Fishing Tackle Shows in Yokohama and Osaka, in 2026

Have you been to Japan? As a fishing enthusiast, January and February are some of the most interesting timings to visit Japan. Do you know why?

Japan's two biggest shows are held in January and February; Yokohama fishing show in January and Osaka fishing show in February. These exhibitions serve as major meeting points for the latest gear, emerging trends, business networking, and fishing culture more broadly. Whether you’re a consumer, retailer, manufacturer or simply a fishing-fan, each event offers its own atmosphere and focus. 

In this article, I summarize what you can expect in these shows and things around it.

General Information

Both shows are annual events dedicated to fishing gear, tackle, fishing-related leisure goods, and information exchange within the angling community.

They provide a mix of trade (business-to-business) and consumer (general public) components: exhibiting manufacturers and distributors display their latest products, and visitors get to explore new equipment, experiences, and fishing culture.

Themes often include not only the latest tackle (rods, reels, lines, lures, boats, accessories) but also fishing tourism, environmental/fisheries conservation, and efforts to expand the fishing population. For example, the Osaka show boasts events to expand the fishing population with an artificial indoor pool for kids to experience fishing.

Additionally, you cannot miss that there are many fishing shops that are expecting extra visitors, who visit for these shows. These shops will have special shop sales events during or around the show timing. It is highly likely that you can buy your favorite branded tackle at a lower price then.

Yokohama Fishing Show

Yokohama fishing show (Official name is Fishing Festival 2026 in Yokohama)

Official website; https://www.tsurifest.com/ (Japanese only)

Dates; 2025, January, 16th (am for business visitors, public open from 12:00), 17th, 18th

Location; Pacifico Yokohama

According to one listing, it is organised by the Japan Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association and will be open to both trade and general-public visitors. In 2025, this Yokohama show held about 228 exhibitors in a floor size of 20,000 m².

Characteristics & Highlights

This show, being in mid-January in Yokohama (near Tokyo) makes this an early-year show, a kind of “kick-off” for the season in Japan. The show lists a wide range of exhibit categories: fishing equipment, related leisure goods, publications, fishing boat services, fishing tourism and spots, cooperatives and transportation services. 

As with many large shows, it gives manufacturers a stage to unveil new rods, reels, lines, and accessories. The “Japan Fishing Show”-type events emphasise the latest trends and tool technologies. Because it is open to the general public and being held near a major population center, the event tends to attract families, hobbyists, first-time visitors and enthusiasts, not just trade professionals.

Before the show opens to the public, it has the business and special invitation visitor only time (in the morning of 16th). It means that the show also serves as an industry meeting point; for example manufacturers and services presenting to each other and to buyers.

One of the good points of the show is that it is held in Yokohama, the venue is about a 20 minutes train ride from central Tokyo. It is very good to combine the Show visit with experiencing the capital of Japan.

Fishing Show Osaka

Official website; https://www.fishing.or.jp/en/index.html 

Dates; 2025, February, 6th (business day), 7th, 8th

Location; Intex Osaka

The Osaka show is described as one of Japan’s largest fishing tackle exhibitions—both in terms of exhibit scale and international participation. In 2025 event, it welcomed 42 thousands visitors, with over 150 companies exhibiting, in 31 thousands square meter space.

Characteristics & Highlights

The Osaka show emphasizes a large floor-space, many exhibitors from both domestic and overseas, and a broad product range from fishing tackle to boats and outdoor leisure goods. Because of the high volume of exhibitors and the trade-day (Feb 6) set-aside, the show places strong emphasis on serious industry exchanges, product launches, and business-to-business interactions. This is partially because this area, called the Kansai region, where Osaka is located, has a lot more fishing tackle companies than the Kanto region or Tokyo area.

One of the big differences of this Osaka event from Yokohama one is that it focuses to expand the bottom line of the fishing population and promoting the improvement of fishing manners, environmental preservation, and handing down fishing culture.”  This suggests a strong leaning toward not only gear, but also fishing culture, conservation and outreach. For this purpose, it has a big fish pool, indoor, for children to experience fishing. There are rainbow trout in the pond.

The venue is close to Osaka central, and a 15 to 20 minute train ride takes you there. Osaka is very close to Japan's old capital cities, Kyoto and Nara.

For Fishing Tackle Industry People

Around the Osaka area, there are a lot of fishing tackle related companies. And it is a good chance for you to make contact with such companies of your interests.

If you are running a fishing tackle shop, you will be interested in this. There are many wholesalers that are welcoming you to purchase Japanese fishing tackle. In some of the wholesalers, they have open-days for visitors like you and you can physically enter and see their stocked fishing tackles. And then you can bring back these goods or ask them to ship them to your country.

If you are interested in distributing some new brands, this would be a good time for you to have a meeting  with such brands. In this case, firstly, you can tell me about your intention and I can check the situation around your targeted brands. If things go well, I can arrange a meeting with them.

When you have these points in mind, you have another reason to come to Japan. I hope it pushes you to visit Japan, while your family is asking you to bring them to Japan, driven by their interests in Japanese cultures.