Japan is where anime, manga and games come from, and the country celebrates them all year. Big conventions fill Tokyo Big Sight and Makuhari Messe, museums and galleries stage exhibitions for long-running series, and whole neighbourhoods like Akihabara and Nakano are built around figures, cards and retro games. Here are the events, exhibitions and places for fans of Japanese pop culture.
POP YOKAI at the Yokai Art Museum: contemporary yokai sculpture in two exhibition phases, with about 100 modern takes on legendary supernatural creatures.
26 Dec 2025 – 30 Nov 2026KagawaIbaraki theme park dedicated to Sylvanian Families with life-sized replicas of homes, a treehouse, museum exhibits and interactive attractions.
Inashiki · IbarakiYour season-by-season guide to 2026 anime, updated for fall: what aired, what's airing now, what's coming in 2027 and where to watch it all from anywhere.
Immersive anime collaboration event featuring outdoor attractions, interactive activities, and themed food where visitors experience the Attack on Titan world.
14 Mar – 13 Dec 2026Awaji · HyogoA regional revitalization initiative in the hometown of Attack on Titan creator Hajime Isayama, featuring two museums dedicated to the manga series.
Hita · OitaJapan Game Awards 2026: "Pokemon Pokopia" takes the Grand Award, "Word Game" the Game Designers Award, and the Pokemon series a ministry honour for 30 years.
2026/09/15Anime Tokyo Station hosts a special exhibition on Fist of the North Star, with production materials and a character quiz.
22 Aug – 8 Nov 2026TokyoOfficial ONE PIECE flagship store opening December 2025, featuring 500 exclusive items themed to the manga and anime's iconic islands and locations.
TokyoKobito Zukan, also spelled Kobito Dukan: what kobitos are, the most popular characters from Nabata Toshitaka's field guides, and where to find kobito goods.
2026/03/09Uzumasa Kyoto Village (Toei Kyoto Studio Park) fills with yokai every autumn: two evening parades, dance shows, daily yokai greetings and limited yokai food.
12 Sep – 29 Nov 2026KyotoOfficial JoJo's Bizarre Adventure destination in Tokyo with interactive games, the Stand Ability Research Institute, themed cafe, and exclusive collectibles.
TokyoFrieren Café 'Flower Garden' returns to Tokyo, Osaka & Nagoya this summer! Themed dishes, exclusive merchandise & magical atmosphere. Visit now.
2025/07/16Around 300 works by Mizuki Shigeru, from childhood drawings to the yokai he spent a lifetime recording, at the Kobe Fashion Museum, September to November.
12 Sep – 29 Nov 2026Kobe · HyogoMuseum showcasing Studio Ghibli's animation history through permanent exhibitions of techniques and artifacts, designed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Mitaka · TokyoDetective Conan Land toured 14 Japanese cities from 11 July 2025 to 12 January 2026 with stamp rallies, photo spots and merchandise for fans of the detective.
2025/06/27Fifteen years of MAPPA at the Yurakucho Museum this autumn, with original drawings and production art from 23 titles, three of them given their own areas.
16 Sep – 7 Dec 2026TokyoAnime and video game theme park on Awaji Island with permanent attractions based on Naruto, Godzilla, and other franchises plus rotating exhibits.
Awaji · HyogoPokémon Center Hiroshima reopens April 2025 at JR Station with Gyarados Plaza playground - new location, exclusive merchandise & photo spots. Visit now.
2025/01/15By month: October 2026, November 2026
