12 Popular Japanese Anime Festivals

Animes and mangas represent a pretty great part of the Japanese culture. It attracts more and more people come to Japan to seek the world of Animation. So we selected 12 popular Anime Events for you to learn more. If you are in Japan while there is an Anime event going on, you should really check it out because you can have so much fun there!

1. Anime Japan (Tokyo)
Anime Japan, AKA Tokyo International Anime Fair, one of the largest animation related events in the world, is the premier convention of Japanese animation industry, which is held annually at Odaiba's Big Sight convention center.

Dates: Normally in late March.
March 21-22, 2020 for public dates, 23-24 for business dates. 
Admission ticket: 1900-50000 yen PP
Where to buy: online https://www.anime-japan.jp/en/ticket/outline_outside/ Or buy onsite.
Venue: Odaiba's Big Sight convention center
Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Entrance until 16:30)

2. NatsuComi (Tokyo)
NatsuComi or The summer Comic Market is the comic Market(Comiket) that held in summer. It is Japan’s largest event that unites gamers and anime lovers under one roof. 

Dates: Normally on Second Friday to Sunday of every August
Admission ticket: 500 yen /day PP
Where to buy: Book online https://www.comiket.co.jp/info-c/e_application/e_application.html
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight
Opening Hours: 10:00-16:00 

3. Animelo Summer Live (Tokyo)
Animelo Summer Live is an anime song festival which is the world’s biggest, and it lasts 3 nights. The performers are singers and dubber for anime games, also it is possible to see some mainstream performers on the stage. Normally admission tickets start to sell at end of July cost.

Dates: Normally at end of March
Admission ticket: 5500 to 7000 yen PP
Where to buy: Book online https://www.comiket.co.jp/info-c/e_application/e_application.html 
Venue: Indefinite, Saitama Super Arena for 2021

4. World Cosplay Summit (Nagoya)
This international event has the greatest and most fantastic cosplayers from all the world in attendance. It is an annual festival from the end of July to the beginning of August, the parade and championship are normally held on the first Saturday and Sunday of August. Keep your camera ready to snap a shot with so many cosplayers who dressed on incredible customes at everywhere of Nagoya for the whole week. It will be held online this year due to the pandemic issue.

Dates: Normally at end of July to the beginning of August
Admission ticket: 2000-10000 yen, the specific price depends on the event you tend to participate.
Venue: Aichi Arts Center

5. Jump Festa (Tokyo)
Jump Festa which started in 1999, is an annual animations festival that normally be held on December every year, particularly in the characters of popular title boasted by Jump magazines gather (Weekly Shonen Jump, Jump SQ, Young Jump, Ultra Jump). It is possible to buy some Jump feste limited items and pre-sales items at the manufacturers’ booth. The latest information on manga (comic) and games, trial session etc., will be held.

Dates: Normally at the late December 
Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Last admission until 16:30)
Admission ticket: Free
Venue: Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Halls 1-8

6. Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair
The Kyoto International Manga Anima Fair AKA KYOMAF, unlike other Anime events in Japan, this mid-scale event is prone to contribute to the anime and manga industry. This fair exhibit by individual booths from companies in the educational industries, publishing and broadcasting, that aiming in search of the next generation of talent.

Dates: Normally at the late September
Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Last admission until 16:30)
Admission ticket : 1500 yen PP (1200 yen in advance)
Where to buy ticket: On site
Venue: Makuhari Messe/ Kyoto International Manga Museum/ Toei Kyoto Studio Park

7. Toyako Manga Anime Festa (Hokkaido)
This event sets in the normally quiet town -- Toyako Onsen town. It started in 2010, beside the anime cosplay performance, forum, guest talk show accompany a stamp rally, mini live, Anison dance parties, Itasha exhibition, anime dubber talk show, Dojin magazine sales, etc. The venue is around Lake Toya, with wearing on cosplay clothes, you can enter hotels, restaurants, convenience stores. Other original exhibitions and voice actor talk show, mini live, Itasha exhibition, Dojin magazine sales, Anison dance parties etc. are held.

Dates: Normally Saturday and Sunday in June or July
Admission ticket: Free for wandering/2500 Yen for an all-access pass
Venue: Toyako Onsen Town / Showa Shinzan

8. Family Anime Festa (Tokyo)
This is a family only event which children and their parents or guardians can participate freely and safely.

9. Jisedai World Hobby Fair
The Jisedai World Hobby Fair, is also known as World Hobby Fair or WHF for abbreviation, it started at 1994. This event is held by Shogakukan that sponsors video games and toys in Japan. The exhibition includes toys and video games from many famous companies, such as Shogakukan, Capcom , Bandai, and Nintendo. 

Admission ticket: Free
Venue/Date/Opening hours in different cities:
Tokyo: Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Halls/late January/09:00-16:00
Nagoya: Nagoya Dome/middle January/09:00-16:00
Osaka: Kyocera Dome Osaka/ early Febuary/09:00-16:00
Fukuoka:Fukuoka Paypay Dome/early Febuary/09:00-16:00

10. International Tokyo Toy Show
The Tokyo Toy Show is Japan’s biggest show for the toy trade, and it is not only just a stuffy toy trade show, there is a stage with entertainment with apperances from many characters and activities for children and those who are children in heart. The event is open to the public on the weekend, bt first two days normally are for trade only.

Dates: Mid June 2021
Admission ticket: Free for last 2 public days
Where to buy ticket: On site
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight

11. Tokyo Game Show
The Tokyo Game Show is one of the top game shows in the world.  Third day and forth day are open to public, the first two days of the event for business only. There are many booths from all the major game publishers, console makers and mobile gaming platforms. Besides that, there are also a lot of other entertainment such as cos-players, a dedicated area for families with small kids.

Dates: Late September
Opening Hours: 10:00-17:00
Admission ticket: 2000 yen PP (1500 yen book in advance)
Where to buy ticket: On site
Venue: Makuhari Messe

12. Tokyo Anime Award Festival (TAAF)
Tokyo Anime Award Festival is run by TAAF Office, organized by the Association of Japanese Animations and TAAF Executive Committee, and co-hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. More it is an international animation event. The gist of this festival for TAAF are to and contribute to the development and promotion of animation culture and industry, to explore new creators, to offer audience and creators the excitement and inspiration, to collate and screen high-quality animation works of superior originality.
Dates: Begining of March 
Venue: Indefinite, 2021 at Tokyo Ikubukuro