At the end of January 2025, my colleagues from the XB Supply team and I finally visited Mercari’s Tokyo office after collaborating remotely with the Japan team for nearly six months. For two of us, including myself, it was our first visit to the Tokyo office after being at Mercari for over 1.5 years, while others had visited before. It was a great opportunity to move beyond Slack profiles and Google Meet headshots and connect with our past and present colleagues in person.
Work, Strategy & Strengthening Collaboration
The primary purpose of our trip was to participate in business strategy and feature planning for the year, focusing on XB (Cross Border) Supply. Another key objective was to strengthen collaboration by meeting colleagues from various teams working on the XB Supply mission, as well as frequent collaborators like the Shops(B2C) team. Building trust, improving communication, and fostering openness were crucial as we transitioned into the “Back to Startup” phase. In a startup environment, strong personal connections and close collaboration are essential.
During our visit, we had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with several key teams, including the XB Supply product team, business development, design, analytics, marketing, and executives. We also connected casually over lunch with other XB engineers.
A major highlight was a high-level OKR discussion with the entire Shops division, followed by a dinner with some of the Shops team members.
One of the key moments of the trip was a full-day workshop where the XB Supply JP and IN teams came together to brainstorm ideas for the initiative. I also had the chance to reconnect with colleagues from my previous teams (Team Orion and LTVG).
Beyond these meetings, it was insightful to physically attend the XB All-Hands and Japan All-Hands, experiencing the energy and alignment in person. I also attended MIGEN-KAIGI, an ideathon primarily for interns and new members at Mercari, as an audience member. It was inspiring to see how ideathons are conducted at the Mercari Japan office and to witness fresh, innovative ideas emerging from young talent in Japan. It was impressive to see executives deeply engaged as judges, mentors, and sponsors, actively discussing ideas and business strategies with the presenting teams.
Experience at the Tokyo Office
The Mercari Tokyo office spans two floors (18 and 25), which made frequent movement between them somewhat inconvenient due to the odd-even floor lift movement. Despite being fully occupied, the office was surprisingly quiet (at least by Indian standards), with employees deeply focused on their work. Finding an available meeting room for ad-hoc discussions was challenging, given the high demand.
The office offers several conveniences for employees, including a well-stocked fridge with complimentary hot and cold drinks like coffee, green tea, and water. For coffee enthusiasts, there’s even an in-house barista. Trust-based spare/rental chargers and cables are available, which was a thoughtful touch.
Employees typically had lunch at their desks and even attended meetings from there—a contrast to Japan’s usual social etiquette, which emphasizes minimizing disturbances to others.
The office also boasts stunning city views and well-designed casual seating areas, providing a comfortable environment to work while enjoying Tokyo’s skyline. I noticed that teams within a division sit together, though interactions among them seemed less frequent compared to the India office.
One of the standout features of the office was the Mercari-themed art decor in the corridors and entryways. The creative and playful designs added a unique personality to the workspace, reinforcing Mercari’s brand identity and making it an inspiring place to work.
Cultural & Travel Observations
In the office, casual conversations are minimal, and interactions tend to be formal. Unlike in the India office, I didn’t feel entirely comfortable walking up to someone’s desk for an impromptu discussion. However, everyone was very helpful if you needed any help. In meetings, it is somewhat difficult to hear honest opinions from participants, as most people seem to prefer to listen rather than actively participate. However, in more informal settings like team dinners, people seemed more relaxed and open to sharing their thoughts. This reserved participation could be due to the language barrier or Japanese workplace culture. Overall, it seems that building trust with colleagues takes more time, and open, candid discussions develop gradually. This trip definitely helped us move past the awkward stranger phase.
Outside of work, we had the chance to explore Tokyo, and I made several interesting observations.
Tokyo is a remarkably photogenic city defined by impeccable aesthetics, from fashion to architecture. The cityscape is spotless, featuring clean streets, vibrant neon signs, and animated advertisements. Shopping in Tokyo is eye-opening, with massive outlets offering international Japanese brands at prices 50–60% cheaper than elsewhere, tempting future visits solely for shopping.
Tokyo’s public infrastructure is superb, being highly walkable with 24/7 access to konbinis (convenience stores), public restrooms, a vast transport network, and quite safe even at night (especially with no worries about stray dogs 😝). My colleagues at the Japan office were open to trying Indian sweets and snacks. Indian sweets, in particular, were well-received—maybe there’s an untapped XB market for them in Japan!😁
One of the first things that caught me off guard was how early shops and restaurants close—most shops shut down by 9 PM, and restaurants take their last orders strictly by 10 PM. This was quite different from what I had expected from Tokyo’s nightlife. One of the most unexpected sights was spotting a Statue of Liberty replica in Odaiba—I definitely didn’t expect to see that in Japan! Another fascinating aspect of Tokyo was its extensive variety of trains. Every trip seemed to involve a different metro line, each with unique colours, interiors, paint finishes, and even distinct coach and engine designs—clearly, aesthetics and quality take precedence over mass uniformity.
I was surprised to learn that many historical structures in Japan have been frequently rebuilt after fires, leaving them well-maintained and photo-ready but making it harder to connect with their history, as they often appear newly painted rather than aged. Overall, Tokyo’s blend of culture, style, and infrastructure makes it a fascinating and dynamic city.
Takeaways for Mercari
During my trip, I made lots of observations but sharing a few, that could be useful for Mercari:
- Expanding Mercari’s Presence Among Tourists
Most shopping areas in Ginza were packed with tourists rather than locals. I didn’t come across a single Mercari ad during my entire trip. While Mercari already enjoys high brand awareness among locals, targeting tourists—especially as we expand our XB business—could open up new opportunities for engagement and growth. - Enhancing Japan-India Team Collaboration
While remote work is effective, I strongly believe that arranging more frequent in-person catch-ups between the Japan and India teams could significantly improve collaboration, communication, and trust. Face-to-face interactions help build stronger connections, which are crucial as we move forward with a more integrated and global approach.
Final Thoughts
This trip was a valuable experience, both professionally and personally. It reinforced the importance of in-person interactions, gave me a deeper understanding of Mercari Japan’s culture, and left me with plenty of takeaways on how we can improve collaboration across teams.
And, of course, Tokyo’s shopping experience alone is reason enough for a future personal visit! 😆
And if you are inspired to be part of an organization that values growth, learning, and collaboration, we encourage you to look out for more opportunities on our careers website.
Stay tuned for more stories, lessons, and reflections as we continue to learn and grow together.
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