Tokyo Auto Salon

For a nation whose populace relies heavily on its world class public transportation system, it is a bit ironic that the car culture in Japan is also wildly popular.

However, the popularity does make sense in several ways.  Japan is home to many of the world's major automotive companies, and in many places outside of the large metropolitan areas, the automobile is the preferred mode of transportation (due to lack of a convenient local rail system).  Still, none of these can quite explain the driving force (no pun intended) behind the popularity of Tokyo Auto Salon.

Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS) is an event/exhibition focused on the custom car.  This can mean anything from customized exterior/interior (body, lights, seats, audio, etc) to customized mechanics (engine, etc).

From the average Tokyo citizen to the average movie watcher who's seen The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, everyone knows that though not wildly prevalent, there exists a culture of customized autos in Tokyo, from the speed/muscle cars to the more eye-catching ones.  Sometimes, at random moments, you get a glimpse of these cars on the expressways or streets in and around Tokyo, but if you want to see them up close and personal, Tokyo Auto Salon is the place to be.

(Also, the "race queen" culture is very much alive and well in Japan, and TAS is awesome for seeing pretty faces along with pretty cars.  Sometimes the race queens will be in the way of a car photo, but that's the tough life of trying to take in the cars at TAS!)

View this post on Instagram

Tokyo Auto Sakon #tas2018 #tokyoautosalon #japan #japanese #racequeen #asia #smile #igers #igersjp #instagood #instagramhub

A post shared by akiba16 (@akiba16) on Feb 11, 2018 at 10:36pm PST

For the observer and photographer, TAS is sensory overload (in a great way), with so many cars, exhibitors, presentations (and race queens).  For the car enthusiast (car owner) there are, naturally, some more incentives to visit this great event with more than just sightseeing in mind:

- for anyone serious or semi serious about tricking up their ride to any degree, TAS is mandatory.  So many aftermarket vendors and merchandise here if you're going to commit to it (or info to bring home to think/rethink strategy).
- thinking of getting a new/old, cooler ride altogether?  There are a lot of examples to see here, and some are indeed on the market if you look closely.
- on the lighter side, there are a lot of decals/accessories/bling here as well that you could purchase to install on your vehicle

And just from an entertainment perspective, TAS offers quite a bit.  From car companies putting on shows/demonstrations, dance/music performances, and in many cases the cars themselves providing the entertainment, TAS is a great event which can fuel the desire to get more in/out of your ride than the manufacturer specs.

View this post on Instagram

Tokyo Auto Salon #tokyoautosalon #tas2018 #japan #japanese #girl #woman #racequeen #cars #nissan #gtr #asia #igers #webstagram

A post shared by akiba16 (@akiba16) on Jan 23, 2018 at 12:00am PST

Recommendations:
- The best day to attend this three day event (Friday thru Sunday) is Friday.  Least crowded; even though you actually have less time to spend there than the other days, you'll get more out of it by means of traversing all of the event space and having better access to exhibits/booths.
- Arrive early in the day, perhaps an hour in advance of the opening, to maximize time at the event.  If you don't anticipate going to and spending time at everything there, arrive anytime but plan for at least 2 hours to get a good dose of TAS' goodness.
- Purchase ticket(s) in advance, online, to minimize waiting and make entry to the event a bit easier (especially if trying to get in around opening time).
- Wear layers; it's cold outside in January but the heating (and crowds) will get to you if you try to go around in the event halls all bundled up.  Be able to shed some layer(s) for maximum ease/comfort while you're there.



Specifics:
Tokyo Auto Salon
Held annually in January, at Makuhari Messe, for three days (Friday-Sunday)
Cost: 3500 yen on Friday, 2500 yen on Sat/Sun
Trips available via Camp Zama MWR, and Yokota 374 FSS