Venture Café Tokyo
FREEThe social heart of the scene. The weekly Thursday Gathering is free and the easiest place to meet people.
TOKYO · STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
Your way into Tokyo's startup world.
What's on this week, plus the visas, grants, venues, and communities you actually need. Curated, in plain English, all in one place.
6 events this week·3 free venues·visa · grants · support
THIS WEEK6 events
- 26JUNFounders & funders pitch nightPitch night · Shibuya7:00 PM
- 27JUNAI builders meetup + live demosMeetup · Roppongi6:30 PM
- 28JUNNewcomers coffee at the hubSocial · Yurakucho10:30 AM
THE FOUNDER'S GUIDE
Everything you need to land and build
VISAS
Visas for founders
How to legally start and run a company in Japan, from the Startup Visa to the Business Manager visa.
Read the guide →GRANTS
Grants & subsidies
The main public funding routes for startups in Japan, from entry-level Tokyo subsidies to deep-tech national programs.
Read the guide →SUPPORT
Support, accelerators & incubators
The programs and organizations that help founders land, build, and scale in Japan.
Read the guide →WHERE TO GO
The hubs, spaces, and spots
Tokyo Innovation Base
FREETokyo's flagship startup hub, run by the metropolitan government. Free drop-in space, events, and English-friendly support.
Startup Hub Tokyo
FREEFree coworking and one-on-one consultations backed by the city. A calm place to work and ask early questions, no membership needed.
TRUNK(HOTEL)
A design-led hotel lounge and cafe where founders and creatives end up. Good for a relaxed first meeting.
COMMUNITIES
Find your people
IN PERSON
Venture Café Thursday Gathering
Free weekly networking, talks, and workshops at CIC Tokyo. The default place to start if you're new.
Join ↗IN PERSONStartup Grind Tokyo
The Tokyo chapter of the global founder community. Fireside chats with operators and investors, plus socials.
Join ↗LUMATokyo AI (TAI)
A large AI community running talks, hackathons, and networking across Tokyo. Follow the calendar for what's next.
Join ↗IN PERSONAI Tinkerers Tokyo
Demo-first meetups for people building AI agents and infrastructure. Hands-on, no pitches.
Join ↗LUMATokyo Tech Stack Exchange
Engineers' Morning Code meetups at cafes around Tokyo. Casual, regular, and welcoming.
Join ↗