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What is AnimeJapan?
Formerly known as the International Anime Fair. AnimeJapan is the largest anime convention in Japan and the most important in the world.
Organized by the AnimeJapan Organization, AnimeJapan is held in Tokyo every year at the end of March.
Big companies like Toei Animation, Aniplex, Tatsunoko, Sunrise, and many others are present every year.
AnimeJapan 2023 event will be held from March 25 to 28, 2023, as a hybrid in-person and online event.
Also, the business days will be held on March 27 and 28 and will be online only.
What can I expect in AnimeJapan?
A lot of booths with cosplay of some of the most popular anime of the season, and endless character goods for sale, among many other things.
Companies like KADOKAWA, Aniplex, Toei Animation, Tatsunoko and others exhibit their newly finished and upcoming anime.
In 2022’s show, we can expect a lot of upcoming & airing anime such as:
What is the best part of AnimeJapan?
Without a doubt, the superb photos you can take!
In 2019, there were exhibitors of :
- One Piece
- Yu-Gi-Oh!
- Dragon Ball
- Boku No Hero Academia (My Hero Academia)
- Digimon
- Shingeki No Kyojin (Attack On Titan)
- Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
- Fate/stay night
- Psycho-Pass
etc.
In the Exhibition Hall, you can find statues, official products, posters, and more.
For example, at AnimeJapan 2019, I took a picture with Vegeta, Gabumon, Goku, and a big statue of Al (Full Metal Alchemist).
Your favorite anime are all in one place. AnimeJapan is an event that every anime fan really should attend at least once in their lifetime.
AJ Open Stage
Inside AnimeJapan, AJ Open Stage is a panel where you can expect mini shows, announcements, etc.
AJ Open Stage is divided into five mini stages; Red, Green, and Blue.
In 2019’s show, there were stages of:
- Fate/Extra Last Encore
- The Seven Deadly Sins (Nanatsu No Taizai)
- Captain Tsubasa
etc.
Family Anime Festa
As a part of AnimeJapan, we can find Family Anime Festa. It’s a section of the event for the kids.
Crayon Shin-chan, Dr. Slump, Doraemon, Anpanman, Pokémon, etc. are some of the anime that you can find.
Where can I buy tickets?
For more information about the tickets check the official website.
It’s very unlikely that tickets will sell out. So don’t worry if you don’t buy a ticket beforehand. Just buy it at the entrance.
I live outside Japan, how and where can I buy a ticket?
Unless you’re holding a Japanese visa or passport you’re not able to enter Japan. So, even if you get the tickets you can’t enter the country.
General Information
Where and when is AnimeJapan held? What is the schedule?
After the cancellation of the previous edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AnimeJapan convention returns in person after 3 Years.
The 2023 event will be a hybrid in-person and online event.
- Public Days: Mar 25 [Sat] – 26 [Sun], 2023
- Business Days: Mar 27 [Mon]- 28 [Tue], 2023 *only online
Will the event be online?
Yes, the stages will be available online. At the moment there isn’t information on whether the stream will have English subtitles.
What is the best day to go to Anime Japan?
You can check the AJ Open Stage timetable on their website and decide based on the companies, series, and studio staff that are having events there.
Where can I buy food or drinks?
Inside Tokyo Big Sight, there are several restaurants, vending machines, and convenience stores. Hunger or thirst will not be a problem.
Also at the event, there’s a place called the Food Park where you will find special anime-themed food. Lines here are generally long (sometimes over an hour) so you’d better really want it.
Last year there were dishes of Fate/stay night, Gintama, Osomatsu-san, Blood Blockade Battlefront (Kekkai Sensen), etc.
What should I bring?
- Something to entertain yourself while in line
- Comfortable shoes because you will walk a lot
English Friendly?
The most necessary information is in English.
The first time I went (March 2016) I did not speak Japanese very well, and I did not have any communication problems.
How much money do I need?
It depends on how much you want to buy. Aside from the ticket, you can go to AnimeJapan without spending a single penny.
What I would recommend though is to bring cash, as very few booths accept credit card. If you forget to, however, there are ATMs at the event.
Do companies give away free stuff at AnimeJapan?
Yes, there are a lot of freebies/giveaways. For example, free manga, free bags, etc.
Are items cheaper in AnimeJapan than in a regular store?
No, the stuff in AnimeJapan is about the same price as you would find them at in any anime store in Japan. That said, some goods are early releases and others are exclusive.
What are the queues like at AnimeJapan?
If you go after 12 pm, you will not need to line up. If you go before, you may need to queue for 3 to 5 hours.
If you don’t believe me, I leave you a photo of what queuing looks like before 12 pm.
What time should I leave?
Fifteen minutes before they close I recommend that you start heading towards the station. Otherwise, you will have to wait for a very long time before you even reach the doors of the train. I cannot overstate the sheer amount of people showing up for AnimeJapan. But that’s what makes it an amazing experience, right?
Is it worth it?
Yes, you gotta go. It’s a magnificent and spectacular anime event for every anime fan.
In my opinion, it’s even better than Comiket.
The cosplayers and hundreds of exhibits make AnimeJapan the best anime convention in the world.
I took a great picture with the Gemini Cloth of Saint Seiya, and with a Vegeta & Goku mascot. I saw a big statue of Al (Full Metal Alchemist), and I even got Boku No Hero Academia manga for free. There were also hundreds of goods from my favorite anime, etc.
AnimeJapan, without question, is the best anime event in Japan.
Tips
- If you don’t have a ticket, don’t worry, they sell them at the entrance of the event. When I went, I didn’t have a ticket, and I bought it outside the hall.
- If you or your travel buddy speaks Japanese, check the AJ Open Stage timetable. (Or google translate their website) Based on that, decide the time and day you will go to AnimeJapan.
- If you decide to go before 12pm, bring something to kill time while waiting in line.
- Bring a camera and/or your smartphone with a full charge, as you will have many opportunities for photos.
- Don’t forget to bring cash.
- If you are staying/ living in Shinjuku, Shibuya, or in the center of Tokyo, Tokyo Big Sight is a bit far. Be aware of the travel distance.
- Before taking a picture of a cosplayer, ask for permission.
Have fun, AnimeJapan is an extraordinary event 😀