We Connect People to Japan's Heart

Grill And Bite is Japan's established community events directory — built by locals, for everyone. Our mission is to make the authentic cultural life of Japan accessible to all, from curious visitors to long-term residents.

Founded in Osaka's Namba district in 2019, we've grown to list over 2,400 events across all 47 prefectures, serving a community of 180,000 passionate Japan enthusiasts.

Our Mission

What Drives Grill And Bite

Preserve Living Culture

We believe that Japan's cultural events and traditions deserve visibility. By connecting people to authentic community experiences, we help preserve Japan's living heritage for future generations.

Bridge Communities

Japan is home to millions of residents from around the world who often struggle to find authentic local events. Grill And Bite bridges the gap between local communities and global audiences.

Always Free to Browse

We believe access to cultural information should be free. Grill And Bite's full events directory is — and will always remain — completely free to browse for everyone.

Our Story

Born in Osaka, Raised by Japan

Grill And Bite began as a simple problem: our founder, Kenji Watanabe, moved back to Osaka after a decade abroad and wanted to reconnect with the local cultural scene. He discovered that there was no single, reliable English-language resource for community events in Japan.

What started as a personal spreadsheet of festivals and workshops in the Namba area quickly grew — friends shared it, local event organizers reached out, and within a year, Grill And Bite was covering events across Kansai.

In 2022, we launched our first full website covering all of Japan. By 2026, we list over 2,400 events per year, from the most remote village matsuri to the grandest Tokyo conventions.

"Japan's cultural life happens in community halls, temple courtyards, and local parks — not just in tourist brochures. We want everyone to find it."

— Kenji Watanabe, Founder of Grill And Bite

Our Team

The People Behind Grill And Bite

Kenji Watanabe

Founder & CEO

Osaka native, cultural enthusiast, and former journalist. Passionate about connecting people to authentic Japan.

Yuki Tanaka

Head of Events Curation

Kyoto-based cultural historian who personally verifies and enriches every major event listing on Grill And Bite.

Sora Mitchell

International Community Lead

Born in the UK, based in Tokyo for 12 years. Sora ensures Grill And Bite speaks to Japan's global community.

Haruka Ishida

Community Partnerships

Former festival organizer who now bridges Grill And Bite with community groups and event organizers nationwide.

Our Values

What We Stand For

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Cultural Respect

We approach Japan's traditions with deep respect, consulting with local communities and cultural experts for every major listing.

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Community First

We center the needs of local communities above commercial interests — ensuring authentic events get the visibility they deserve.

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Inclusive Access

We produce content in English to welcome Japan's international community — while always crediting and uplifting local voices.

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Verified Accuracy

Every event is verified for accuracy before listing. We don't publish what we can't confirm — your time is precious.

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Sustainability

We actively feature and promote eco-conscious and community-organized events that give back to local environments.

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Free Forever

Browsing Grill And Bite will always be free. We sustain ourselves through partnerships, never through paywalls on cultural information.