INBOUND FOOD BUSINESS EXPO 2026 (RICE EXPO)

Overview

RICE EXPO, officially branded as INBOUND FOOD BUSINESS EXPO 2026 (第2回インバウンドフードビジネスEXPO), is a specialized B2B trade show focusing on inbound-ready Japanese food, fermentation, noodles and related hospitality solutions. It is scheduled for August 4–6, 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight South Hall, Tokyo, Japan, organized by TSO International Inc.

The event targets professionals looking to capture inbound tourism and overseas demand through authentic Japanese food products, technology, and service innovations.

What to Expect

Visitors to INBOUND FOOD BUSINESS EXPO 2026 (RICE EXPO) can expect a concentrated three-day marketplace where Japan’s inbound food business ecosystem is showcased in one venue. The exhibition brings together leading suppliers of fermented foods, Japanese cuisine ingredients, noodles, beverages, and related food technologies, along with solutions that help restaurants, retailers and hospitality operators better serve inbound tourists and overseas customers. Exhibitors typically include manufacturers, brands, and solution providers presenting products optimized for international visitors—such as multilingual packaging, halal and other dietary-compliant offerings, export-ready lines, and labor-saving equipment for busy foodservice environments. The show floor is complemented by seminars, presentations and special zones where attendees can learn about market trends, regulatory developments, tourism demand, and successful case studies in inbound food and overseas expansion. These sessions are geared toward practical business use, helping participants understand how to adapt Japanese food traditions and technologies to global tastes and expectations while retaining authenticity. Live demonstrations, tasting opportunities and on-site consultations foster active business negotiations, similar to the previous edition where tens of thousands of professionals engaged in intensive deal-making over three days. Attendees can also expect comprehensive support services from the show management office, including exhibitor consultation, pre-show information materials, and advance visitor registration tools. The event layout at Tokyo Big Sight’s South Hall is designed to make it easy to compare solutions, meet potential partners, and move from exhibits to seminar rooms efficiently. Overall, participants will find an environment focused on real-world business outcomes: discovering new products, forging partnerships, gathering competitive intelligence, and planning inbound and export strategies grounded in Japan’s rich food culture and cutting-edge food technology.

Who Should Attend

This exhibition is tailored for professionals and decision-makers across the food and hospitality value chain who are seeking growth via inbound tourism and overseas markets. Ideal attendees include: - Managers and buyers from food manufacturers, fermentation specialists, noodle makers, Japanese cuisine brands and beverage companies looking to expand inbound and export sales. - Restaurant, café and foodservice operators aiming to attract international guests with menus and services optimized for diverse tastes and dietary requirements. - Representatives of trading companies, wholesalers and distributors seeking new Japanese food products and technologies suited to global distribution channels. - Retail buyers from supermarkets, specialty stores and e-commerce platforms interested in authentic Japanese food offerings that can be marketed to inbound visitors and overseas consumers. - Tourism and hospitality planners, including hotel F&B teams and regional tourism promoters, who want to incorporate food-based experiences as a core pillar of inbound strategies. - R&D, product development and marketing teams researching trends in fermentation, Japanese cuisine, noodles and functional foods, as well as packaging, labeling and service design for international audiences. - Solution providers offering labor-saving technologies, multilingual digital tools, and service innovations that support restaurants and retailers facing staffing constraints while serving growing inbound demand. Because visitor registration is mandatory and the event is framed as a professional expo, it is most valuable for those responsible for business planning, purchasing, international business development and innovation in the food and hospitality sectors.

Why It Matters

INBOUND FOOD BUSINESS EXPO 2026 (RICE EXPO) matters because it sits at the intersection of Japan’s food culture and the rapidly expanding inbound and global demand for Japanese cuisine and fermentation technologies. As international tourism rebounds and Japanese food continues to gain popularity worldwide, businesses face pressure to adapt products, services and operations for diverse customers while preserving authenticity. This expo provides a focused platform where stakeholders can address those challenges collectively. For domestic manufacturers and brands, the event offers a direct route to scale inbound and export sales, showcasing products and solutions optimized for foreign visitors and overseas markets. Exhibiting and attending allows companies to test concepts, receive feedback from industry peers, and identify distribution partners capable of carrying Japanese food innovations beyond national borders. The presence of tens of thousands of professionals in the previous edition underlines its role as a major hub for business negotiation and deal-making in this field. For restaurants, retailers and hospitality operators, the expo is an opportunity to discover labor-saving equipment, service design tools and menu ideas that mitigate staffing shortages while improving service for international guests. Exhibitors highlight technologies and operational models that streamline multilingual support, payments, ordering and back-of-house processes, all critical for sustaining profitability as inbound demand rises. From a broader industry perspective, the event gathers cutting-edge research, market intelligence and policy-related insights through seminars and special content, helping participants stay ahead of evolving consumer preferences, health trends and regulatory frameworks. This knowledge is essential for aligning product development and branding with expectations around safety, transparency and dietary needs. Finally, the expo supports Japan’s positioning as a leader in fermented foods, traditional cuisine and high-value food technology, reinforcing regional economies and small producers while connecting them to global networks. By concentrating exhibits, knowledge-sharing and networking in one venue, INBOUND FOOD BUSINESS EXPO functions as an annual reference point for the inbound food business community, shaping strategies and collaborations that influence the sector well beyond the three days of the show.