time this post was written.

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. 

The most recent event at the time of writing this post was in May 2023, and 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Tech-Verse 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.

The first and only event of the conference was held in 2022. That said, there’s no news regarding future installments as of yet.

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.