Tokyo Game Show 2026: What It’s Really Like to Visit Japan’s Biggest Gaming Event

If you love Japanese games, there’s one event you should definitely know about: Tokyo Game Show, better known as TGS.

This year, I went to Tokyo Game Show 2026 myself!

Huge booths, giant character displays, upcoming games, cosplayers, exclusive merchandise, and thousands of gaming fans all in one place—it really feels like stepping inside the Japanese gaming world for a day.

If you're planning a future trip to Japan and wondering whether Tokyo Game Show is worth adding to your itinerary, here's a look at what the experience is actually like.

What Is Tokyo Game Show?

Tokyo Game Show is one of Japan's biggest gaming events, bringing together major game publishers, developers, hardware companies, indie creators, esports, merchandise, and fans from Japan and around the world.

Unlike Comiket, which is largely centered around fan-created works and doujin culture, TGS has a much stronger industry focus.

This is where you can see what's coming next in gaming.

Major companies build enormous booths to showcase their latest titles, while smaller developers and indie creators get the chance to introduce games you may never have heard of before.

And, of course, there's plenty to see even if you don't play every game on display.

First Impression: It's HUGE

My first thought after entering was simply:

This place is huge.

Looking at photos online doesn't quite prepare you for the scale of the event.

There are massive displays hanging above the exhibition floor, huge screens playing game trailers, elaborate character decorations, demo stations, stages, merchandise areas, and crowds moving in every direction.

Some booths feel less like exhibition stands and more like attractions at a theme park.

And everywhere you look, there's something competing for your attention.

If you're visiting for the first time, don't expect to see absolutely everything.

Trying to do that is probably the fastest way to exhaust yourself!

The Booths Are Part of the Experience

One thing I really enjoyed about TGS is that you don't necessarily need to play a game to enjoy its booth.

Japanese game companies put a huge amount of effort into presentation.

You'll find giant statues, character displays, photo spots, elaborate sets, trailers playing on enormous screens, stage events, and staff dressed to match the world of the game.

Sometimes you'll walk toward a booth simply because you recognize a character.

Other times you'll have absolutely no idea what the game is—but the display looks so interesting that you stop anyway.

That's actually one of the most enjoyable parts of TGS.

You come for the games you already love, but you may leave having discovered something completely new.

Trying Upcoming Games

Of course, one of the biggest reasons people visit Tokyo Game Show is the chance to actually play games.

Many booths have demo stations where visitors can try upcoming or recently released titles.

But here's something first-time visitors should know:

Popular demos can have very long waits.

Depending on the title, you may need to queue, obtain a numbered ticket, or follow a reservation system.

So if there's one particular game you absolutely want to play, don't just wander around and assume you can come back later.

Check that booth early.

If you're visiting mainly for the atmosphere, however, there's no need to spend your entire day standing in lines. Walking around and exploring the exhibition itself is already a huge part of the experience.

It's Not Only About the Big Companies

The enormous booths naturally get most of the attention, but don't ignore the smaller exhibitors.

One of the fun things about TGS is discovering games from independent developers and studios from outside Japan.

These areas have a completely different atmosphere from the giant corporate booths.

You can sometimes get much closer to the people actually making the games, ask questions, and discover something before it becomes widely known.

If you enjoy finding hidden gems, leave some time in your schedule just to wander.

Merchandise, Merchandise, Merchandise

Yes, you can shop.

And if you're the kind of person who comes to Japan with an empty suitcase and somehow returns home with two full ones... you've been warned.

TGS has merchandise from game companies, gaming brands, esports teams, and other exhibitors.

Depending on the year and booth, you'll find everything from T-shirts and acrylic stands to character goods and limited-edition items.

Some merchandise can sell out, particularly popular or event-exclusive products.

If buying something specific is one of your priorities, check the official information before you arrive rather than leaving the shopping area until the very end of the day.

Don't Forget the Photo Spots

Even if you're not planning to play many demos, bring your phone or camera.

Seriously.

TGS is packed with photo opportunities.

Giant characters, game worlds recreated as physical sets, elaborate booth decorations, and cosplay make it very easy to end up with hundreds of photos.

For overseas visitors especially, these are great memories of just how different a Japanese gaming event can feel from simply visiting a game store.

Just remember that photography rules can vary by booth, stage, and exhibit.

If you're unsure whether photography is allowed—especially when photographing a person—ask first.

What Makes TGS Different from Comiket?

If you're an overseas otaku planning a trip to Japan, you might be wondering:

Should I visit Tokyo Game Show or Comiket?

They're actually very different experiences.

Comiket is deeply connected to Japan's fan-created culture. Thousands of individual creators and circles gather to sell doujinshi and other works they've created themselves.

Tokyo Game Show, on the other hand, puts the gaming industry at the center of the experience.

You'll see major publishers, upcoming releases, professional presentations, gaming hardware, indie developers, merchandise, and huge promotional displays.

If Comiket feels like an enormous festival created by fans, TGS feels like the Japanese gaming industry throwing open its doors and saying:

"Come and see what we're working on."

If you love both sides of Japanese otaku culture, they're both worth experiencing for completely different reasons.

My Advice for First-Time Visitors

Here's one thing I'd recommend after walking around TGS myself:

Choose a few priorities before you arrive.

Don't create a list of 30 booths you "must" visit.

Instead, choose perhaps three or four things you really want to see.

Maybe that's:

• one game you want to try,

• one major booth you want to explore,

• some merchandise you want to buy,

• and then plenty of free time to wander.

That last part is important.

Some of the best moments at events like TGS happen when you find something you weren't looking for.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

This sounds boring until you've spent hours walking around a convention hall.

Then it becomes very important advice.

Wear shoes you've already broken in.

You'll be walking, standing, waiting in lines, moving between halls, and probably carrying more merchandise by the end of the day than you planned.

A mobile battery is also extremely useful. Between taking photos, checking maps, looking up booth information, and messaging friends, your phone battery can disappear surprisingly quickly.

And bring a drink.

Future you will be grateful.

Is Tokyo Game Show Worth Visiting?

If gaming is one of the reasons you're interested in Japan, TGS offers something that's difficult to experience anywhere else.

It's not simply about getting early access to new games.

It's seeing how much energy Japan's gaming industry puts into presenting its worlds and characters to fans.

It's walking around and suddenly recognizing a character you love.

It's discovering a strange indie game you've never heard of.

It's taking far too many photos.

And it's being surrounded by thousands of other people who are excited about exactly the same things.

For me, that's the real fun of Tokyo Game Show.

One Last Tip from Japan

If you're planning your Japan trip around Tokyo Game Show, don't make TGS your only otaku stop.

Tokyo has much more waiting for you.

Spend another day hunting for games and retro treasures in Akihabara, explore Ikebukuro for anime and character goods, visit collaboration cafés and pop-up stores, or simply wander around Tokyo and see what you discover.

That's one of the best things about being an otaku in Japan:

The event may end when you leave the venue—but the hunt doesn't.

See you somewhere in Japan!

— TOMODACHI
Your Trusted Otaku Friend in Japan