Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• アニメジャパン（AnimeJapan）
• AnimeJapan, the major Japanese animation expo at Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo Bay, near Odaiba)

History

AnimeJapan（アニメジャパン） is one of the largest expos dedicated to Japanese animation in the world. It is held annually at Tokyo Big Sight （東京ビッグサイト, Tōkyō Biggu Saito）, on the waterfront of Tokyo Bay, in the Ariake（有明） area, near the Odaiba （お台場） district. The expo was created in 2014 following the merger of two major events: the Tokyo International Anime Fair （東京国際アニメフェア, Tōkyō Kokusai Anime Fea） and the Anime Contents Expo （アニメ コンテンツ エキスポ, Anime Kontentsu Ekisupo）. The idea was to bring together under one banner "everything related to anime," according to the now-famous slogan 「アニメのすべてが、ここにある。」 (Anime no subete ga, koko ni aru, "all anime is here").

The expo is organized by the AnimeJapan Jikkō Iinkai （アニメジャパン実行委員会, AnimeJapan Executive Committee）, which includes major industry players: studios such as Toei Animation（東映アニメーション, Tōei Animēshon） and Production I.G, publishers like Kadokawa, music labels, etc. From the first editions, AnimeJapan established itself as a hybrid expo: both a public event with booths, shops, and stages for fans, and a professional platform for producers, broadcasters, and licensees, with days dedicated to business.

The 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 edition was held entirely online. From 2022, AnimeJapan returned in person at Tokyo Big Sight, with a format combining Public Days (days open to fans) and Business Days (professional days). Recent years have seen a multiplication of major announcements (new anime, awaited sequels, films) on the RED STAGE, GREEN STAGE, and BLUE STAGE, making AnimeJapan an essential event to follow Japanese animation news, on par with Comiket for dōjinshi or the Tokyo Game Show for video games.

Location and Date of the Event

• Location: Tokyo Big Sight East Exhibition Hall 1–8 （東京ビッグサイト 東展示棟1–8ホール, Tōkyō Biggu Saito Higashi Tenji-tō 1–8 Hōru）, Ariake（有明） district, Kōtō-ku（江東区） ward, Tokyo, on the waterfront of the bay, near Odaiba.
• Date: in 2025, the Public Days take place on March 22 and 23, 2025 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Business Days on March 24 and 25, 2025 in the conference tower of Tokyo Big Sight. Generally, AnimeJapan is held every year in late March.
• Date type: variable period but concentrated on the fourth week of March: the exact dates (Public Days + Business Days) change each year, while remaining four consecutive days around a weekend.

Schedule

AnimeJapan takes place over four days, in two parts. The first two days are the Public Days（パブリックデイ, paburikku dei）, open to everyone. The East halls of Tokyo Big Sight transform into a huge exhibition space where animation studios, streaming platforms, manga publishers, figurine and merchandise manufacturers hold spectacular booths. You can discover life-size models, photo sets, exhibitions of original artwork, video game or visual novel demo zones, as well as sales areas for exclusive products (limited edition AnimeJapan).

At the same time, several large thematic stages (often named RED STAGE, GREEN STAGE, BLUE STAGE, etc.) host conferences and talk shows with seiyū（声優, seiyū, voice actors）, directors, producers, and teams of the most anticipated series. This is often where season 2 announcements, new films, or highly awaited adaptations are made. The event also highlights the Family Anime Festa area, designed for children, with mascots, play zones, and calmer workshops. Cosplayers have dedicated spaces, with strict rules but a very photographic atmosphere around the iconic Big Sight building.

The next two days are the Business Days（ビジネスデイ, bijinesu dei）, reserved for professionals. They take place in the conference tower of Tokyo Big Sight or another partner venue (for example Tokyo Dome City Prism Hall) depending on the year. There are industry conferences, pitching sessions, B2B meetings between rights holders, distributors, platforms, and international partners. For the general visitor, the main experience happens during the two Public Days, in an atmosphere halfway between Japan Expo, a professional expo, and a gigantic marketing showcase for Japanese anime.

Practical Tips

Photos

Inside Tokyo Big Sight, the light mainly comes from the hall’s neon lights: bring a relatively bright lens (f/2.8 if possible) for booths and stages. Many areas (notably some stages and premieres) prohibit photos or videos: carefully follow signs and announcements. For cosplayers, there are dedicated outdoor zones; always ask permission with a simple "写真を撮ってもいいですか？" (shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?). A medium zoom (24–105 mm) allows you to cover booths, figurine details, and portraits without changing lenses in the crowd.

Weather

AnimeJapan is held in late March in Tokyo, a transitional period to spring. Outdoor temperatures generally range between 8 and 16 °C: it can be mild in the middle of the day but cool early in the morning when queuing at opening, or in the evening returning via Odaiba. Plan layers of clothing (t-shirt, mid-layer, light jacket) that you can remove once inside the warmer hall. A windbreaker or compact umbrella is useful, as Tokyo Bay is exposed to spring showers.

Transport

From Shinjuku or Shibuya, the combination JR Saikyō + Rinkai to Kokusai-Tenjijō is often the simplest. From the Odaiba area, the automated Yurikamome line drops you directly at Tokyo Big Sight. Trains and cars are very crowded around 8–9 a.m. and at closing time: plan your trip and avoid tight connections. If you stay in Odaiba or Ariake, everything can be done on foot along the bay or by a short Yurikamome station ride.

Visitor Tips

Buy your tickets in advance and arrive at least 1 hour before opening to reduce queue time and get good spots for the stages. Check the day before the program of stages and select 2 or 3 highlights maximum: it is unrealistic to see everything. Take a photo of the expo map upon arrival and locate the booths that interest you most (major studios, platforms, exclusive merchandise). If you are in cosplay, check the official rules (accessory length, changing in dedicated dressing rooms, authorized shooting times).

What to Bring

Plan to stand for long periods: comfortable shoes, a small bottle of water, snacks. A portable battery is almost essential for your smartphone (tickets, official app, photos) and possibly a compact wall charger if you find a power outlet. Bring a rigid folder to protect posters and signed shikishi, as well as a foldable bag for purchases of figurines or artbooks. Finally, remember to have a payment card and some cash, as some booths do not accept all foreign payment methods.

Sources & References

• Official AnimeJapan Website (EN) – General Presentation

  Presentation of AnimeJapan, practical information, links to each edition’s pages, details on Public Days and Business Days.

• AnimeJapan 2025 – About / Event Outline

  Official sheet for the 2025 edition: dates, hours, halls used at Tokyo Big Sight, distinction between Public Days / Business Days and information on Family Anime Festa.

• AnimeJapan 2024 – About / Event Outline

  Summary of the 2024 edition: dates of Public Days and Business Days, venues (Tokyo Big Sight and Tokyo Dome City Prism Hall), opening hours, content of different areas.

• AnimeJapan 2023 – Event Outline

  Basic information on the 2023 edition (halls, dates, hours), useful to understand the distribution of Public Days / Business Days after the 100% online period of 2021.

• Article "AnimeJapan" (EN) – Context and History

  Historical summary of the expo (creation in 2014, merger of previous expos, 2020 cancellation, 2021 online edition, return to Tokyo Big Sight in 2022, list of years and venues).

• Guide to AnimeJapan – JW Web Magazine (EN)

  Practical guide for foreign visitors (access to Tokyo Big Sight, visiting tips, presentation of booths, stages, and different AnimeJapan areas).