The international and expatriate population of the Tokyo metropolitan area has been growing rapidly in recent years. One in every 25 residents of the capital is now of foreign origin, according to government statistics, and despite a dip last year due to the pandemic, this trend is expected to continue going forward as Tokyo and Japan as a whole become more integrated with the global community.
Many people arrive in Japan with little language ability and sometimes struggle to find the goods and services they need to thrive in their new home. Expat Expo Tokyo provides opportunities for international residents to learn about local businesses and government services that can help make their lives here more comfortable. Indeed, the expo is the only event of its kind in Japan that is specifically tailored to foreign residents.
The 2021 expo will take place on Nov. 5 and 6, kicking off at 10 a.m. both days and going to 5 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday. The venue is the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center’s Hamamatsucho-kan, an exhibition and convention center reborn in the recently opened Tokyo Portcity Takeshiba building. The complex is between JR Hamamatsucho Station on the Yamanote Line and Takeshiba Station on the Yurikamome Line. Admission to the expo is free and visitors do not need to register to attend.