Tourism EXPO Japan 2026: September 24–27 at Tokyo Big Sight—Admission Tickets Go on Sale July 10

Tourism EXPO Japan 2026 (TEJ), one of the world’s largest travel and tourism exhibitions, will be held from September 24 to 27, 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight.

Bringing together destinations from across Japan and around the world, the four-day event welcomes approximately 180,000 visitors and features more than 1,300 exhibition booths, creating an atmosphere comparable to a world exposition. Tourism boards, airlines, travel agencies, hotels, convention bureaus, and tourism-related organizations gather in one venue to showcase the latest travel experiences, destinations, and industry innovations.

This article introduces the event overview, highlights from the 2025 edition, what to expect at Tourism EXPO Japan 2026, and how to participate.

Tourism EXPO Japan 2026: Event Overview

Two Trade Days and Two Public Days

Tourism EXPO Japan continues to grow as one of the world’s largest comprehensive tourism events, bringing together outbound travel, inbound tourism, and domestic travel under one platform. Each year, a wide range of companies and organizations participate from countries and regions around the world.

The 2024 edition, held at Tokyo Big Sight, attracted 182,934 visitors. In 2025, the event welcomed 127,677 visitors to Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, exceeding its attendance target.

For 2026, the organizers are targeting more than 1,300 exhibition booths and approximately 180,000 visitors.

Related on-site reports from the 2024 and 2025 editions are available separately

The event returns to Tokyo Big Sight in 2026 after being held at Aichi Sky Expo in Aichi Prefecture the previous year.

Tourism EXPO Japan 2026 will take place over four days, from September 24 (Thursday) to September 27 (Sunday), 2026. The first two days, September 24 and 25, are designated as Trade Days for professionals in the travel, tourism, and MICE industries, while September 26 and 27 are open to the general public as Public Days.

Held alongside Tourism EXPO Japan are VISIT JAPAN Travel & MICE Mart 2026, a business matching event focused on Japan’s inbound travel and MICE industries, and Travel Solutions Exhibition 2026, which showcases digital technologies and regional solutions supporting the tourism sector.

By bringing together local governments, destination management organizations (DMOs), accommodation providers, transportation operators, and tourism-related businesses from across Japan, these concurrent events create new opportunities for business development, partnership building, and industry collaboration.

The 2026 Theme: “The Changing Nature of Travel”

The theme of Tourism EXPO Japan 2026 is “The Changing Nature of Travel.” As people’s values, interests, and preferred ways of traveling continue to diversify, the event aims to create an experience that can be enjoyed by everyone who has an interest in travel. A key objective is to present new styles of travel and the future potential of tourism, including journeys that help visitors rediscover the appeal of local destinations, deepen their knowledge, or support their physical and mental well-being.

The 2026 program will be organized around four main areas of activity.

Exhibitions and Business Meetings Bring Together Tourism Professionals from Around the World

Destinations, travel companies, destination management organizations (DMOs), local governments, and other tourism-related organizations from Japan and overseas will exhibit at the event, presenting the latest travel information and tourism products.

For general visitors, the exhibition offers opportunities to explore booths representing countries and regions from around the world while experiencing traditional dance, stage performances, regional cuisine, and other cultural programs.

The TEJ Collection will feature themed exhibits covering drive tourism, stargazing tourism, content tourism, cruises, and other travel segments. In 2026, wellness and gastronomy will be added as new themes, expanding the range of tourism content related to culture, nature, food, and hands-on experiences.

During the Trade and Press Days, pre-arranged business meetings will be held between exhibitors and professionals responsible for product development and sales in the domestic, inbound, and outbound travel markets.

More than 6,200 business meetings are scheduled. Buyers involved in MICE and educational travel will also participate, with dedicated networking opportunities intended to strengthen B2B exchange.

At the 2025 edition, 1,350 companies and organizations from 82 countries and regions participated. For 2026, more than 1,300 exhibition booths have already been fully booked.

Open Business Meetings
Tourism professionals visiting the exhibition can explore the booths freely and approach exhibitors directly for discussions.

Pre-Arranged Appointment Meetings
Through the official matching system, registered buyers and exhibiting sellers can arrange meetings in advance and conduct scheduled business discussions during the event.

Business Meeting Registration Schedule

June 25, 2026: Buyer and seller registration opens
July 21, 2026: Appointment matching begins
September 16, 2026: Buyer and seller registration closes, and appointment matching ends

TEJ Conference Explores the Future of the Global Tourism Industry

The TEJ Conference will bring together government leaders, international organizations, and tourism industry experts to discuss the future of tourism.

The keynote session on September 24 will feature representatives from the International Horticultural Expo 2027 Association in the first session, followed by speakers from UN Tourism and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in the second.

On the same day, the 9th TEJ Tourism Ministers’ Meeting will convene tourism ministers from around the world alongside representatives from international organizations, including UN Tourism, WTTC, PATA, ERIA, and ETC, as well as Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA), and the event organizers. Participants will discuss global tourism policies and future industry perspectives.

On September 25, three symposiums focusing on domestic tourism, inbound tourism, and outbound travel will be held. Recordings will also be made available on YouTube after the event.

WELCOME RECEPTION Brings Together the Global Tourism Community

On September 24, Tourism EXPO Japan will host the WELCOME RECEPTION, a networking event for international and domestic guests, exhibitors, buyers, sponsors, and other industry stakeholders.

Participants will have opportunities to enjoy food, beverages, and entertainment while building new business relationships and expanding their professional networks.

Japan Tourism Awards Recognize Outstanding Tourism Initiatives

The Japan Tourism Awards recognize companies, organizations, local governments, and individuals that have made significant contributions to sustainable tourism and regional revitalization in Japan and abroad. The awards aim to highlight exemplary initiatives and promote the continued development of the tourism industry.

For 2026, two new awards have been introduced: the Prime Minister’s Award and the Startup Special Award. The award ceremony will take place on September 24 at 9:45 a.m. on the East Exhibition Hall A Stage at Tokyo Big Sight.

Official Mascot “Hashibiryokou” Debuts

Tourism EXPO Japan introduces its first official mascot, Hashibiryokou.

Inspired by the idea that “even a bird known for standing still can’t resist setting off on a journey,” the character symbolizes the excitement of travel and the anticipation of discovering new places and experiences. Official merchandise, including pin badges, T-shirts, and tote bags, will be available for purchase at the venue.

Popular Travel YouTubers Join as Special Influencers

Popular Japanese travel YouTubers Saionji, who has more than 870,000 subscribers, and ZAKI have been appointed as special influencers for Tourism EXPO Japan 2026.

They will share highlights and behind-the-scenes coverage of the event through YouTube, helping audiences experience the exhibition remotely.

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More Information to Be Announced—Admission Tickets Available from July 10

Additional exhibitor announcements and event updates will be released in the lead-up to Tourism EXPO Japan 2026, with admission tickets going on sale from July 10. MICE TIMES ONLINE will continue to update this article as new information becomes available and provide ongoing coverage leading up to the event.

Event Name: Tourism EXPO Japan 2026

Trade Days
September 24 (Thursday) and September 25 (Friday), 2026
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Public Days
September 26 (Saturday), 2026: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
September 27 (Sunday), 2026: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Venue: Tokyo Big Sight

Organizers:
Japan Travel and Tourism Association
Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA)
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

Concurrent Events:
VISIT JAPAN Travel & MICE Mart 2026
Travel Solutions Exhibition 2026

Website　https://www.t-expo.jp/
Schedule　https://www.t-expo.jp/

Admission Fees (Public Days)

• Same-day ticket: ¥1,500
• Advance ticket: ¥1,200
• Children of elementary school age and younger: Free (must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)
• Students: Free (advance registration and presentation of a valid student ID on the day of admission are required)

Editor’s Note: What I Learned by Attending as Both an Exhibitor and a Visitor

I attended Tourism EXPO Japan 2025 from two perspectives: as both an exhibitor and a visitor. My first impression was that it felt remarkably similar to a world exposition. The event took place during the same period as Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, and Tourism EXPO Japan brought together destinations from around the world and across Japan in one venue. Throughout the public days, I heard many visitors describe it as “just like a World Expo.” Families, including parents with children and multi-generational groups, were a common sight, with many visitors exploring the exhibition as if they were traveling from one destination to another.

From the business perspective, the experience was equally impressive. All of my scheduled B2B meeting slots were fully booked. Whether participating as an exhibitor or as a buyer, I found Tourism EXPO Japan to be an efficient place to meet the right people—provided that appointments and preparation are made in advance.

For anyone interested in travel, global tourism trends, destination marketing, or building new business relationships, Tourism EXPO Japan offers valuable opportunities to discover new ideas and connect with industry professionals from Japan and around the world.