# Tech meetups and conferences in Tokyo

Tokyo has a deep developer scene: on most weeknights there is a study session, a user group night or a round of lightning talks somewhere in the city, and most of them are free and hosted in company offices. The catch is that nearly all of it is announced in Japanese, on platforms visitors have never heard of. The list below is updated daily with tech events, and the rest of this page explains how to find and join the others.

## Where meetups are listed

Most Japanese tech events live on [connpass](https://connpass.com/), a platform built for IT study sessions (勉強会, benkyokai). Search by keyword or tag (a language, a framework, a cloud) and narrow it to Tokyo. The pages are in Japanese, but they all follow the same pattern: date, venue, capacity and a set of participation slots. [Doorkeeper](https://www.doorkeeper.jp/?locale=en) is the other long-standing Japanese platform; it has an English interface and a mix of Japanese and English community events. TECH PLAY lists events too, many of them hosted by companies.

English-language groups lean towards Meetup, and startup and community events often use Peatix or Luma. Events usually run in the language they are advertised in: an English listing means English talks, a Japanese listing means Japanese ones, even if some people there speak English. TokyoDev, a site for international developers in Japan, keeps a calendar of English-friendly developer events and is a good first stop.

- Join the connpass group of a community you like. Members get an email when the group posts a new event, and popular ones fill fast.
- Search in Japanese too: 初心者 (beginners), ハンズオン (hands-on), もくもく会 (quiet sessions where everyone works on their own thing).

- → [Tech & Meetups events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/tech.md)

## English-friendly communities

A handful of English or bilingual communities have been around for years. Hacker News Tokyo is the long-running startup and tech social, with regular evenings held mostly in English. Tokyo Tech Meetup is a bilingual evening with Japan tech news, short talks and networking. Language communities such as Tokyo Python, Tokyo Rust and Tokyo Rubyist Meetup show up on TokyoDev's calendar. Groups pause and restart, so look at their most recent event before planning around one.

The big Japanese user groups are worth a visit even if your Japanese is limited. [JAWS-UG](https://jaws-ug.jp/), the Japan AWS User Group, is a network of dozens of regional and topic chapters, and its Tokyo chapter is the largest. [GDG Tokyo](https://gdg.community.dev/gdg-tokyo/), the local Google Developer Group, has in recent years held a Google I/O Extended event in summer to talk through the year's announcements. Slides are full of English terms and code, and people are often happy to switch to English over pizza afterwards.

- → [New in Tokyo: how to find events and people](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/new-in-tokyo.md)
- → [Going to events alone in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/solo.md)

## How a Tokyo meetup works

A weeknight meetup usually starts after work in a company office or an event space. Talks come first: one or two longer sessions, then a round of lightning talks (LT), about five minutes each. After that comes the 懇親会 (konshinkai), a networking hour with pizza, snacks and drinks, which is where most of the real conversation happens. Many study sessions are free. Some collect a small fee for food, and the konshinkai is sometimes a separate slot with its own price.

Sign-up matters more than in many cities. On connpass every event has participation slots (参加枠), and each slot is either first come, first served (先着) or a lottery (抽選) drawn on a date shown on the page. When a first-come slot is full you go on the waiting list (補欠), and when someone cancels, the first person on the list moves up automatically and gets an email. That is why the most important bit of etiquette is to cancel as soon as you know you can't come. A no-show keeps someone on the waiting list at home.

- Read the access notes (会場, 入館方法) on the event page. Office buildings often have a reception desk, and late entry is not always possible.
- Register under the name you will give at reception, and have the event page or your connpass reception ticket (受付票) ready on your phone.
- Many groups welcome first-time LT speakers. Five minutes in simple English is the quickest way to meet people.

## Big conferences through the year

The year has a few fixed points. Developers Summit (デブサミ), run by the publisher Shoeisha, is a large developer conference usually held in February, and in recent years it has added a smaller summer edition. In spring, SusHi Tech Tokyo, a startup and technology conference organised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, fills [Tokyo Big Sight](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E3%83%93%E3%83%83%E3%82%B0%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%20%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B1%9F%E6%9D%B1%E5%8C%BA%E6%9C%89%E6%98%8E3-11-1) and ends with a day open to the public. [AWS Summit Japan](https://aws.amazon.com/jp/events/summits/japan/) usually takes place in June at [Makuhari Messe](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=%E5%B9%95%E5%BC%B5%E3%83%A1%E3%83%83%E3%82%BB%20%E5%8D%83%E8%91%89%E7%9C%8C%E5%8D%83%E8%91%89%E5%B8%82%E7%BE%8E%E6%B5%9C%E5%8C%BA%E4%B8%AD%E7%80%AC2-1) in Chiba and is free with advance registration. [Interop Tokyo](https://www.interop.jp/), the big internet and networking show, is also at Makuhari Messe in June.

In October, [CEATEC](https://www.ceatec.com/en/), the electronics and IT show run by the industry body JEITA, takes over Makuhari Messe, again free with registration. [Japan IT Week](https://www.japan-it.jp/hub/en-gb.html) holds trade shows several times a year at Tokyo Big Sight and Makuhari Messe; they are sales exhibitions more than talks. Community conferences such as [PyCon JP](https://www.pycon.jp/) and [RubyKaigi](https://rubykaigi.org/) are run by volunteers and move between cities, so check where the next one is before you plan a trip around it.

- Register online before you go. Most big shows want advance registration, and without it you queue at the entrance.
- Makuhari Messe is a short walk from [Kaihin-Makuhari Station](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=JR%E4%BA%AC%E8%91%89%E7%B7%9A%20%E6%B5%B7%E6%B5%9C%E5%B9%95%E5%BC%B5%E9%A7%85%20%E5%8D%83%E8%91%89%E7%9C%8C%E5%8D%83%E8%91%89%E5%B8%82%E7%BE%8E%E6%B5%9C%E5%8C%BA%E3%81%B2%E3%81%B3%E9%87%8E2-110&query_place_id=ChIJiUOjhyCCImARw6fSeGNJMEY) on the JR Keiyo Line. Allow about 40 minutes from Tokyo Station.

- → [Tech & Meetups events in Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/tech.md)
- → [Events in Koto](https://eventstokyo.com/en/koto.md)

## Business cards and small etiquette

At developer meetups nobody expects formality: t-shirts are normal, and in English-speaking groups first names are fine. At conferences, company-hosted events and anything with a business side, meishi (business cards) still matter. Offer and receive them with both hands, take a moment to read the card, and keep it on the table while you talk rather than putting it straight into a pocket. If you don't have cards, just say so; plenty of developers swap social profiles with a QR code instead.

A few small things help. Bring your own laptop and charger to hands-on sessions. Ask before photographing slides, because some talks are marked no photos or no social media (撮影NG, SNS投稿NG). At the end, help clear cups and pizza boxes: the organisers are volunteers who also do the cleaning up. If you enjoyed the evening, a short post with the event hashtag is the usual thank-you.

- → [Going to events in Tokyo: the basics](https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/event-basics.md)

## All events, soonest first

- **[Indoor Drone Flying Experience for Beginners](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/indoor-drone-flying-experience-for-beginners)** — Sun, Oct 25, 2026 09:30 (JST) · price on the official site
- **[118th CoderDojo Chofu](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/118-coderdojo)** — Sun, Oct 25, 2026 09:30 (JST) · Across Venue (Chofu) · price on the official site
- **[In-Person Children's Programming Workshop: Inagi Dojo Session 102](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/coderdojo102)** — Sun, Oct 25, 2026 13:00 (JST) · Inagi City i Plaza (Inagi) · price on the official site
- **[Tokyo Mejiro: Minecraft Experience Event (October 25)](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/tokyo-mejiro-minecraft-experience-event-october-25)** — Sun, Oct 25, 2026 13:30 (JST) · Hack Tokyo Campus (Shinjuku) · price on the official site
- **[National License Level 2 (Beginner) – 3 Consecutive Sunday Sessions, Summer Campaign Price](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/10-2-kpi-park)** — Sun, Oct 18, 2026 09:30 – Sun, Oct 25, 2026 (JST) · Inside KPI PARK (Totsuka, Yokohama) · price on the official site
- **[2026 Tokyo International Audio Show](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/2026-tokyo-international-audio-show)** — Fri, Oct 23, 2026 10:00 – Sun, Oct 25, 2026 (JST) · Tokyo International Forum (Chiyoda) · Free entry
- **[Packet Capture and Network Analysis Seminar Using Wireshark](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/wireshark-2)** — Mon, Oct 26, 2026 10:00 (JST) · Rooms Suidobashi 2nd Conference Room (Chiyoda) · price on the official site
- **[143rd Nishi-Nippori.rb In-Person Work Session](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/143rd-nishi-nipporirb-in-person-work-session)** — Mon, Oct 26, 2026 20:05 (JST) · Nippori FRIENDS X (Arakawa) · price on the official site
- **[Local Government Digitalization Promotion Fair 2026](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/local-government-digitalization-promotion-fair-2026)** — Tue, Oct 27, 2026 09:30 – Wed, Oct 28, 2026 (JST) · Makuhari Messe (美浜区) · Free entry
- **[Practical Seminar: Packet Capture and Trend Analysis with Wireshark](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/wireshark)** — Tue, Oct 27, 2026 10:00 (JST) · Rooms Suidobashi 2nd Conference Room (Chiyoda) · price on the official site
- **[LYST Cybersecurity Seminar: Building a Company That Can Defend Itself](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/lyst-2)** — Tue, Oct 27, 2026 13:30 (JST) · DDS Seminar Room (Minato) · price on the official site
- **[National Second-Class Drone Pilot License Course (Beginner Friendly) at Midoriyama – Flexible Scheduling](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/kurs-podgotovki-k-poluceniiu-vtoroi-nacionalnoi-kvalifikacii-operatora-dronov-dlia)** — Tue, Oct 6, 2026 09:30 – Tue, Oct 27, 2026 (JST) · Midori-yama Futsal Park · price on the official site
- **[[Registration Form] Startup × Major Corporation 'Co-Creation Consultation Meeting'](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/registration-form-startup-major-corporation-co-creation-consultation)** — Tue, Oct 27, 2026 18:00 (JST) · Osaki Bright Core Hall (Shinagawa) · Free entry
- **[Wireless LAN Analysis Seminar with Wireshark](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/wiresharklan)** — Wed, Oct 28, 2026 10:00 (JST) · Rooms Suidobashi 4th Conference Room (Chiyoda) · price on the official site
- **[34th Japan NCSLI Technical Forum](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/34-ncsli)** — Wed, Oct 28, 2026 10:15 (JST) · Curian Shinagawa Ward General Civic Hall (Shinagawa) · ¥4,000
- **[Tochigi Innovation Pitch 2026](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/tochigi-innovation-pitch-2026)** — Wed, Oct 28, 2026 18:00 (JST) · TAKANAWA GATEWAY Link Scholars' Hub (LiSH) Studio1/Lab (Minato) · Free entry
- **[Introduction to Malware Analysis with Packet Capture Seminar](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/malware)** — Thu, Oct 29, 2026 10:00 (JST) · Rooms Suidobashi 2nd Conference Room (Chiyoda) · price on the official site
- **[9. Underground Space Exploration: District Heating and Cooling Systems Supporting the Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho Area](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/9-underground-space-exploration-district-heating-and-cooling)** — Thu, Oct 29, 2026 10:30 (JST) · Marunouchi Nijubashi Building (Chiyoda) · ¥1,500
- **[Aoyama Startup Acceleration Center 11th Anniversary Event & 22nd Demo Day](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/asac11-22)** — Fri, Oct 30, 2026 16:00 (JST) · Tokyo Innovation Base (Chiyoda) · Free entry
- **[10-Hour Drone Flight Training Course (with Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Approval Support)](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/10-hour-drone-flight-training-course-with-ministry-of)** — Tue, Sep 1, 2026 – Fri, Oct 30, 2026 (JST) · Green Hills Midoriyama Futsal Park · ¥165,000〜
- **[Institute of Statistical Mathematics Kids' Open Day 2026](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/institute-of-statistical-mathematics-kids-open-day-2026)** — Sat, Oct 31, 2026 (JST) · The Institute of Statistical Mathematics · price on the official site
- **[AIFJ2026: International Festival Connecting AI, Video, Creators, Media, and Entertainment](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/aifj2026aiip)** — Sat, Oct 31, 2026 10:00 (JST) · Tokyo Innovation Base (Chiyoda) · price on the official site
- **[National Level 2 Drone License Course (October, Beginners Welcome) – Enrollment Open at Chiba Nagareyama IC School](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/210drone-safety-licenseic)** — Sun, Sep 20, 2026 10:00 – Sat, Oct 31, 2026 (JST) · Drone License Center Chiba Nagareyama IC School · price on the official site
- **[Drone Certification Preparation Course (30,000 yen)](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/30000jpy)** — Sat, Sep 12, 2026 17:00 – Sat, Oct 31, 2026 (JST) · Green Hills Midoriyama · price on the official site
- **[Indoor Drone Flight Experience for Beginners](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/indoor-drone-flight-experience-for-beginners)** — Sun, Nov 1, 2026 09:30 (JST) · price on the official site
- **[[Flexible Scheduling Available] Level 2 National Drone License (Practical Training & Certification Exam)](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/kurs-i-ekzamen-na-polucenie-gosudarstvennoi-licenzii-vtorogo-klassa-gibkii)** — Sun, Nov 1, 2026 10:00 – Mon, Nov 30, 2026 (JST) · KPI PARK (Totsuka, Yokohama) · price on the official site
- **[⭐️ Now Accepting Applications: November National Level 2 Drone License Course (Beginner) at Drone Safety License Chiba Nagareyama IC School](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/211drone-safety-licenseic)** — Sun, Nov 1, 2026 10:00 – Mon, Nov 30, 2026 (JST) · Drone License Center Chiba Nagareyama IC School · price on the official site
- **[Enrollment Open for Class 2 Drone Pilot License Courses (Beginners, Extended Visual Range, and Night Operations) at Drone License Center Chiba Nagareyama IC Campus](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/enrollment-open-for-class-2-drone-pilot-license)** — Mon, Nov 2, 2026 09:30 – Mon, Nov 30, 2026 (JST) · Drone License Center Chiba Nagareyama IC School · price on the official site
- **[DX Comprehensive Expo 2026 Autumn Tokyo](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/dxexpo-2026)** — Wed, Nov 4, 2026 10:00 – Fri, Nov 6, 2026 (JST) · Makuhari Messe (美浜区) · Free entry
- **[UI Development and Quality Standards in the Age of AI: Defining Usable, Lasting Interfaces (In-Person Event)](https://eventstokyo.com/en/events/ui-development-and-quality-standards-in-the-age)** — Wed, Nov 4, 2026 13:30 (JST) · Bellesalle Shiba Park, Room 5 (Minato) · Free entry

Showing 30 of 101.

## Questions people ask

**Are tech meetups in Tokyo free?**
Most community study sessions are free or ask a small fee for food and drinks. Trade-show style events are often free with registration, while developer conferences usually sell tickets.

**Do I need to speak Japanese to attend?**
Not for English-listed groups. Japanese-listed events run in Japanese, but slides often carry English terms and code, and many people are glad to chat in English at the networking part.

**What is connpass?**
A Japanese platform for IT study sessions where most of Tokyo's developer meetups are listed. You need a free account to register for an event and to cancel.

**What does 補欠 mean on connpass?**
You are on the waiting list. If someone cancels, the first person on the list moves up automatically and receives an email.

**What is a konshinkai at a meetup?**
The networking part after the talks, usually with pizza and drinks. It is sometimes a separate slot with its own fee, so check the event page.

**When are the big tech conferences in Tokyo?**
Developers Summit is usually in February, SusHi Tech Tokyo in spring, AWS Summit Japan and Interop Tokyo in June, and CEATEC in October. Dates shift a little each year, so check the official sites.

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Tokyo Events: https://eventstokyo.com/en/guides/tech