In this article, we will see some tourist spots in Japan for those who love and seek technology. These are places where you can clearly see Japan’s technological advancement, robots, computers, inventions, scientific advancements, and more.
Japan, and especially Tokyo, has a huge contrast between the traditional and the technological. It is amazing to see how everything fits together perfectly. Below we will provide a summary to help with your navigation.
Table of Contents
Akihabara – Tokyo district
It is Tokyo’s technology district, the Asian capital of the global technology consumer. There are several attractions, among them the Yodobashi megastore. You can buy practically any device that exists, from phones to cameras, computers, and any of their related accessories.
In the same building is SEGA, where you can spend hours trying out amazing arcade games, both old and new. Any electronic device can be found in the many shopping malls in the city, which range from small to large malls. In any of them, you can find new products at great prices.
In the city, you can also experience another culture, the Otaku culture. You can find many stores selling items related to manga, anime, and games or visit the famous Maid Cafe.
Tsukuba – The City of Science
About an hour northeast of Akihabara by train is Tsukuba, known as the City of Science. Almost half of Japan’s research and development budget is spent here.
Among the main attractions of the city is the Tsukuba Space Center, where you can see exhibitions. The tours conducted are related to recent astronomical research and Japan’s role in the International Space Station.
Another attraction is the Tsukuba Expo Center, which focuses on rockets, robotics, and underwater vehicles. It also has a fantastic planetarium and a well-known robot that plays an organ.
There is also the Science Square, where the emphasis is on industrial technology and a truly fascinating glimpse into the near future. This is based on the technological innovation rate of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (or AIST).
Impossible to visit JAXA without remembering Uchuu Kyoudai.
Odaiba – Artificial Island in Tokyo
There are many other technological attractions in the capital of Japan. For example, you can visit Odaiba, an artificial island in Tokyo Bay, with cutting-edge buildings. These can be reached by the elevated Yurikamome train line. On the island is the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Miraikan.
In the museum, you can see and interact with ASIMO, the famous humanoid robot built by Honda, whose name means “Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility.” It looks like a small man in a spacesuit and is as mobile as one.
It has abilities in running, jumping, object recognition, memory, conversations, and now bottle opening. Besides its entertainment value, ASIMO represents a significant and growing advancement in robotic engineering and even in the care industry. In the museum are the two largest exhibitions from electronics companies in Japan.
The Panasonic showroom and the Sony Explore Science are both in Odaiba. Additionally, at Toyota Mega Web, you can experience test drives of the latest Toyota vehicles.
In other parts of Miraikan, you can see exhibitions with androids and enjoy countless opportunities to interact with robots of different sizes and functions. This activity is highly recommended.
However, the island does not only have technological attractions; it has buildings with unique architecture, numerous shopping options, and restaurants. It is also one of the best places in Tokyo for night views, offering incredible landscapes with Tokyo Bay, the Bay Bridge, and the bright city of Tokyo on the other side.
To complete the technological tour of Tokyo, a reservation at the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku is necessary. There, an interactive robot show takes place, which at first may seem to have a hefty price. But the show is so fun and amazing that by the end, your opinion will change.
But if you are looking for a truly intriguing experience, you should go to the Ruriden columbarium, a digital cemetery operated by the Koukoko-ji Buddhist Temple. It is home to over 2000 digital funeral altars, marked by glass Buddha statues – an intriguing glimpse into yet another possible future.
We cannot forget the famous Mori Digital Museum by teamlab. This amazing art museum is entirely made with technologies, holograms, lights, reflections, and thousands of things that cannot be explained in text. Better to see the video below:
Henn-na Hotel – Robot Hotel in Sasebo
The Henn-na Hotel made international headlines as the world’s first hotel to be managed by robots.
The robots at the reception, which include a velociraptor, are all multilingual and efficient. The storage room is operated by a mechanical arm. And the company has done away with room keys, opting for facial recognition.
All rooms are equipped with an AI-guided concierge unit called Tapia. This performs tasks according to spoken commands. Even though some human staff are always on-site for emergencies, it is almost completely a fully robotic case.
A second Henn-na Hotel now exists near Tokyo Disneyland, and another is planned for Nagoya. But it is the one in Sasebo that has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Other Technology-Related Places in Japan
There are thousands of museums and places you can visit in different cities in Japan to keep up with technological advancement and the history of technology in Japan. We will briefly mention some of these places below:
In Osaka, try to visit the Panasonic Museum where you can find thousands of products manufactured by the company and its entire history over more than 100 years. Toshiba and Sony also have their museums with interactive exhibitions, 3D aquariums, and much more.
There is a shrine in Japan called Kanda Myojin, where people go to bless their businesses and electronic and technological devices.
You can also see technological advancement in trains by riding the bullet train or taking the train on the Yurikamome line where there is no conductor on board. You can also visit flagship stores like Tsutaya, a bookstore with a unique design.
In Minato, you will find TEPIA, a technology and robotics exhibition. If you search, you will come across thousands of conventions and exhibitions related to technology, temporary or permanent, spread throughout Japan.
Do you know any other place or event related to technology in Japan? I hope you enjoyed the article. If you liked it, share and leave your comments.
Leave a Reply