After a hiatus of three years the biennial automotive event, the Japan Mobility Show, will be held from October 28 till November 5, 2023 at the Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba. Formerly known as the Tokyo Motor Show, the event was last held four years ago in October 2019. This is the first year that Japan Mobility Show is produced under its new name in an endeavor to be more inclusive of the various types of vehicles, not just automobiles.
The theme of this year's event is to encourage visitors to consider the future of transport with a focus on creating a green and environmentally friendly society. Additionally, this year's event also hopes to inspire both adults and children to dream big for the future of mobility. As with previous years, the Japan Mobility Show is held at Tokyo Big Sight, an exhibition and convention center on Odaiba. Detailed information about hours, tickets and access can be found below.
Entrance to the Japan Mobility Show at Tokyo Big Sight
I had the opportunity to attend the Japan Mobility Show on October 25, 2023 before it opened to the public, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The event is spread over three areas at Tokyo Big Sight - the East Halls, where the main booths are located, the West Halls, for automobile-related technology booths, and the South Halls, containing the children's experience, supercar exhibition and concert areas.
This year, almost all the car makers showcased their electric vehicle line up, a far cry from previous years when only a few electric vehicles could be seen. Off-road vehicles were also popular among the major car manufacturers, which made me wonder if our dystopian, Mad Max future is on the horizon. There was a sizeable section dedicated to recreational vehicles and camping cars, since camping has became popular in the last few years. It was interesting to see the choices available and the many modifications one can make to a van to enhance the outdoor lifestyle.
I enjoyed seeing all the concept cars and was also entertained by the large number of interactive experiences like AI-related activities and driving simulator games as well as test driving some of the personal mobility devices offered at the event.
Major automobile manufacturers' booths in the East Hall
My vehicle created by AI keyword prompt, which were a forest's farming universe at the Honda booth
Visitors can see the scale model of the HondaJet's interior
The Afeela Prototype is a concept car by the Sony Honda Mobility company that communicates with its passengers, even before they enter the car using the media bar at the front
Kawasaki unveiled two electric motorcycles
Off-road concept vehicle by Kawasaki
The Lexus LF-ZC, the new electric concept car unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show
Off-road concept vehicle by Lexus, luxury of course
The back of the Lexus LF-ZL concept car, a luxury electric vehicle.
Nissan debuted five new concept cars, and I liked this Hyper Force the best
I fully expect long lines at this Nissan simulator experience
The Hyper Punk, Nissan's SUV concept car
Yamaha's concept car, which looked like a car-bike to me
Hydrogen powered 2-wheeled vehicles by Yamaha
Mitsubishi Motors concept car DX, whose shape remains close to the company's best selling Delica
BMW's new concept car, whose shape I find really cute. I might get this when it makes it to the production line
BYD, the Chinese electric car manufacturer, with a booth at the show for the first time
An impressive SUV offered by BYD
Mercedes G-Class is also going full electric
Mazda Iconic SP, a concept car that contains a twin-rotor electric engine. She's absolutely beautiful, and maybe I'll get this instead of the BMW
Subaru's concept SUV
Toyota's booth with the newly unveiled concept cars
That's another off-road car
Don't miss the merch shop at the booths to get your hands on some pretty fun and unique goods
Daihatsu booth
MeMo by Daihatsu is a fun car, whose name is a portmanteau of Me + More (of what I like to do)
It's not all about passenger cars, this is the new technology on offer for truck driving. This visitor is trying out the new tech
Saw a mist sauna car in the camping exhibition area. The sauna part is on the right, while the left is the shower space
A section displaying championship and race-winning vehicles by Japanese makers
Driving simulator game, which I was absolutely horrible at
A yet-to-be unveiled vehicle at the SkyDrive, a Japanese company that specialises in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts, booth. I wonder what it could be...
Parts and tool makers can be found in the West Hall area
This was a really fun booth, you could order some personalised car license plates. The designs are just too good!
Personal mobility test ride section of mostly electric scooters that travel at a speed of 15 km/h in the West Hall area
Mobility and play in the West Hall area
The other themes of the Japan Mobility Show - food, play, life and emergency - show how mobility can be incorporated in all these areas
Mobility in our daily lives
Food and drink trucks. This is a UCC coffee truck, and the beans are roasted using hydrogen fuel
Unmanned and cashless food truck that contains an AI assistant to help you shop
I could use with a helicopter in my daily life
From restaurants to food trucks to convenience stores and cafes, there are plenty of food options in Tokyo Big Sight
Kidzania, a children's theme park where kids can experience real jobs, has a big space in the South Hall area
They'll get a chance to wear the actual uniforms
Experience what it is like working on various parts of the production line
Tomica booth and the Japan Mobility Show exclusive model cars, which are all available for purchase
Supercar exhibition in the South Hall
First and only autobot I saw at the event
This official Japan Mobility Show souvenir caught my eye
Opening hours and admission
The Japan Mobility Show is held from October 28 to November 5, 2023 from 10:00 to 19:00 (until 18:00 on Sundays). Tickets must be purchased online, and there are no ticket counters at the venue. Same day tickets cost 3000 yen for adults, while admission tickets after 16:00 costs 1500 yen (not available on Sundays).
Access
Tokyo Big Sight is a couple of minutes walk from the Tokyo Big Sight Station on the Yurikamome Line (22 minutes, 390 yen one way from Shimbashi Station). Alternatively, it is an approximately ten minute walk from Kokusai Tenjijo Station on the Rinkai Line (15 minutes, 340 yen one way from Osaki Station).
